Happy New Years Tweeters All -

The sunny cold days have brought the usuals to my yard - Bewick's wrens (a personal favorite), along with Towhees (oh, another personal favorite), Song Sparrows, Bushtits (lots), Juncos, Flickers (Wondering if there will there be a sequel - "Meet the Flickers"- of which I believe we had a yellow shafted (which I mistakenly called Gilded before after another visit) - yellow vs. orange under the wings, Anna's Hummingbird - a persistent male (no comment), Varied Thrush (not so regular)...a many others you all probably see regularly too. But yesterday and today, I've had - which may not be so uncommon where you live, but a nice surprise in my yard - Yellow Rumped Warbler (they seem to love the "Christmas Cake" suet) I have seen these at the Fill (the "common name"), but wondering how many of Tweeters see this dear little bird (with a yellow chin too)?

Question - what is the accepted/correct way to write bird names (I know scientific plant names are Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn') but wondering when using common names of birds if it's "acceptable" to not capitalize. I wouldn't want to offend any of my bird pals - winged or otherwise! :) Speaking of plants - I don't see it commonly listed as a "bird attracting" plant, but FYI - Sarcococca ruscifolia (and the other one...lower...name escapes me) robins/Robins (among others) scarf the berries down. I was disappointed that my Cotoneaster parneyii's berries were caught in the frost before ripening and apparently left inedible to the birds during this cold spell.

Stay warm!

Caryn / Wedgwood-Seattle