Lawrence,

The blackbirds certainly could be the blip with a count of 15k.

The elevation of the radar beam suggested that it was between 4-5,000
feet... does that seem right to you?

Not quite as exciting as snow geese. =(

DAVE SNIDER
Meteorologist
KY3 Stormteam
Springfield, MO
Direct: 417.268.3246
News Hotline: 417.268.3200
Toll Free: 800.492.4335
Fax: 417.268.3364
AIM: DaveKY3Wx
w: http://www.ky3.com/weather
e: [log in to unmask]
  http://www.linkedin.com/in/davesnider

-----Original Message-----
From: MO Wild Bird Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Lawrence Herbert
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:31 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Bronaugh MO birding[Spam score: 8%]

Mobirders -
I went to Bronaugh to see the oriole and Ron Thompson.
Bronaugh is on Hwy. 43, 40 miles north of Joplin, Vernon County.
Neither one was home. Just a brown hound that looked like Mark's
Grover.

While waiting on the oriole:
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Wild Turkey
Mourning Dove
Blue Jay
Am. Crow
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow

On the way to Bronaugh there was a huge flock of blackbirds,
probably 15,000, at the Jasper, Barton County line.
Dave Snider, would that be your blip on the radar screen at 5:30 PM.?
I'd estimate 70 % red-wings, 20 % starlings and 10 % grackles.
There were a few Brewer's too. I stopped and scoped for a bit.
I didn't see a single Great-tailed or any cowbirds.

I was too lazy to stop at the Bronaugh elevator to check on Barn Owls.

Good birding, Larry Herbert, Joplin, Jasper County, MO.

__________________________________________________
###########################################################
* Audubon Society of Missouri's *
* Wild Bird Discussion Forum *
*---------------------------------------------------------*
* To subscribe or unsubscribe, click here: *
* https://po.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mobirds-l&A=1 *
*---------------------------------------------------------*
* To access the list archives, click here: *
* http://po.missouri.edu/archives/mobirds-l.html *
* *
* To access the Audubon Society of Missouri Web *
* Site: http://mobirds.org *
###########################################################

__________________________________________________
###########################################################
* Audubon Society of Missouri's *
* Wild Bird Discussion Forum *
*---------------------------------------------------------*
* To subscribe or unsubscribe, click here: *
* https://po.missouri.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mobirds-l&A=1 *
*---------------------------------------------------------*
* To access the list archives, click here: *
* http://po.missouri.edu/archives/mobirds-l.html *
* *
* To access the Audubon Society of Missouri Web *
* Site: http://mobirds.org *
###########################################################