17-JAN-2010
Female Cassin's Finch #8912
These finches closely resemble House Finches, but have much higher contrast in the breast feathers of the female, and the males are a more rosy pink color. The markings around their eyes are also distinctive. This is the first year I have seen these finches in our yard.
16-JAN-2010
Amercican Goldfinches #8770
Our American Goldfinches are attracted to the sock filled with Nyjer Thistle seed.
Every time a new arrival comes to the sock, he is often "greeted" with a challenge
from the current sock residents.
15-JAN-2010
Eurasian Collared Dove #8671
The Eurasian Collared Dove is a recently introduced species in North America. We have several birds here that seem happy to stay around all year long. They forage for seed off the ground or from the feeder. We usually see them in pairs.
14-JAN-2010
Western Bluebird (Male) #8472
Thursday Jan 14 was a good day for birds. A handful of western bluebirds came by early in the morning. It was overcast and calm, and the birds were after a drink.
Also saw, for the first time, a female Cassin's Finch this morning, and got a picture or two of a swarm of bushtits on the suet feeder.
We did not see many of these bluebirds last winter, but have seen them a bit more often this winter. We have had a much colder winter this year.
13-JAN-2010
Northern Flicker (Female, Red-Shafted) #8399
Flickers are around -- we see one or two every couple of days. I like how the eyes show red when the sun hits them.
Our flickers are attracted to seed and suet, and are all the red-shafted variety -- both males and females have a crescent-shaped black shield on their throats, and the males have a red mustache on their cheeks. When they fly, their undersides show a definite reddish tint.
12-JAN-2010
Dark-Eyed Junco (Slate-colored) #8277
It is hard for me to tell which kind of Junco any particular bird is. They hybridize, so I understand. I first thought
this was a Junco of the Oregon flavor (Junco hyemalis oreganus), but Gale Owings' comment
suggests one of the less common Slate-colored Juncos (Junco hyemalis hyemalis).
04-JAN-2010
House Sparrow #7740
We have quite a few house sparrows, and they appreciate us putting out seed. They are a little bigger than house finches and goldfinches, and generally win when there are squabbles over access to the feeder.
11-JAN-2010
Canyon Towhee #8196
I don't like to take pictures of birds sitting on the feeder, but it's been hard to get these birds to hold still anywhere else. These over-sized sparrow-like birds come out early in the morning and late in the afternoon, and show an interest only in seed. In past years, they have nested in our chimney, and are pretty noisy. The young are not very skittish, so I guess skittishness is something they learn in time.
10-JAN-2010
Townsend's Solitaire #8077
This is only the second time I have ever seen one of these birds. I don't think it's because they are particularly rare, only that I would confuse them with American Robins unless I happen to notice they are gray in the front. Note also the black beak and the little brownish patch on its wingbars.
09-JAN-2010
American Robin #7953
We have robins all year around. This fellow is enjoying his bath at the top of the waterfall. We've seen as many as twenty robins crowding around and drinking in the early morning in the pond. It's late afternoon here.
08-JAN-2010
Male American Goldfinch #7879
These fellows flock to the feeders early in the morning, until midday. They like Nyjer thistle, millet, and sunflower seeds. I will be interested to see how long they hang around once the weather starts warming up.
07-JAN-2010
White-Winged Doves Drinking at the Waterfall #7837
The weather has been cold, and the waterfall skims over with ice at night unless the water is moving pretty fast. It's often funny watching the birds slip on the ice as they try to find a spot to get close to the water. The doves just stand in the water flow -- Obviously they don't mind cold feet.
