Hi All
The cool freshness of the dawn raised the curtain on a beautiful sunny
morning. The change to cooler weather seem to imply a weather/seasonal
shift. This morning we had 4 elk grazing in the north forty (actually, it's
the north 5, we only have 10 acres). Clearly a birdy morning! 29 STELLER'S
JAYS showed up for peanuts, and a pair of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES enjoyed the
niger seed.
The very first bird on my way to my usual census route was a SNOW BUNTING.
My guess is that it was a first year bird based upon the richness and
extensiveness of the red/browns. Despite such an auspicious start, the
census route birds were fairly routine. We are still knee deep in AMERICAN
WIGEONS, AMERICAN COOTS and MALLARDS. The number of BUFFLEHEADS are
increasing dramatically. The male GREEN-WINGED TEAL are back to alternate
plumage.The last of the PIED-BILLED GREBES has probably headed to warmer
climes as the last juvenile, seen last week, was no where to be seen.

Cheers
Gail Spitler
Johnsons Landing, BC
spitler at wkpowerlink.com