Winter is quite unlike any other season, and usually lacking in the numbers and diversity of birdlife, but it can still be fun and interesting! As I mentioned in the other post, Emily and I went out around Guelph on December 2, turning up a few good birds. On December 5, Josh joined us in a chase for an adult Black-legged Kittiwake that was found up at Guelph Lake. We didn't have any luck with that, but did turn up some Golden-crowned Kinglets and Wood Ducks. Then on December 7, an adult male Snowy Owl was reported not 5 minutes away from my house! It proved to be a nice study break as it sat nonchalantly on a telephone pole and barely gave us a second glance. On December 10, I celebrated being done 4 of my 5 exams with an outing around southern Wellington County. Emily and I managed to find a few good birds, such as Lesser Black-backed, Glaucous, Iceland and Bonaparte's Gulls, Mute Swan, Common Raven, Ruffed Grouse and a Rough-legged Hawk. A possible Lark Sparrow was reported late that day, so Josh and I took a short study break on the 11th to go look for it, without luck. We did find a Horned Lark and a probable Turkey Vulture, however. My winter list sits at 59 now, although the only reason I know this is that eBird keeps track for me!
As a side note, my feeders have been fairly active (for me, at least!) over the past little while - max numbers:
Dark-eyed Junco - 10+
Northern Cardinal - 3
Black-capped Chickadee - 5+
American Goldfinch - 2
House Finch - 2
House Sparrow - 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2 individuals - neither managed to catch anything
Considering I just have a small hopper feeder and some seed spread on the deck, I'd say that's not too shabby!
Snowy Owl, 5 minutes from home!
Northern Cardinal at the feeder - through a dirty window
1 comment:
David, that's an amazing story with the foxes. What a treat to see the great-horned go after the ravens, too. Thanks for sharing, and enjoy your holidays up north.
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