Great Jay pictures, Leon.

The young Towhee was back this afternoon, but didn't stay long enough for me to grab the camera. I did notice today, though, that a few of the Gold Finch are starting to show just the tiniest bit of color, so maybe spring isn't quite as far off as it seems.

Another cold day here with a morning low of -6*F and a daytime high temp of 12*F. On the plus side there was plenty of sunshine and no snow. Schools were closed in our district again due to bad roads and the cold. There is a prediction of some snow Saturday night and during the day on Sunday, but with only 1-3 inches expected at most. (It still has to be cleaned up! )

Our birds ate well today; and among my visitors were one Dove, one Cardinal, one Red Bellied Woodpecker, at least four Blue Jays, many Juncos and American Tree Sparrows. House sparrows are always here in numbers. There was at least one Nuthatch, and we have been absent our Gold Finches for some time this winter. Usually they are here beginning in December. Some pictures for today features my favorite little Tree Sparrow among others.

Here are a few more of mixed company. The Jay seems to be snoozing. The Weather stats were at about 11:30 am.

I love the little Tree Sparows. Here I have White Throated sparrow and Song Sparrow. Yes, English Sparrows also. And Blue Jays and Morning Doves. And Juncos.

That last one of the little sparrow is just the cutest thing. It looks like it's looking straight at you & thanking you for the seed. The snoozing blue jay is adorable too.

flaflwrgrl said:That last one of the little sparrow is just the cutest thing. It looks like it's looking straight at you & thanking you for the seed. The snoozing blue jay is adorable too.

Ann, Those little Tree Sparrows are so tiny even when they fluff their feathers out to keep warm they don't seem very large. I do not understand how something so small can migrate from the Arctic Circle and still survive the bitter environment we have had this winter. There are so many birds that stay here, and their natural food supplies are covered with ice & snow so they have to face starvation unless we help. This one was hiding in my holly bush near my bedroom window. I actually took this picture through venetian blinds on January 27.

I have been concerned about the Gold Finches this winter until today. They have blended in with the other species so well that I had trouble spotting them until today when I isolated a few of them in one spot. It was then I recognized they were in fact Gold Finches from their markings. They are in total winter plumage which I should have known from past sightings. What a relief to know they are here. We have a Niger seed feeder which we cannot access right now because of snow drifts. But to our amazement the seem to love the sunflower seeds just as much. Here are some pictures from this morning.

In comparison below are some marginal pictures from last spring when they were in full summer plumage. The females never get this bright in color probably for predator protection. Grainy pictures are better than no pictures: They just don't stay put for a second!

They are cuties even in the winter plumage.

Amazing. You would think sunflower seed would be too big for them.

They love sunflowers, I grow giant ones (Kong) and by high summer, the plant tops become a haven for Goldfinch socializing.

Leon, I too am amazed how those teeny birds can make it without freezing!

We get the goldfinches here but only in fall/winter & they are in the dull plumage. We don't get to see the males in their splendor; they are however, a bit brighter than the ones in your photos in the dull plumage. When we lived 2 zones further south --- ALL the goldfinches were VERY dull. No yellowish or greenish coloration on them at all. So to me, now, they are far more colorful than I have been used to seeing them. I told my dh today that I suspect they will be taking off pretty soon for points north. We will miss them until they return in the fall.

Glen, look at those beaks they have --- perfect for cracking sunflower seeds. And they get lots of fat from those seeds which they need to survive the cold.

J-
Thanks for the gorgeous pictures. It looks like we need to plant sunflowers here next summer. Your pictures show what they like. I never really thought about it because we kept plenty of Niger seed for them, and I've seen them at the sunflower feeders a lot. I worry when they don't show up in winter.
Ann-
It was bitterly cold here this morning and didn't "warm up" 'til about 1:00 pm. I guess that's why I feel so strong about feeding them in this weather. We've taken a lot of their natural habitat away for farms, shopping centers and housing. Here's what it looked like here at about 8:30 am. I know it was worse further north in Wisconsin & MN.

They are also quite fond of Purple Coneflower seed heads.

Yes they have the bill. I am use to our finches with their liking for fine seed. I have been trying so hard to get pictures of Double-barred Finches here for you.

Oh Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, that's brutal weather Leon! Heck, I feel sorry for the poor little things down here when it gets 40 degrees but you can sure tell by watching them when it's going to turn cold. They go nuts at the feeders all day long. You're right, we have taken so much of their natural habitat & food sources.

Lovely photos of them on the coneflowers J.

Glen, we sure would love to see your finches.

A breath of 'warmer' air has reached the heartland this past week producing melting snow and ice. This morning there are pools of water standing in low lying areas of the fields. The National Weather Service has posted warnings of flooding along streams and rivers, as well as low-area roads. Does this mean Spring is on the way?

A Cooper's Hawk came yesterday afternoon and stayed quite a spell causing our bird population to hide and/or flee! It looked like a young male based on the information found on-line. He perched on top of an old wisteria arbor and seemed to say "This is my domain". Meanwhile I got a couple of marginal pictures which are less than conclusive as to age or sex of the bird. Males are more darkly colored on the top of the head and the back; so this ID is inconclusive. I feel they are worth posting for interested readers.

The third picture shows one of the favorite hiding spots for smaller birds. It is a thick hedge of Privet shrubs (Ligustrum) where they can safely escape into the interior. The fourth picture is one of various animal tracks in the deep snow just south of the lawn area. There are deer, coyote, rabbit and other small animal tracks converging near this spot.

The last pictures are general views showing their needs for shrubs as places for resting, sleeping and protection.

Lots going on there!

Leon, was it windy when you took the photo of the Cooper's Hawk? I ask b/c I'm wondering what's up with the belly feathers being swept back that way.

Ann, we had winds up to 40 mph at the time of the pictures (Friday). So the poor hawk had a little turbulence during his flight. BTW We had another hawk today with different markings, but unable to get pictures. Also had eight deer across the road. Seems like wild life has suffered with our long winter cold and snows. Forecasters are saying cold and snowy again next week.

Migration has started, spring is on the way, I had several Red-winged Blackbird at the suet and feeders today, boy they sure were hungry, it was cold here with a few snow flurries.

Are RWBBs cute?