Thanksgiving was cold, breezy and dry in La Crosse. Yesterday's rain is past. My trips to the little forest at the base of the bluffs were very chilly. As expected, the cold and wind made the birds a bit scarce and quiet. The big flocks change a bit every day, and robins were the only really big flock around today. More hawks and eagles soaring over the bluff today, and a lot of tundra swans passing high overhead. It was nice to catch a larger flock of crows in my second count, and a couple of hairy woodpeckers which are far fewer than downies here. I had one sparrow in each count today - an American tree sparrow in the morning and a white-throated sparrow at noon. Creepers, juncos and titmouse are still hard for me to pick out by ear.

I keep hoping to see something odd, or at least have some hawks to puzzle over. There have been a lot of accipiters around during my previous visits, but they're very scarce this time. I'm hoping something new will turn up as the weather clears and warms over the next couple of days.

Holmberg Trails
0740-0855, 700m, cold, breezy, dry
3 AMCR, 5 WBNU, 4 DOWO, 15 BCCH, 1 TUTI, 6 NOCA, 2 RBWO, 12 CEDW, 55 AMRO, 11 HOFI, 21 AMGO, 3 DEJU

Holmberg Trails
1205-1310, 800m, cold, breezy, dry
8 NOCA, 2 WBNU, 14 DEJU, 117 AMRO, 13 BCCH, 4 AMGO, 1 WTSP, 1 RBWO, 1 DOWO, 2 HAWO, 1 PIWO, 15 AMCR, 1 BRCR