snow cover brings juncos?

[Howieh]

The feeder has been very quiet lately but soon after the snow started a flock of juncos appeared and were happily feeding until Big Furry Guy (my resident squirrel) showed up and spoiled the party! Of course 'flock' may be an overstatement because there's actually less than a dozen, but, since I haven't seen any juncos for several weeks, it's nice to see them at all!

[Leslie Kinrys]

Hi Howie,

Our weather has been so good that the birds don't need our handouts. But when we get a little snow, they all come running. This week I've had a Hairy Woodpecker come to my suet feeder twice. While it was snowing, I had 4 juncos show up as well as 3 White-throated Sparrows.

[Howieh]

Hi Leslie,

At one point I counted ten juncos on the ground and in the bushes and until BFG showed up they also spent lots of time on the feeder, something they never do when my house sparrows are around. There are usually about three dozen house sparrows around most of the time but for some reason they did not appear at all today while I was home.  I'm surprised about the white throated sparrows; do you normally have them around during the winter?

[Howieh]

Wow, what a gorgeous day! but I gotta be careful not to get sick because I'm scheduled for a one time big C treatment at Sunnybrook on Feb 7.  Yesterday was sparrow day again and no juncos until very late in the afternoon. This morning the ten juncos are back, along with the chickadees and black squirrels but no sparrows?...and I still have a tree full of berries in front just waiting for robins and waxwings but no luck so far.

[Rob'in'To]

Ya, Juncos are the highlight here this weekend too.  Snow comes and 6 show up.  Four Chickadees too and three Downys.  Other than that...  this winter, or rather lack of, has blown it for the visitors.  A Sharp-shin took out a Mourning Dove two weeks ago (pics in the bird corner).

Probably two months since I filled the feeders.  I dumped the nyjer again since it got clumpy and gross from the rains.

I miss my steady bird activity.  My PFW reports suck and I have few subjects to practice out the new lens on.

Someone is gonna hate me for wishing we get a good blast of winter over the next 6 weeks.  Sue me!  

[Howieh]

Ya, Juncos are the highlight here this weekend too.  Snow comes and 6 show up.  Four Chickadees too and three Downys.  Other than that...  this winter, or rather lack of, has blown it for the visitors.  A Sharp-shin took out a Mourning Dove two weeks ago (pics in the bird corner).

Probably two months since I filled the feeders.  I dumped the nyjer again since it got clumpy and gross from the rains.

I miss my steady bird activity.  My PFW reports suck and I have few subjects to practice out the new lens on.

Someone is gonna hate me for wishing we get a good blast of winter over the next 6 weeks.  Sue me!  

Exactly ten juncos showed up again today so I assume it's the same flock! Five chickadees and 1 redbreasted  nuthatch also around today along with a pair of cardinals and a few squirrels. I 'fill' the feeder about twice a day about half an inch deep (mix of wild birdseed and black oil seeds) - no point in overfeeding the squirrels!

As we were leaving the house today around 1pm a huge hawk flew from our backyard across the street into a neighbours yard; I went searching but just couldn't locate whatever it was - looked like a redtail but was much bigger than any I've seen before. Any ideas?

As for winter Rob, be careful what you wish for and don't worry, odds are we WILL pay for what has gone on up until now...and I'll sue you only if it happens!

[Rob'in'To]

Bwahahahahaha!  Now now.  

Soaring Hawk?  Big?  Red-tail or Coopers?

Most of my feeders are out of reach for the Squirrels and they don't like nyjer or safflower.  I do let them have at one large feeder.  And most days I set out half a dozen or more piles of seed for them and they all eat away nicely together.