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