Audubon Christmas Bird Count

8 am

 coffee

an angel

winged greeting

lone trees windblown drifted

amish country barns shocks of hay

some birds seen

Bald Eagle

Pileated Woodpecker

Belted Kingfisher

Red Tailed Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Bluebirds

24 species total

Lots of laughs, oatmeal cookies, muffins, slippery roads, pork roast dinner when I got home!

Birds on a Snow Day

Carolina Wren



Snow days: a perk of being a teacher for a living.

Today is very snowy, last measurement at @ 10:30 was 7 inches of new snow. I'd guess 4 or so has fallen since then. It's a luxury to just hang out, there's no need to go anywhere. I made chicken dumpling soup, there's plenty of hot chocolate, I've got good music (the Dodos are playing right now), Lost to watch tonight and in the meantime paintings to work on, rather, I mean to play with.

Also there are lots of birds to watch at the feeders:

Female Red Bellied Woodpecker



Female Downy Woodpecker







Just for fun (my own I guess) and whoever might be interested; here is a list of birds seen in my yard for January

downy woodpecker
hairy woodpecker
red bellied woodpecker
pileated woodpecker
house sparrow
tree sparrow
starling
house finch
gold finch
junco
red breasted nuthatch
white breasted nuthatch
blue jay
cardinal
mourning dove
tufted titmouse
redshouldered hawk
great horned owl
carolina wren
chickadee
crow
brown creeper

White Winged Crossbills

Determined to go out and get some fresh but cold air yesterday, I took my binoculars, my camera and Woodie Dog Sedivy out back for a small walk. We've been getting snow consistently for the last few weeks with one Alberta Clipper after another bringing wave after wave of Lake Effect snow. I've decided we live in a snow globe. (It's really the snow belt, one of only 5 in the world) Despite the sometimes difficult driving and constant snow removal, it can be beautiful.



While admiring these apples, I saw and heard a new bird for my yard. In fact, this is a life bird for me (one I've never seen before.) While this photo isn't the best (would love a new camera with more zoom, this is just a small point and shoot), it does document the White Winged Crossbill. There were and still are about 2 dozen in and around my yard. This bird is an irruptive species. Meaning that they don't normally winter here (common north of here, in Canada) but will move for food as needed. (food source is low) Right now in Ohio, there are postings daily on the Ohio Bird List Serve from birders allover the state who are seeing these beautiful birds. I hope my flock takes up residence for a while.