Today I Saw (Birds Including Raptors & Hummers) ~ 2014

[Birding Bunch]

Originally Posted by katjh

Just glanced out the picture window into the back yard and noticed a small flock of Dark-Eyed Juncos doing their little "two step" in the leaf litter in the garden. Seems a bit early for them to be here....maybe winter and snow will arrive early this year.

We got our first Juncos 2 October, several days earlier than our previous earliest date. They are a favourite and if the snow comes, I'll be smiling from ear to ear. I really like snow.

[EllenW]

I recently had juncos arrive also. They love to pick in the gravel in my long driveway. Do you get much snow in the winter in Iowa Birding Bunch?

[Birding Bunch]

We can get a bit, but it is not normal. One year we got between 60-70 inches! We could not go out the back door for a couple of months. We got ice, too, just for fun. The birds survived all that. The last picture was that March after some melting, so my husband was able to finally clear the sidewalk.

I am not sure what the normal is, but it seems most years we get at least one good blizzard.

[katjh]

Birding Bunch, I have a sister who lives in Britt, IA. Are you anywhere near there?

[Birding Bunch]

No, we're near the center of the state. I checked a map and Britt is north.

[EllenW]

Nice snow pictures BB.

[linrose]

It will be awhile before we see juncos here. We had our first hard frost overnight, 25 degrees. This morning a flock of cedar waxwings came through feasting on the persimmons. They are so fast it's hard to get a shot of them and I had to go to max zoom so they're not the clearest photos.

[Birding Bunch]

Our feeder birds this morning...
Blue Jays, Juncos, Goldfinches, White-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, House Finches, Harris's Sparrows and ..... Western Meadowlarks.

I still cannot get over that. The Meadowlarks started coming into the feeding area last winter and took a liking to peanuts, even the ones in the shell. They would pound them open. It was funny seeing them carefully pulling out the red skin. They must be learning feeder bird etiquette... one would not let a Blue Jay get anywhere near him this morning.

Oh, they do not go onto any feeders, but they eat strictly off the ground. I did not put peanuts directly on the ground initially, so suspect they ate what other birds dropped. When I saw they liked these, that's when I put nuts down for them.

Yes, my list is correct... no House sparrows. I am sure they are here, I just haven't seen one yet today.

This picture is from Saturday. Our resident female Kestrel. I thought she would have left with the blast of cold, but she's finding food.

[EllenW]

Great that you have so many birds BB. Do you have any pictures of the Western Meadowlarks? I saw an Eastern Meadowlark once. It was beautiful. Hey and I am happy to report I have not one house sparrow. I put out only birdseed that they don't like. I sure hope they stay away.

[katjh]

Originally Posted by EllenW

Great that you have so many birds BB. Do you have any pictures of the Western Meadowlarks? I saw an Eastern Meadowlark once. It was beautiful. Hey and I am happy to report I have not one house sparrow. I put out only birdseed that they don't like. I sure hope they stay away.

We do have house sparrows . They are more resourceful than I used to think. I've seen a couple eating the safflower seed that they never used to touch. I also have at least one that has learned to tip upside down and steal thistle seed from the finch feeders. Unfortunately, it is just the curse of living in the city. House sparrows and starlings.