The last couple of days has provided what I consider the first proper wave of winter birds this season. Numerous properties in Dickinson and N. Palo Alto counties had flocks of Zonotrichia sparrows (all three were present, White-throated, White-crowned and Harris') and Dark-eyed Juncos, not to mention many Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and an influx of Red-breasted Nuthatches, last week I was seeing more RBNUs than White-breasted Nuthatches, and this week seems to be similar with the little red guys being everywhere (although I have a suspicion that WBNU numbers have been down this year, though I can't prove it, it seems WBNUs have been far scarcer this year(s) than previously. Brown Creepers have also seemed to have flooded in, though how many is hard to say because one always is suspicious that you only see one in say four BRCRs...due to their crypsis. This on top of the large numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins and oddly enough Blue Jays that seem to be in a hurry to exit the state southward.
There are some vestiges of summer about though, I saw a couple of Common Yellowthroats (even a male in full breeding plumage). However, most warbs seem to either be transitioning or fully transitioned to little-greenish-brownish-yellowish job mode. Jacob Newton Ottosen, Humboldt co., IA --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
