Tweets,

It was a nice day to loaf after doing some errands, so I tallied some of
what I saw in and around the house at Roy. Standouts were the 170 or so
NORTHERN PINTAIL; 2 GREATER SCAUP; 28 RING-NECKED DUCKS; 59 MOURNING DOVES;
11 STELLER'S JAYS; 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS; 5 FOX SPARROWS; 15+ SONG SPARROWS; 8
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS; 2 RED CROSSBILLS; and the "living carpet" of about
250 PINE SISKINS (down from about 300 on Sunday last). The scaup
(apparently) remain from Sunday, where they were the 100th species tallied
for the property. The ephemeral pond - strike that - lake across the street
continues to pull in a host of ducks since hunting season closed. In
addition, the wetland behind the house has lots of ducks roosting at night
in the water around the extensive growth of willows.



In addition to the above, had some good numbers for several species:
Mallard - about 150; California Quail - 10; Downy Woodpeckers - 4; Common
Ravens - 3; Black-capped Chickadees - 15+; Chestnut-backed Chickadees - 10+;
Red-breasted Nuthatches - 4; Bewick's Wrens - 2; Marsh Wrens - about 5
singing; Golden-crowned Kinglets - 7; Yellow-rumped Warblers - 6, including
the "winter-residing" "Myrtle"; 50+ Dark-eyed Juncos - about 40; and 8-10
Purple Finches.



Tried to spook up some Virginia Rails, but no luck as yet. Did however, get
to see one of the local Great Horned Owls on a pole across the street -
silhouetted against the horizon. The local Red-tailed Hawks continue to make
progress on the new nest at the southeast corner of the property.



Species seen today include the following:

Canada Goose

American Wigeon

Mallard

Northern Pintail

Green-winged Teal

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

California Quail

Great Blue Heron

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Killdeer

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Great Horned Owl

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Steller's Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Black-capped Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Red-breasted Nuthatch

Bewick's Wren

Marsh Wren

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Western Bluebird

American Robin

Varied Thrush (Note: this one tries every morning to get water from the
frozen birdbath - my wife watched it "ice-skate" on Sunday.)

European Starling (one of these does a great "Western Meadowlark," but I've
not seen one around here except on Ft Lewis)

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow



Species today: 44 ; Year-to-date - 57; Site-to-date - 100.



Note: Since I've not described it before - The property is about 10 acres,
located about one mile south of the intersection of 288th and 48th Ave S,
in Roy, WA. About half the property is wetland, with a barn, pasture, and
ephemeral lake across the street. Vegetation consists of the remains of a
Christmas tree farm (noble firs - about 20ft tall) and Douglas-firs of
various ages - the oldest not more than 12-15 years and 20 or so feet tall
behind the house. Several non-native blackberry patches are in the field
behind the house. A screen of eight more-mature Douglas-firs and big-leaf
maples is between the front of the house and the road. I have a variety of
feeding stations (black oilseed, niger, suet, and peanut) scattered around
the property. Most are within 300 feet of the house, but none closer than 60
feet.



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com