I was able to spend a couple of hours in the yard birding and photographing on the afternoon of March 27, 2012. We had lots of birds, highlighted by a couple of brief glimpses of the White-throated sparrow that made it’s first appearance in several weeks. Unfortunately I only had a couple of very brief glimpses and no chance for a photo even though I had my camera with me.
Some of the birds I observed:
· White-throated sparrow
· Golden-crowned sparrows
· Fox sparrow
· Song sparrow
· House sparrows
· House finches
· Spotted towhee (2)
· Dark-eyed junco (Oregon race)
· Northern flicker
· Varied thrush (2)
· American robins
· American goldfinches (two males transitioning into breeding plumage)
· Pine siskins
· Golden-crowned kinglet
· Black-capped chickadees
· Chestnut-backed chickadees
· European starlings
· crows
· Anna’s hummingbird (male)
· Rufous hummingbird (female)
Noticeably absent were the Downy and Hairy woodpeckers and Red-breasted nuthatches.
The Golden-crowned sparrows, Varied thrushes and juncos will be leaving us soon as will probably the Anna’s hummingbird(s). We have yet to see our first male Rufous hummingbird this spring. The Golden-crowned kinglet was the first we have seen in several weeks. We’re still waiting for the main influx of Rufous hummingbirds and American goldfinches. The starlings are beginning their annual assault on the hanging, inverted suet feeder and won’t give up their attraction for it until several weeks after their young have fledged.
I noticed a House sparrow gathering nesting material so it’s about time to convert my roosting boxes to nesting boxes and start monitoring things more closely for the next couple of months.
The birds have begun showing an increased interest in the watercourse with the Pine siskins and American robins leading the way.
I was able to obtain some photos yesterday but will probably spend more time in the yard today, so I'll wait to post the best from a couple of photo sessions.
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