Lots of Grosbeaks

[kastern]

This is the time of year when I start paying more attention than usual as to what is showing up at my feeders. Bird Studies Canada's 'Project Feeder Watch' starts next week, I don't know of a better way to have the winter just whip by than to take part in this citizen science project. I suspect also that most of my bird watching this winter will be done from my house into the yard, although a winter of chemotheraphy now sounds like it might turn into a lifetime of hormonetheraphy which somehow sounds a lot more benign than chemo. Never the less, even though I am now able to wander down to the estuary again, the birds in the yard are what I'm counting on.

To that end, they are obliging already. We have a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks over here, there are at least a couple of dozen and possibly more. I kept hoping they'd co-operate and land in my crab apple tree as the colors right now would make for some spectacular photos. Unfortuantely, they haven't, but they did spend a fair amount of time in an ornamental maple in the neigbours yard and I hope I got some decent photos of them eating the maple keys.

Other regulars coming to the feeders right now are:

Steller's Jay - a dozen or so at a time

Red Wing Blackbirds- again usually a dozen or so at a time, all males and appear to be the same flock that wintered here last year as the one male with white markings on its head and shoulders is back.

Northern Flicker - I have at least 3 coming, including one that comes just before dark and calls and calls. All males, Red-Shafted.

Towhees - lots of Towhees - 6 or 8 at a time

Song Sparrows - a couple at a time

House Finch - a few, 4 or 6

House Sparrow - about the same numbers as the House Finch

Juncos - 12 to 18 or so at a time.

Varied Thrush - it's early for them, but I've had a couple, they like the crab apples.

Chickadees - both Black Capped and Chestnut Backed, numbers vary but usually 3 or 4 of each

Winter Wren - doesn't come to the feeders of course, but he's out there in the bushes

Sharp Shin Hawk - he's been around a couple of times in the past week.

Thats about it for who is out there now. I'm watching for a Fox Sparrow, there were a few Siskens around a month ago but they seem to have disappeared again. A Nuthatch has been heard but not seen and I'm hoping for a winter that might bring some Redpolls or even Cassin's Finch like we had a several years ago.

Kathy

[Dave]

Thanks for the update, Kathy. Looking forward to nice pics of crossbills, Cassin's Finches, Harris's Sparrows, etc........

Dave

[tmanson]

Hi Kathy: Good to see you back posting again. Dave's right; we will all be looking forward to your photographic records of your local birds, as well as the ones you see on your trips. As a matter of fact, your pics, as well as Dave's and Gord's have inspired me to become a little more active in that aspect of birding. I am presently just waiting for Santa to deliver a package with a new camera.
I'd like to be reporting some interesting stuff, but the last two sojourns out into this terrible weather have produced a few Varied Thrush, and one Bald Eagle. The Short eared Owls I previouslyl reported at the Hope Airport, are either hunkered down somewhere, or they are trying to find somewhere drier. Good luck to them!! By the way, how about finding us all an Iceland Gull, or some other rare gull amongst the flock on the Harrison River?
All the best, Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Gord]

Kathy, I hear that it's a 'good year' for redpolls with lots seen further south than normal. I checked my records, and I seem to get them every other winter and they are due this winter. Two possible good signs? Id like to see a Cassin's finch again too. Been ages for me.

Lots of gulls everywhere! I was at Eagle Point today and there were many, plus several thousand in East Chilliwack from the highway. Need Thor to scout from the highway again to find something neat!

Hope Santa delivers for you Thor.