Missing ths Winter

[Bill & Jaye]

We have a number of birds in our back yard this winter, but two species are noticably absent so far.
We have not seen a nut hatch, as we always have, and no Red Polls so far.  Last year was a first for Red Polls, and I expected a return this year.  Are you seeing these and where?

[Rob'in'To]

We used to get White-breasted Nuthatches in the winter for a few years, but the last few, I only see them pass through in October and then they are gone.  We are fortunate to have a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches visit us daily from October to April.

As for Red Polls, we get them briefly in irruption years.  Usually late winter, for about 10 days.  I had 18 one year, it was awesome.

The Finch Forecast predicted little Finch activity for us, like Red Polls, Siskens in our area (GTA).  Where are you located?

[thouc]

I haven't seen any reports of Redpolls in Southern Ontario this winter and only a few Pine Siskins.

/Thomas

[Bill & Jaye]

Rob in TO
We are bewteen Cambridge and Brantford.  BTW, no Pine Sisking this winter either.
Thanks.

[winz]

Haven't seen any redpolls or nuthatches yet this year either.  Last year the redpolls showed up early January, and I had some red breasted nuthatches all winter.  This year, I have a winter first - An American Tree Sparrow that showed up a few days ago   .

[JW Mills]

No Redpolls, but we do have 2 RB Nuthatches and 1 WB Nuthatch that visit regularly.

[Axeman]

I get both RBN and WBN....redpolls are uncommon visitors....pine siskens I've never seen....we are up in grey county

[Bird Brain]

Not seeing much of anything this month/Winter.  

Yesterday afternoon at West end of Lake Aquitaine:  Cardinal x 1 (female), Mallards x 30 (at small patch of open water) and Red-tailed Hawk circling above the lake.

[Dinusaur]

I have been seeing a lot of red-breasted nuthatches, all kinds of finches, juncos, downys, tree sparrow and even a chipping sparrow at my backyard; however, no red-poll yet. At least I haven't seen any. Then again I only had part of the week-ends to look out for. Sunday morning it was quite busy until this one showed up. Is it a Sharpie or red-tailed, I am not very sure. It stayed only for two shots before it flew away. Soon afterwards the activity resumed.

[thouc]

That's a Red-tail.

[Dr. John]

We have also had no nuthatches this winter so far (downtown Toronto, in Riverdale). We rarely get pine siskins, so that is not unusual. We have juncos as usual and we had our first America tree sparrow ever last week. What is missing for us are house finches (none so far) and goldfinches (one in the past two months) at our feeders.

[BC]

Our backyard feeders are in urban Hamilton. Missing this winter so far are Red-breasted Nuthatch, Common Redpoll and Pine Siskin. All were common to fairly common last winter.
We've had up to 30 House Finch, 12 American Goldfinch, a single American Tree Sparrow and a 'one-day wonder' White-crowned Sparrow a few weeks ago. As many as 14 Mourning Doves and a regular Cooper's Hawk on the prowl.

[Napper]

We had a single White Breasted Nuthatch at the feeders just before the big ice storm.
Have not seen it since.. We have Cedar waxwing's .

Napper

[Leslie]

I wasn't sure "my" white-breasted nuthatch made it through the ice storm, but a couple of days ago there were 2 on the feeder.
I don't see red-breasted nuthatches outside of migration--I guess I don't have the right evergreens for them.
I've seen something large & fast & brown-grey twice this winter--Cooper's is best guess.  I expect the pair will come back in the spring, & that will be it for the feeders until the young'uns move on.
I spent Christmas with relatives in Oakville.  Downies & chickadees & both red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches at the suet.  Special treat--4 robins.

[Axeman]

I should add, while not at my feeders, I've had snow buntings and goldfinches on my drive....they seemed to be collecting at the same spots...

What I'm envious of are the reports of snowy owls....