Dark-eyed Junco studies

 I've had 4-5 Dark-eyed Juncos in the yard this winter, all "Slate-colored" types. Today they were feeding in spots where I could get OK photos through the window. 

Wilson's Warbler studies

This Wilson's Warbler found my yard a couple of days ago and forages outside of the back windows. It's hard to resist taking pictures, even through the window. The dark crown patch sexes this bird as a male. I like the widow's peak in the front of the patch, a feature I'd never noticed before.

The great cold snap of 2021, 13-17 Feb.

 

     It was a relief to find that my hummingbird feeders were fluid this morning in the predawn; the last couple of mornings have kept me busy keeping the flow going. I've had at least 14 hummingbirds (12 pictured  below) present during the freeze and 18 feeders and territorial behavior has been cranked into high survival mode, so even one frozen feeder meant a chain reaction of hummer combat and birds not getting calories when they needed them. The cold didn't seem to affect the hummingbirds beyond that any more than it affected any of the other birds.

 

 

    The other birds have been here in good numbers. Counting by tens this morning I got to 190 goldfinches/Pine Siskins/Purple Finches. Throw in the juncos, Orange-crowneds, Yellow-rumpeds, Pine, and other winterers, as well as year-round locals that are flocking to the feed and the minimum number of birds that has used the yard over this cold spell is around 250. House Sparrows haven't used my yard in over two decades, but one female found the feeder and now 9 more come with her. 

 

I even looked out to see a blue blob sitting in my hanging feeder birds that turned out to be a resting Eastern Bluebird, the first time any have ever lighted in my yard. Another bluebird waited above.

With birds so dependent on the yard and its feeders, photo opportunities were in big supply. Never pass up the chance to take a picture of a common bird.

 

 

 

And with the rare chance to photograph uncommon birds like Purple Finch and Pine Siskin, I've been snapping as many pictures as I can. I'll have study material long after the ice melts.