Tweets,

Saw a "tan-striped" White-throated Sparrow in our front yard feeding area this morning, among the Golden-crowneds, Songs, towhees, and juncoes. If this bird stays, it would be the fourth consecutive year we have had one winter here. Possibly the same individual, although the arrival dates the last two years were in very early November. Stuck around into early May last year, long enough to begin singing regularly.

Have yet to see a big spike in junco numbers at the feeding stations. Numbers have increased to about 10 from the local breeding holdovers of 5-6 (which might be gone by now), and nearly all are now adult males. Typically a flock 0f 40+ is present here through the colder months. Still seeing Turkey Vultures locally, as recently as 10/11, although swallow flocks disappeared about a week earlier than usual here, by very late September. Had a high of 40 or so Mourning Doves about a week ago. A couple of Cooper's Hawks are whittling the numbers down.

Bob

Bob Sundstrom
ixoreus at scattercreek.com
Tenino, WA