I’ve managed to spend a little time outside the last couple of days, but despite some pretty nice light, didn’t get any good pictures taken. Today’s photo was one I took while trying to decide if a sizable flock of birds included Pine Siskins, Redpolls, or both.
Weather: The cold and clear conditions that persisted for over a week finally broke on Tuesday. Overcast skies have prevailed since then with an occasionally small break with sunshine. Snow fell occasionally Tuesday through this morning, but it had changed to rain this afternoon. Wednesday morning there was several inches of snow that fell. It was falling fast enough in the morning, that school was cancelled.
Birds: I observed 3 geese flying over campus yesterday.
There was a report of a Rosy Finch around Verstovia Avenue that I heard about today. I went to check it out, but never saw any. There were quite a few juncos, Varied Thrush, chickadees, and Song Sparrows about, however. I also saw several Mallards fly over.
There was a large (50+) flock of small finches around our house for a short time this morning. There were some Pine Siskins and Common Redpolls, but I was unable to get a sense of which (if either) was the more numerous species.
A Winter Wren spent some time in our carport this morning. I had also seen one in our backyard within the last couple of days. I am guessing they were the same bird, but I don’t know.
There was a Redbreasted Sapsucker in the neighborhood today. I don’t know if it’s the same one I saw last week.