Tweeters,

The continuing snow (about 9-10in here) over the past few days, plus my
continuing seed scattering under some of the Douglas-firs, has apparently
brought in a concentration of Icterids, mostly RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS with a
sprinkling of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS: Saturday - about 50 RWBL and 4 BHCO;
Sunday - about 250 RWBL and 25 BHCO; and now - about 70 RWBL and 10 BHCO. I
was cleaning snow off underneath of the feeders, but I quit doing that after
I saw the blackbirds scratch quite a bit of snow away in their quest for
seeds. Unfortunately, the blackbirds have taken over most of the feeders
(except those with mesh around the feeding tubes), including the thistle
feeder. The Pine Siskin count has gone down quite a bit since the blackbirds
arrived on the scene.



The wetlands are pretty much frozen in, and the only waterfowl I've seen
were flyovers: about 30 Mallards and 20 Canada Geese.



A COOPER'S HAWK buzzed the feeders several times on Friday afternoon, but I
haven't seen it since. A RED-TAILED HAWK was hunted the wetland/grass area
several times on Friday and Saturday, and an AMERICAN KESTREL passed by on
Saturday afternoon.



The first adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW I've seen in winter has been foraging
on the ground under the thistle feeder with several Dark-eyed Juncos. I've
not seen the White-throated Sparrow since Saturday morning, nor have I seen
the female Common Redpoll.



The number of MOURNING DOVES and HOUSE FINCHES continues to grow, with about
70 of the former and 40 of the latter out today. It's difficult to be sure
of the number of CALIFORNIA QUAIL, but I saw 13 of them struggling through
the soft snow between a couple of trees about a half-hour ago. DARK-EYED
JUNCOS are plentiful (apx 100) and at least 8 FOX SPARROWS, 12
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, 5 SPOTTED TOWHEES, and 15 SONG SPARROWS.



It's about time I got outside to "feed the livestock," as my wife puts it.
The seed feeders are nearly empty, and one of the suet stations also needs
refilling - and the resident Douglas Squirrel is chattering at me to get
some peanuts (shelled!) out.



Hope you're keeping warm..



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com