Friday, January 9, 2009

Another Amazing Day at the Feeders...witha Few Surprises

Today was another amazing day at the feeders that held a few surprises. With the cold temperatures there was lots of activity around the feeder and in the backyard. Both suet feeders were busy with Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees and European Starling. The Niger feed was a big hit again with the Pine Siskins, American Goldfinch and a few Common Redpoll. Pine Siskins were also eating grit on the laneway.

There were a couple of big surprises today, too. First was an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk that spooked everything at the feeders this morning. It sat in a White Cedar in the next backyard for a while but finally gave up and flew to the north. A first for the backyard year list!

The second surprise was discovered after I parked my car in the garage this afternoon. I saw that a small brown bird was trapped in the garage. I walked over to grab and release it but it flew and hit the windows a few times so I backed off. It sat on the window ledge for a few seconds, long enough for me to identify it: a Song Sparrow! It has likely been around in my yard all winter. Another new one for the year.

Male Hairy Woodpecker at the suet feeder in my backyard.

Pine Siskins eating grit on the laneway.

Good birding,
Bruce

1 comment:

Blake A. Mann said...

I enjoy reading your blog! I have one also at: http://burgbirder.blogspot.com/

More Redpolls and Siskins at the feeders today in Wallaceburg. There were none of those two around here a week ago.