Good Birding Today!

My backyard became a feast for no less than 20 - 30 Juncos, 3 Towhees, and 3 Varied Thrush this afternoon. It was a treat to watch the Junco's flit back and forth among themselves pecking at whatever they thought was good to eat on the ground about 2:30pm. Grey clouds were moving in by 3PM and it seemed so much later in the evening. I hope it doesn't snow, but it just might.

Yesterday evening there was a small flock of geese that flew over quite low and were heading East. I wonder where they were headed. I'll have to check my pond and lake maps for the nearest water body. I imagine a few have iced over in the past few days.

The Varied Thrush are uncommon visitors here and as soon as I attempted to snap a photo... I was spotted and they flew off!

[AND Thank you, C. Southwick for the wonderful idea. Wrapping a hummingbird feeder in Christmas lights just might be the trick to keeping the ice away! ]

Cross Posted to TWEETERS

Yelm's New Record in the Yard Bird Race

Yelm participated in the 6th annual Yard Bird Race.  Yard Bird Race put Yelm on the birding map this year for the first time ever and created a new record.  :)
 

"Hi, just wanted to thank you for YardBirdRacing this year.  (Check out the tweeters report of today that includes as highlights the new Yelm record, btw).

 

Hope you have a great holiday season and another great next year!

 

 

Cheers,

 

Ed Newbold"

Thanks, Mr. Newbold, for sponsoring the race ~ that was alot of fun. :)

Sunny Day Wednesday

Two very large flocks of geese flew East on Wednesday, December 23, 2009.  There were three "V" formations and one small line. Each "V" consisted of about 30 geese and they flew side by side in two V patterns, the smallest line flew in the middle.

Does this mean that these two flocks have different "leaders"?

The Merlin/Hawk was spotted today sitting atop an electric line, in an open area, 1/8 of mile from where he/she was spotted several weeks ago.  Still pale grey breast (fluffy today), flat tucked head, long thin tail, very small in stature.

Flying just two blocks North of where I live there were also two Bald Eagles circling less than 1/4 mile away from the Merlin/Hawk.

A robin visited my yard Wednesday, too along with the usual Junco's, Towhee's, Black capped chickadees, and Jays.

There was also a visit from a woodpecker, but he was too high into the trees for me to identify his profile/shadow.

It was great to see the Merlin/Hawk back, especially with the Bald Eagles flying within a very short distance from his perch. 

Burien, WA had an episode on the news last night where two Bald Eagles were fighting in someone's residential backyard.  I have never heard of Bald Eagles fighting before - so I found that interesting to say the least.  The poor homeowner heard the ruckus from inside his home and definitely said that that THUMP wasn't a squirrel!  The Bald Eagles were actually duking it out within 2 feet of the homeowners house in his backyard and may have rolled off of the roof fighting!

Silo Birds

Yesterday, in the late afternoon about 30 minutes before dark, I noticed 2 pigeons or doves flying into a Silo on Ordway. Grey with black wing markings.

Yelm Yard Bird Race winding down

December 31st will be here before I know it and with the end of the year comes the end of the first Thurston County Yelm Yard Bird Race. This year has certainly passed quickly for me.

Yard Bird Race Counties 2009


Whatcom
Thurston
San Juan
Snohomish
Skagit
Pierce
Mason
King
Jefferson
Island
Gray's Harbor
Clark