Let's keep this private group going everyone.

I live in the South Puget Sound region of Washington and take frequent walks in a marshland near our home. Today besides the usual robins, chickadees and spotted towhees I saw some enormous Steller's Jays, one of them pecking a branch in a way reminiscent of a woodpecker. An osprey circled the marsh and chirped, and as I stood up from my fallen log seat the great blue heron took off. I heard the song of the Swainson's thrush as I was leaving.

Previous times in the marsh I have seen Canada geese, mallards, and on one fantastic day several families of wood ducks yelling at each other.

I saw a loon flying up Highway 61 in Gem Lake MN last Friday afternoon. It must have been on its way to White Bear Lake. I thought they all had migrated through the Twin Cities already.

Watched a pair of Sandhill cranes fly over a pasture south of Rochester in the Chatfield area

Today in my marsh I saw some immature (I think) great blue herons, heard two Swainson's thrushes whistling to each other, and heard a northern flicker besides the usual swallows, Steller's jays, and towhees.

I also believe I heard some yellow warblers, could not isolate a song to confirm it. I'm pretty sure I saw one in the area the other day.

Barred Owl yesterday in my backyard!

I had my second sighting of a pileated woodpecker in the pine forest behind the house.

One day in June we were at Split Rock State Park and were having lunch at a picnic table when we heard a bird squawking. We looked and saw a young Pileated Woodpecker peeking out from a nest cavity
30 feet off the ground about 20 yards away from us. Pretty soon an adult landed on the tree and started to feed the young one. We went back a couple of days later and saw the same thing. I got some pictures of the young one. That day the adult didn't return to feed until we were packed up and leaving. No picture attempts then.

I saw Cock of the Woods (a pair of them actually) here right when we moved here and haven't seen them in a long time...

(pileated woodpecker)

Had a raven in the Spruce tree in my neighbors yard speaking in tongues. I love the way they make noises.

quote h20: "Had a raven in the Spruce tree in my neighbors yard speaking in tongues."

Ha!

The only raven noise I have heard is the harsh croak right before a rainstorm. The crows are far more vocal. Occasionally we'll have a parliament of crows in our forest all cawing at each other for about an hour, makes quite a racket.

quote SaganagaJoe: "

quote h20: "Had a raven in the Spruce tree in my neighbors yard speaking in tongues."

Ha!


The only raven noise I have heard is the harsh croak right before a rainstorm. The crows are far more vocal. Occasionally we'll have a parliament of crows in our forest all cawing at each other for about an hour, makes quite a racket. "

We don't have ravens here in West Tennessee, but I have, heard and seen many of them hiking the AT. They love the high country in East Tennessee. Many crows here. My favorite bird.

I saw these a couple weeks ago at my cabin 50 miles south of Ely, in Lake County.

quote inspector13: "
I saw these a couple weeks ago at my cabin 50 miles south of Ely, in Lake County.



"

One of those flew over 35W about 4 feet above my car last week. I thought he was a goner but he made it across. I had never seen one fly before.

I was surprised ten years ago at a friend’s land near Mille Lacs when at dusk they flew up in wimpy popple trees to roost for the night. The turkeys were heavy enough that the tree branches were swaying and making snapping sounds.

Big night tonight over in my forest/marsh, identified an Olive-throated Flycatcher and my first owl ever in the wild. I can't decide if it is a Short-eared Owl or a Barn Owl. What do you think?

quote SaganagaJoe: "Big night tonight over in my forest/marsh, identified an Olive-throated Flycatcher and my first owl ever in the wild. I can't decide if it is a Short-eared Owl or a Barn Owl. What do you think?


"

I say short eared owl. Seems to have slightly darker markings around the face than a barn owl would have.

In another thread on Listening Point, Mooseplums thought it was a barred owl or maybe even a spotted owl - I think the barred owl theory is much more likely. See my other thread on Listening Point. What do you think?

Good night in the woods, got a glimpse of a coyote as I sat on my usual log and a big four to six point buck deer as I was almost to my door, saw cedar waxwings and olive-sided flycatchers besides the usual robins, two young great blue herons (white, so I assume immature), watched a couple of bats for a long time, and heard Swainson's thrush again.

Another good night in the woods, heard some red-breasted nuthatches, towhees, and chickadees, some big robins, cedar waxwings, couple ducks and herons, and some yellow warblers. I'm desperately trying to see or identify a pine siskin.

Watched a tiny wren at length today in the woods, I'm pretty sure it was a Pacific Wren based off of behavior. House Wrens are quite a bit bigger. He didn't sing or I'd be able to identify him for sure.

Otherwise saw/heard the usual chickadees, nuthatches, robins, towhees, cedar waxwings and herons. The water levels are dropping in the marsh as we haven't had much rain in the South Sound region of Washington. I think the ducks may have even left by now. I do think the swallows and warblers have made tracks for the south.

While camping at Iron Lake campground just off the Gunflint Trail I saw a female Black Backed Woodpecker. I was on the lookout for them because they like the dead trees in a burn area. I got lucky, I think.

quote Big Tent: "While camping at Iron Lake campground just off the Gunflint Trail I saw a female Black Backed Woodpecker. I was on the lookout for them because they like the dead trees in a burn area. I got lucky, I think."

Wow, what a great bird (just looked it up on Audubon). I highly recommend the site by the way: Birds of North America, Audubon's online field guide. I use it every time I'm in the woods pulling it up on my iPhone.

I'm just a newbie at birding so you all will laugh at this, but I met a personal goal when I finally heard a Pine Siskin today...yay!!!

I was taking a break from playing with my two border collies and laying in the grass in the shade and noticed some stuff falling from the blue spruce trees in my back yard. A close look lead me to notice that there were about a dozen or so pine siskins picking the seeds from the pine cones. I watched them for a while and was very entertained.

This has been a great weekend - I met another personal goal and saw my first American Goldfinch over at Chambers Bay (where this year's US OPEN was), a beautiful setting when it's not being used for tournaments. Leaving for Minnesota tomorrow and hoping to see different birds back there. Unfortunately I'm not coming up to canoe country this time around.

golden eagles (two) north of staples mn. summer sighting of these eagles are quite rare in minnesota. they are easily mistaken for the very common immature bald eagle and are often seen together. golden eagles hold there wings in a manner that resembles vultures, but are obviously eagles. keep your eyes open, these gorgeous birds appear to be increasing in population in our state.

Last Friday afternoon I saw a peregrine falcon preening itself at the edge of cliff on the island just off shore by the tailings beach in Silver Bay.

The marsh has been continuing to produce...I saw a Belted Kingfisher flying over the reeds and then diving in the other day. I watched a hairy woodpecker (could have been a downy, too, not sure) for a while on a fir tree. And I saw my old friend the barred owl again late one evening. Fall is definitely setting in; the birds are beginning to flock up in various places. The robins have been parliamenting in the marsh, and the red-wing blackbirds have been gathering at a spot a few miles away.

A sad finding the other day over at my neighbor's house. I am sure this is a Swainson's thrush as I heard them in my area all the time this summer. I think it flew into the sliding glass door under her deck. (!) Maybe something was chasing it. Most beautiful song I hear out here in Washington.



On a brighter note I may have heard the buzzy whistle of the Varied Thrush yesterday morning.

northern waterthrush on lac la croix. these are fairly common but tough to see as they spend most of there time bouncing around in the shrubbery on shore. this one would stand still for my stupid autofocus.

Dark eyed Juncos were on the move in large numbers last weekend in the Arrowhead; and the robins are all flocked up. Winter is coming.

Piliated and red-bellied woodpeckers coming to the suet feeder more often now. Kind of scarce in the height of summer.

Warblers have come and gone. No juncos yet. They probably aren't in any hurry to get here. Only the northern half on MN has had any frost yet. Crazy!

quote SaganagaJoe: "A sad finding the other day over at my neighbor's house. I am sure this is a Swainson's thrush as I heard them in my area all the time this summer. I think it flew into the sliding glass door under her deck. (!) Maybe something was chasing it. Most beautiful song I hear out here in Washington.





On a brighter note I may have heard the buzzy whistle of the Varied Thrush yesterday morning. "

Sadly, Swainsons Thrushes are one of the birds most commonly killed by things like cell phone and other tall towers in remote places.

What price "progress?"

quote jwartman59: " northern waterthrush on lac la croix. these are fairly common but tough to see as they spend most of there time bouncing around in the shrubbery on shore. this one would stand still for my stupid autofocus."

Wow, will be looking and listening next time I'm in the BWCA.

quote gkimball: "Piliated and red-bellied woodpeckers coming to the suet feeder more often now. Kind of scarce in the height of summer.

Warblers have come and gone. No juncos yet. They probably aren't in any hurry to get here. Only the northern half on MN has had any frost yet. Crazy!"

We've got juncos all over the place here in Washington and absolutely no frost yet...

quote gkimball: "

quote SaganagaJoe: "A sad finding the other day over at my neighbor's house. I am sure this is a Swainson's thrush as I heard them in my area all the time this summer. I think it flew into the sliding glass door under her deck. (!) Maybe something was chasing it. Most beautiful song I hear out here in Washington.

On a brighter note I may have heard the buzzy whistle of the Varied Thrush yesterday morning. "

Sadly, Swainsons Thrushes are one of the birds most commonly killed by things like cell phone and other tall towers in remote places.

What price "progress?""

I think it's all about awareness. Too many people are living in the fast lane and not paying attention to the incredible life all around them - and yes death as well. They do make glass with microscopic something or other in it that the birds can see. If I build a home with big glass doors, I will definitely make an attempt to make it safe.

I just struggle with the regulation part of it. Why should they have to regulate people to do something that humans should inherently want to do? Like I said it's about awareness.

John Burroughs opened my eyes, man. I think I got my love of thrushes from him.

quote SaganagaJoe: "

quote gkimball: "

quote SaganagaJoe: "A sad finding the other day over at my neighbor's house. I am sure this is a Swainson's thrush as I heard them in my area all the time this summer. I think it flew into the sliding glass door under her deck. (!) Maybe something was chasing it. Most beautiful song I hear out here in Washington.


On a brighter note I may have heard the buzzy whistle of the Varied Thrush yesterday morning. "

Sadly, Swainsons Thrushes are one of the birds most commonly killed by things like cell phone and other tall towers in remote places.


What price "progress?""

I think it's all about awareness. Too many people are living in the fast lane and not paying attention to the incredible life all around them - and yes death as well. They do make glass with microscopic something or other in it that the birds can see. If I build a home with big glass doors, I will definitely make an attempt to make it safe.


I just struggle with the regulation part of it. Why should they have to regulate people to do something that humans should inherently want to do? Like I said it's about awareness.


John Burroughs opened my eyes, man. I think I got my love of thrushes from him. "

Yes awareness is the key. Willingness to act must follow. Both seem to be lacking in today's world.

Long live the thrushes! The Swainson's song is the reason I MUST do a trip or two every spring to the BW. We are lucky that the BWCA is inside the southern edge of their summer range.

I love hermit thrushes even more than Swainson's. Apparently there are hermit thrushes around here but I only hear the Swainson's. I was so happy to hear them in the Boundary Waters this past summer.

And I saw a red-breasted sapsucker yesterday too. I've been wanting to see one of those for a while now.

quote SaganagaJoe: "I love hermit thrushes even more than Swainson's. Apparently there are hermit thrushes around here but I only hear the Swainson's. I was so happy to hear them in the Boundary Waters this past summer.


And I saw a red-breasted sapsucker yesterday too. I've been wanting to see one of those for a while now.



"

In 1972 I manned Stormy Peak Lookout in the Salmon National Forest in Idaho. Hermit Thrushes sang there almost every evening, but I didn't know what they were then. Their song defined the place for me. Didn't know until many years later when someone I was with told me what they were. Nice!

How'd you like to live here? I'll bet the bird songs are simply incredible.

The warblers have been migrating back south and we have seen several in our yard just north of Cincinnati. So far; Palm, Worm-eating, Nashville, Golden-winged, and Magnolia. Last Sunday was the biggest display, just one here and there since.

I was in the marsh yesterday. The summer in Washington was so hot that it basically dried the marsh up to where it is now one big mud puddle. All the ducks are gone, or so I believe. When I was standing in the woods near the shoreline, a flock of calling Canada geese flew in and began to circle the marsh, going lower and lower. It was incredible to hear the sound of their powerful wings beating the air. When they could see there was no water for them to land in, they headed out.

We have had rain, thankfully, but we need a lot more to fill the marsh back up for next summer. I want our resident mallards and wood ducks to come back.

I enjoy taking breaks from law school work to go on walks, and I'm always looking and listening for new birds. Over at Chambers Bay, the site of the 2015 US Open (golf) back in June, they are still in the process of cleaning up the fields where they set up temporary tents. They just re-graded a field the other day. When I was walking by, I'm pretty sure I saw and heard a flock of killdeers feasting. According to Audubon they do follow farmers plowing fields, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what I saw.

This site is my right arm for anything related to birds. I always pull it up on my iPhone when I'm birding.

Birds of North America Field Guide

quote SaganagaJoe: "This site is my right arm for anything related to birds. I always pull it up on my iPhone when I'm birding.


Birds of North America Field Guide "

Birding is the main thing I do when I go to the BWCA, either watching or listening. Always carry binoculars and bird manual. I now go in both spring and early summer when they are singing and in their mating processes.

Realizing how many kinds of of birds there are, seeing them live through the cycle of the seasons, listening for their songs helps one wake up to the natural world. One day the lights just come on to what has been happening all around you, every day. As you look for birds you also start seeing many other things too.

I've had a bird feeder (actually feeders) in the same place at our house for about 25 years. That means the local birds now think of me as "Sugar Daddy." Many of them don't even fly off the feeder when I walk by anymore.

Nice!

quote jwartman59: " northern waterthrush on lac la croix. these are fairly common but tough to see as they spend most of there time bouncing around in the shrubbery on shore. this one would stand still for my stupid autofocus."

cripes. i looked at this photo and thought, that's a pipet not a waterthrush. now i don't know. photo is poor, difficult to remember details and i didn't take notes. i clearly remember him hopping, it was distinctive, that would make him a waterthrush, i think. this is why i don't birdwatch like i used to. it makes you weird.

Today I had one of the best nature walks I've ever had to date over in the maple forest on the banks of Chambers Creek near Steilacoom, Washington. Besides seeing the fall colors, hearing the creek, two flocks of geese, and seeing what I'm pretty sure were raccoon prints, I saw and heard a Varied Thrush. This is a major birding milestone for me. I have been looking and listening for these for quite a few weeks now, and while I think I may have heard it before, I didn't know for sure until today.

I was nearing the end of the trail when I heard what sounded like a Varied Thrush whistle. I whipped out my iPhone to take a listen to the sound and played it for only a few seconds. Then I heard it again right above my head. I looked up. The sun was at the wrong angle, so I only saw an orange breast, but I was optimistic. Then the thrush sang enough of its song for me to confirm it was indeed a Varied Thrush.

Today was also a Pacific Wren day. Their songs were everywhere. This little tiny bird has one of the most beautiful songs I hear out here.

Varied Thrush

Pacific Wren

quote gkimball:

Realizing how many kinds of of birds there are, seeing them live through the cycle of the seasons, listening for their songs helps one wake up to the natural world. One day the lights just come on to what has been happening all around you, every day. As you look for birds you also start seeing many other things too.

I totally agree. "To the scientist Nature is a storehouse of facts, laws, processes; to the artist she is a storehouse of pictures; to the poet she is a storehouse of images, fancies, a source of inspiration...to all she may be a source of knowledge and joy."

-John Burroughs

This was first reawakened in me on my first trip to the BWCA at the age of seventeen.

oops

Just a banner birding day today. In the marsh I saw what I'm sure was a flock of bushtits, my first such sighting, a couple Pacific Wrens, and listened to the lonesome whistle of the Varied Thrush. On the way back home through my neighborhood I got very close to a flock of chickadees and nuthatches and a flock of pine siskins. The robins were also flocked up eating berries along with a couple of Cedar Waxwings. Steller's Jays were very active as well.

On top of all that I saw a huge buck deer eating and got very close.

And the other day I was walking in the woods and startled a huge Golden Eagle who took off.

Western Washington is just such a great place to go birding. I desperately want to hear a hermit thrush here (I have heard them in the Boundary Waters) but that will have to wait until next spring or summer.

At the feeders :

Red bellied woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
hairy woodpecker
Nuthatch
American goldfinch
Tree sparrow
black capped chickadee
dark eyed. Junco
Blue Jay

Other places :
snow buntings
broadwinged hawk
eagles
Ring necked pheasants
cedar waxwings
countless Canada geese

snowy owl in richfield yesterday.

quote mooseplums: "At the feeders :


Red bellied woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
hairy woodpecker
Nuthatch
American goldfinch
Tree sparrow
black capped chickadee
dark eyed. Junco
Blue Jay


Other places :
snow buntings
broadwinged hawk
eagles
Ring necked pheasants
cedar waxwings
countless Canada geese "

Are your nuthatches red-breasted or white-breasted?

White breasted .. but the reds migrate through

quote mooseplums: "White breasted .. but the reds migrate through "

We only have reds out here in western Washington.

I'm so happy - the pileated woodpecker has returned to the woods behind my house. I saw a pair of them years ago and then either they disappeared or I didn't see them. Today I saw a single pileated woodpecker hard at work on the rotting alder.

Walking over at Chambers Bay today, I saw a big flock of pine siskins land in a tree. I was able to get pretty close to them and watch them for a while - it was pretty awesome. Amazing how many of them there are in a flock.

I'm sitting at my desk now listening to the rain come down on the roof over me. Fall is here. I'll bet the birds are huddled low too. The rain is filling up Farrell's Marsh so all the ducks and birds can come back. When the rain stops I'll walk over and look.

A doctor used to live in my little town, in the South Sound region of Washington. I can see Puget Sound from my room when the leaves fall in the winter. He packed up and moved south, Texas maybe, for a few years and then came back. As he got off the train at the Steilacoom station, now boarded up, he walked into the rainy day and said, "Thank God I am in a place where it rains." Amen.

Saw a Red Shouldered hawk perched on my backyard fence last week.

Gray Jays were coming to my feeders north of Two Harbors this past weekend. It was my first time seeing that. Maybe it was the peanut pieces in the mixture that was attracting them.

I'm now up to 50 birds that I have identified, probably 75% of them in Washington, 25% in Minnesota.

Saw 8 Tundra Swans mixed with about 20 Canada Geese and other waterfowl (mostly Mallards) at the outlet of Sucker Lake about 3 miles n of our house. They are large, beautiful and quiet birds this time of year.

Still alot of open water in the Twin Cities due to the abnormally warm winter.

I haven't had a lot of time to get out and go birding but I really enjoy being able to walk outside, hear or see a bird, and identify what it is. A few miles away, there seems to be a whole flock of buffleheads wintering in the saltwater bay. They're very fun to watch whenever I drive by.

We've had so much rain that the marsh is now filled to capacity again! Only a few months ago it was a big mud puddle. I'm looking forward to seeing the mallards, geese, and wood ducks again this spring.

With school done for now I can start some winter birding. I had a neat experience today over at Chambers Bay. I was walking with a few of my sisters and we almost stepped on a Golden-crowned Kinglet which was hoping around on the ground. I could have picked it up. We watched it for a while and got some good pictures. It eventually flew off into a nearby tree. I've been wanting to see this bird so I'm happy. Now to identify the Ruby-crested Kinglet, which I'm pretty sure I've seen around as well.

Anyone see a partridge in a pear tree yet? :)

quote SaganagaJoe: Anyone see a partridge in a pear tree yet? :)"

I did see a ruffed grouse in a maple tree. Is that close enough?

quote Ausable: "

quote SaganagaJoe: Anyone see a partridge in a pear tree yet? :)"

I did see a ruffed grouse in a maple tree. Is that close enough?"

Ya sure.

Wow, this thread is getting long. I live in a western suburb of Chicago. Anyway, I put out feeders and suet per the weekend after a 2-month hiatus. Because House Sparrows can clean out a feeder in a day, I take the feeders down occasionally to get the sparrows to move away. The Chickadees were the first to arrive, followed by Cardinals, House Finches, House Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches, Juncos, a female Downy Woodpecker (at the suet feeder), and a male Red-bellied Woodpecker in our old Horsechestnut tree. These are all pretty common species here, but I do't often see a Red-bellied. I was surprised to hear a flock of Sandhill Cranes flying south 2 days ago; it has to be one of the last to migrate.

A couple of days ago we had a very active morning for birds at our feeder. We had our first Hairy Woodpecker and the first multiple Northern Flickers, in addition to the everyday Downies, finches, sparrows, doves, Red Bellies, Juncos, White Breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees, Tufted Timouse, Cardinals and squirrels.

A neat sighting Wednesday.... I saw an American kestrel dive from a wire to the shoulder of the road, and mantle for a moment on the ground, and take off with a field mouse.....very cool

Yesterday evening I saw three bird shapes along the side of the blacktop that looked out of place. As I got closer I saw they were Meadowlarks. Unsure what exactly they think they're doing in NW Iowa with a foot of snow on the ground and single digit lows but they couldn't have been real happy about it.

Alan

See my post here for a more poetic reflection on my nature walk today. I saw another Varied Thrush, and enjoyed birding literally in the midst of the winter flock of chickadees, kinglets, and nuthatches. Click the link and read about it!

This morning while cooking breakfast, I saw my first pileated woodpecker of the season land on my suet feeder.......a couple of hours later, while wrenching on my jeep in the driveway, I first heard, then saw about 100 sandhill cranes fly over the house......I've never seen them in Ohio before......

Mike

I have a bird of prey hunting at my bird feeder. I think it is a Peregrine falcon, as it has been catching birds. Are there other hawks this bird could be, maybe a Cooper's hawk, or is a Peregrine the only bird that will catch birds? Haven't seen it go after the squirrels yet, and it's very fast & agile, no pictures but I'd say it would stand 16" to 18" tall.
John

We had our first sighting of a White-throated Sparrow at the base of the feeder this morning. We see them all through the winter. I am happy we live in their winter range. Welcome back!

I'm on a winter vacation in Utah this week, and walking a path along the Jordan yesterday.
The birds were out in force, lots of waterfowl.
pintails
cinnamon teal
Green winged teal
Common goldenyes
Gadwall
American widgeon
Shovelers
mallards
Canada geese
gulls
Other birds :
magpie
Red tailed hawk
Northern Harrier
Merlin
and a bald eagle who scared all the ducks away when it took a low pass over the river.

That's a pretty nice mix there MP. Utah's a great spot to vacation. I've only been through there once.

Other than seeing my first flock of White-crowned Sparrows (I think) and some mallards in the marsh, I haven't seen much. The mallards were pretty cool though. I have never heard their wings whistle before. Wow.

Two neat birding experiences over at Chambers Bay yesterday. The first was in the woods when I saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet flitting in the trees. I know that these birds usually live high up in the firs but forage on the ground in the wintertime. One of them landed to where I could almost grab it, and hopped along in front of me eating, staying just one hop ahead of me. As I walked away I thought about how the Creator cares for the birds and how He cares for me as well - great solace.

Then down by Puget Sound I watched two small flocks of Canada geese come in. May not seem like a big deal but I have never really watched how they land before. The main portion of the flock came in like a 747, with a slow descent, and just before they hit the ground put their wings at more of an angle and flapped their wings faster. The second portion of the flock was too high and circled several times. It was actually kind of funny to watch them try to come in and fail time and time again. They finally went into a steep descent, much steeper than the first group, and again flapped their wings much faster as they landed. I was thinking as I walked away how nature frequently has the principles down long before we do. I've been in 747s as they landed but now I watch a flock of geese do basically the same thing. Very neat to see this.

Birders all over the US are going to Duluth to see this visitor.

quote inspector13: "
Birders all over the US are going to Duluth to see this visitor.

"

Darn, if I only lived closer.

i'm headed to duluth this weekend for some below zero birdwatching. my son says they're gone, one was found dead.

didn't see the ivory gull but got to watch a barrow's goldeneye for about ten minutes before the cold forced me back into my car. canal park was fairly cold but rare gulls were everywhere. birdwatchers here from around the country, you could spot the out-of-state birders by their enormous Antarctic style down jackets.

That's awesome. School is back up so I'm back in the saddle and not much time for birding. I did watch what I think was a pileated woodpecker(now that I think about it it was probably a northern flicker) for a while the other day. Whenever I look up from my computer I can look into the woods through my window.

The pileated woodpeckers are indeed back, and I think there's a pair of them. They're boring away at the dead alders. I just hope they aren't dumb enough to try their luck on a house before some stupid homeowner decides to shoot them.

Eight Cardinals at the feeder today at dusk. Looked like 4 males and 4 females / juveniles. They are always the last birds at sunset and the first at sunrise. Counted 16 a couple of evenings during the ridiculous winter 2 years ago. By my notes the males will start making partial songs on sunny days in a couple of weeks.

We don't have cardinals out here in WA. I'm jealous.

Ever see a murder of crows before? Every now and again it seems like every crow in the area gathers in our woods and makes an incredible racket. When one starts they all start. I noticed a smaller gathering yesterday evening, but I'm sure there have been times where there's 50 to 100 crows in our woods, or more.

quote SaganagaJoe: "Ever see a murder of crows before? "

Not lately. Many years ago I'd regularly have a large group of crows in my neighborhood. It was hard to hold a conversation and impossible to sleep.

minneapolis has a flock or murder of crows that is estimated at 500,000 birds. here's a link to an 2013 article from npr. last year they roosted in the powderhorn neighborhood. they, or some of them, spend the day at the burnsville landfill. at dawn and dusk this flock will pass within a block of my house. sometimes a thousand birds a minute.

a smaller flock like sjoe describes usually indicates the presence of a bird of prey. crows love to hassle owls.

quote plexmidwest: "I have a bird of prey hunting at my bird feeder. I think it is a Peregrine falcon, as it has been catching birds. Are there other hawks this bird could be, maybe a Cooper's hawk, or is a Peregrine the only bird that will catch birds? Haven't seen it go after the squirrels yet, and it's very fast & agile, no pictures but I'd say it would stand 16" to 18" tall.
John"

Did you ever determine what the bird was? Peregrines have very distinctive facial features relative to the Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks. I know that Peregrines have been nesting on tall buildings in Chicago for awhile. I've had hawks in my backyard (western suburb of Chicago) going after feeder birds; those are Cooper Hawks or possibly Sharp-shinned. It is very hard to distinguish between them if the hawk is just perching.

I've got a friend raven since this Fall. I started throwing bread on my garage roof. In the Fall I would sit outside and he would be wary, but finally take it once I went inside. Now in the Winter he lands and looks for food. I saw him yesterday and I came out..he stayed on the roof and looked over. I tossed the bread on the roof and he hopped down to it and grabbed and took off. My next goal is to have him to eat on the roof while I'm out there, and then to eat on the ground. Ravens are one of my two favorite birds..they seem to know whats up.

quote jwartman59:
"
a smaller flock like sjoe describes usually indicates the presence of a bird of prey. crows love to hassle owls. "

I never knew that. I'll have to look more closely next time I see them. We do have a barred owl I've seen regularly maybe a quarter mile away.

An interesting sight/sound today: heard a ringing metallic trill on the same pitch. Went out on the deck and saw a bird, looked very much like a Red-eyed vireo (buff/white breast, long bill), in trees on edge of forest. Bird trilled more and then began to make more of a buzzing noise before flying away. Audubon ties those sounds to a Dark eyed Junco but I could swear it had a longer bill than that. What do you think?

Spring is on the way already. Over at Chambers Bay yesterday the Red-winged Blackbirds were singing. I also enjoyed a close encounter with an American Coot. Fascinating bird.

Pair of Lesser Scaup Ducks today in the marsh

Ausable - I think you are correct about the bird of prey I saw. I assumed it was a peregrine falcon since it was eating birds. it is not a Peregrine falcon after looking at pics of one. I believe the bird to be a Sharp Shinned hawk, but I cannot say for sure. I will need to pay closer attention next time I see it. I wouldn't rule out a Cooper's hawk, though, the images of both are pretty similar. Thanks for the head's up, I wouldn't have known otherwise.

Today I stopped by the estuary where Chambers Creek meets Puget Sound and watched some Surf Scoters, Common Mergansers, and a Great Blue Heron. I'm also pretty sure I saw a young Western Grebe. Next time I'll remember my binoculars so I can get a closer look.

We're starting to come into a stretch of nice weather here in WA so I'm excited to see what will show up. Lots of wrens and sparrows in the marsh, along with a mating group of Buffleheads (fun to watch). I'm also pretty sure I heard the call of a female Wood Duck yesterday, but it was only once.

Heard a Hutton's Vireo today and saw a big Pileated Woodpecker on a tree that if it fell would probably hit our house. Gulp.

Large group of mating ducks in the marsh yesterday. The buffleheads are grouping up as are the lesser scaups. The mallards were putting up an incredible racket. Wow.

The temp hit. 70 deg. Today in Dayton, Ohio! The wife and I went for a walk at a local park and saw our first Bluebird of the year.

Mike

A bald eagle landed on a fir tree near us the other day and stayed there for several hours. Pretty cool to look at.

Last night I walked to the woods and was sure I heard a wood duck. I rushed over to the other side for a better view but it was too dark to see. I came back this morning and lo and behold there they were! See my post here for some of the other birds I saw and heard. Just love this hobby!

quote SaganagaJoe: "Big night tonight over in my forest/marsh, identified an Olive-throated Flycatcher and my first owl ever in the wild. I can't decide if it is a Short-eared Owl or a Barn Owl. What do you think?


"

That is a Barred Owl I believe. In any event it is cool that you saw an owl at all. They are great finds.

House Wrens are singing in my backyard.

Came back a week ago from a solo. I based on Con Island in Shell Lake, the island was overrun with Yellow Rumped and Black and White Warblers.