Seasons blessings flew in by the dozens, as a huge, mixed flock of Amer. Goldfinches, Pine Siskins, and Common Redpolls converged on the piles of seeds I put out all along the deck rail, on the ground, and in hanging feeders! I think there are almost 200 of them and the way they zoom around, it is pretty hard to sort out the 3 species and count them. It seems like around 60 or more of each. I did estimate 140 just on the deck a couple times.
They were all here the whole day before the snow storm; do they know a storm is coming and that they need to eat a lot? The morning after the big snow, as I was spreading the seeds on the ground in the front yard, I was able to walk quite near an obviously cold, rather weak Redpoll chewing seed on the ground. It seemed more interested in its morning meal than getting away from the big, hairless primate that suddenly loomed nearby. Of course, there are many other feeding birds: Many Cardinals, Juncos, Blue Jays, House Finches, House Sparrows, Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White Breasted Nuthatches, Downys, Red Bellys, and a Hairy Woodpecker, along with the continuing lone C. Grackle, and at least one each of Red Breasted Nuthatch and Amer. Tree Sparrow, along with the usual 5 Crows (one guarding in a tree overhead, while the others eat on the ground). Canada Geese galore ply the lake water, while a Pileated Woodpecker calls in the distance, but often is foraging in the trees along the lake cliff right in my back yard. At least 2 Red Tailed Hawks grace the sky and I know the flock of Wild Turkeys are up the hill somewhere in the woods or in a farm field. Have heard a Great Horned Owl hooting in the far distance to the SE at night. Sweazey Screechie is hiding, maybe keeping warm in the "basement" of his tree hole. Time to drive to Agway to replenish the bird seed! Good birding to you all and see you at the O Lab on Jan. 1, 2013 after we all count birds. Donna Scott Lansing Station Road Lansing, NY -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --