Today (February 16, 2015) is the final day of this year’s Great Backyard Bird Count. If you haven’t joined in yet there’s still time! Just go to the GBBC website, register for a free account and spend at least 15 minutes counting the birds in your yard or wherever else you might be today. I’ve had an excellent time participating in this year’s count. Here are the bird species I’ve cataloged thus far:
- Cooper’s Hawk – Accipiter cooperii
- Eurasian Collared-Dove – Streptopelia decaocto
- Inca Dove – Columbina inca
- White-winged Dove – Zenaida asiatica
- Mourning Dove – Zenaida macroura
- Blue Jay – Cyanocitta cristata
- American Robin – Turdus migratorius
- Northern Mockingbird – Mimus polyglottos
- European Starling – Sturnus vulgaris
- Cedar Waxwing – Bombycilla cedrorum
- Dark-eyed Junco – Junco hyemalis
- Northern Cardinal – Cardinalis cardinalis
- Red-winged Blackbird – Agelaius phoeniceus
- Great-tailed Grackle – Quiscalus mexicanus
- House Finch – Haemorhous mexicanus
- Pine Siskin – Spinus pinus
- American Goldfinch – Spinus tristis
- House Sparrow – Passer domesticus
The most interesting sighting I’ve had so far would be the throng of Cedar Waxwings in the photo below. There were several hawks circling at the time this picture was taken. After being alerted by the raucous calls of a group of Bluejays, these Cedar Waxwings took refuge in this large tree in our front yard. The dullness of the photo matches the dullness of the weather we were having at the time. While the Waxwings are evident due to their crests, its a bit difficult to recognize that there is also an American Robin as well as at least one American Goldfinch in this bunch!
Here’s a closer look at a few of the birds in the swarm above. Again, the photo isn’t great, but yesterday afternoon was so very gray that I’m surprised it came out as well as it did.
I hope to do at least one more count before the day is done. For the past few days I was able to sit in a recessed part of our back patio to watch for birds, but today I’ll have to make do with hanging out at the back window. Brrrrr! It’s cold outside but at least the sun has come out. That should bring the birds out as well. Happy Birding!
The Transmutational Garden 