Mar 29 2011 - more goldfinch

This one looks like a first summer male

Mar 27 2011 - after the 'big snow'

Just a light covering of snow in some places that soon melted however may have been responsible for a flock of 9 Junco as I put out food for the birds. Pretty quiet so far otherwise, one goldfinch is coloring up nicely

Mar 26 - spring on the way, snow tomorrow!

Mid-morning visit to the patch found trees in bloom and a cool but sunny morning.

A few juncos are still around and the occasional white-throated sparrow. Cardinals were singing loudly in several places and song sparrow and particularly Robins were numerous, especially around the picnic area. Across the rail tracks a Sapsucker was actively moving through the tops of the trees.

At the rusty bridge this mockingbird was showing well when it suddenly drew it's plumage in, looked much skinnier and disappeared into the middle of the bush. I looked up to see a Coopers Hawk pass close by. It was interesting to watch how the feather tracks changed orientation, especially the coverts aligning more with the bill to tail access than shown in thus relaxed shot.


Around the receiving pond a pair of Grackles remain - maybe they will breed here? They have Been around for a while in an unusual place fir them.
At the confluence of the Rivers a pair of Cowbird were skulking around the scrubby area maybe looking for early victims.

Mar 18 2011

Hundreds of Grackles o er the outskirts of Vinton this evening including in the tree next to our hotel room / temp office for the day

March 13 2011 - back in the 'hood

Quick trip to the patch, albeit a little late (10am) Signs of spring with song sparrow, red-winged blackbirds and others signing in the early spring sunshine. Nothing too unusual - 2 Black Vultures maybe the least expected sighting. Up by the picnic area near the dog park, spent some time with a group of Robins. They seemed mostly males although not all were as well marked as this individual.

March 7 2011 - zurich

A small field outside my hotel had a single strip of earth tilled earlier today. I was a little surprised that no birds were following the ploughing but just now I noticed some movement and found 3 White Wagtail feeding on the newly exposed earth.

March 12 2011 - back at the 'bend

An unexpectedly busy day at Riverbend this afternoon with people at least. Plenty of people but the strong current has moved many if the ducks away. The major event on the river was a large flock of ring-billed gull feeding on the river. Many birds were standing on the flotsam maybe feeding on it. Some tried to land on small debris and struggled, 'cycling' it's feet to keep from slipping off and flapping to retain balance.

Counting the gulls (651 btw) there were several ducks but also a horned grebe - as is often at this time of year, the head pattern was somewhat atypical - as shown in my sketch 

March 5 2011 - Spaggers back in da 'hood

In the last couple of days, the 'mob' of House Sparrows seems to have reformed and occasionally visits to see what goodies i have put out. Included in the group is a female with a white tertial on the left wing, presumably the same bird seen previously (in the autumn?)

Everything is very jumpy today, I am guessing the Cooper's is also around!

Looking for a special birthday bird for Chrystal :)

March 02 2011 - and again

Another visit from a (the?) lone Cedar Waxwing. Again, just for a couple of minutes, and then gone....

Mar 01 2011 - new visitot

In the middle if a particularly intense business call, I look out onto the deck and get a partial view of an unusual but familiar silhouette. Managing to reach my handy bins, and a Cedar Waxwing joined the deck list.

As a Mourning Dive crouched in relaxed pose on the bird bath I had a chance to study the feather tracts around the head. In a very relaxed posed the feathers on the ear coverts, above the black mark at the bottom, rear of the coverts, stood out like a tufts in otherwise smooth plumage