At our place in Edmonds, as others reported elsewhere, the bird show
around the backyard feeders became extraordinary during the heavy
snowfall (about 8 inches) on January 19. In about 5 hours of frequent
checking, including long periods of photography, I saw 14 species.
Tremendous activity, sometimes frenzied. Expected visitors were lots of
Juncos, Black-capped Chickadees, and House Finches; the usual one or two
Robins, Flickers, Towhees, Song Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens, and Anna's
Hummingbirds, as well as the (solitary?) Townsend's Warbler that has
come every day since mid-December---a species not previously seen here
in our 22-year occupancy. Several Golden-crowned Sparrows (not always
here) hung around all day.



The seldom seen Ruby-crowned Kinglet put in an appearance, as did a Fox
Sparrow, seen here only thrice previously. The latter first hopped into
the area along the low-bush-canopied approach-route that the resident
Towhee uses. The two skulkers had a brief fight.



An apparently lone Varied Thrush (young male?) has appeared a very few
times lately, always staying in peripheral areas and only briefly, not
daring to venture toward the bird feeders. But on Jan. 19, he quickly
worked his way into the center of ground-feeding activity under the
feeder, and then flew right up onto the caged suet block that hangs more
than 5 feet high. He returned to the block repeatedly during the
afternoon, even tried to get into the adjacent big main hopper-like
bird-seed feeder but wasn't agile enough to perch in or on it. Even in
winters when Varied Thushes are rather abundant and frequent here, I
never saw one fly up onto the suet block or bird feeder. They always
just pecked around in the garden. The Varied Thrush fed on the suet
block again on Jan. 20.



Strangely missing on the big snow day were Bushtits and Chestnut-backed
Chickadees, the former often here, the latter almost always. Doreen
Gillespie made the same comment on the latest Tweeters issue.
White-crowned Sparrow was another fairly common visitor that didn't show
up.



Ray White