Winter Weather brings in the Birds

The snow has been falling most of the day and we have three to four inches on the ground. With the ground covered, the birds have taken advantage of the feeders and the seed I've thrown on the cleared-off deck rail. Juncos are at an all time high for my yard -- 35 best I could count, but I'm sure there are more waiting their turn at the seed in the trees and shrubs, or standing on alert in case the Coopers Hawk flies through. I saw him only once today.

I've also had lots of white-throated sparrows (9), house sparrows (~2 dozen), house finches, goldfinches, cardinals, chickadees, too many starlings, and a pair of the long-lost Eurasian Tree Sparrows. Carolina Wren, Downy & Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, ....... I think that is about it so far. No partridge in the pear tree. Oh yeah, 2 mockingbirds and 2 blue jays.



The juncos and white-throated sparrows are predominantly ground feeders. They'll eat what falls below the feeders. On very rare occasions, today for example, the juncos will perch on the thistle feeder and eat. I was surprised to see the white-throats doing the same thing today. The red-bellied woodpecker resorted to sunflower seeds from the feeder. Desperate times call for desperate measures.



Temps have stayed just under freezing all day. Tomorrow should bring a little sunshine ..... good for us suffering from SAD. No sun in over a week doesn't do much for the demeanor.

Still no "mythical" pine siskins.

Almost better than birds

My nephew, Jack, composed this video of his freshman year baseball team. I think he did a pretty good job. Nice photo selection and fade outs. First music set is good. Second, well, I'm not a teenager anymore.

Now, he may not be so thrilled that a bunch of pith helmet wearing birdwatchers sporting knee-high socks and binoculars around the neck are excited about it, but take a look. Jack is pictured at 42 seconds, or minus 1'37", depending on how it shows up. But isn't he so adorable! Doting Aunt. What a pain in the a** I am.



Oh yeah, still no Pine Siskins, despite the plethora of finches hanging out this weekend. They must not exist.