More snow.More birds!

The juncos and red polls were at the feeder as soon as it was light. They had to clear away some snow to get at the seeds but that did not bother them. I saw the downy again and a couple of sparrows again.

We are to have snow or freezing rain tonight. The temperature is just a little above freezing today and tonight it will freeze hard. Next week there are to be several days of below freezing highs and possibly a bit more snow. Water is beginning to pool now and freeze at night.


The photo is of red polls at the feeder.

A lot of traffic at the Feeder

THe photo is mine of three red polls on the feeder. There are lots of red polls and just as many if not more juncos. The juncos are using the feeder more as if they had never used a feeder before yesterday or so! There are also a few house sparrows today and the faithful chickadees as well. I had to fill the feeder again.

The crows come looking for more bagels. I will have to save them some scraps. The woodpecker was around they yard and at the feeder as well, the downy that is.

We went for a drive to Hamiota about 25 miles away. We saw a number of Canada geese on the sloughs. Most sloughs are still frozen. At one slought here were two Canada geese just standing on the ice. We also saw a magpie. They do not seem that plentiful yet.

Very Busy Day at the Feeder

This is a photo I took just today of a red poll at the feeder and lots of juncos on the ground. The juncos do visit the feeder but not very often. They prefer to feed on the ground. The crows and juncos have finished all of the stale bagels I had and something at the bacon grease I put out.

There were swarms of juncos and also plenty of red polls feeding all day. I saw two house sparrows as well and several chickadees. I did not see the woodpecker today but one may be around. While driving on the edge of the village I saw a magpie. They do not seem very common right now. There are many crows in the village already.

Many more juncos!

I have included a photo of a junco again. Juncos were the most numerous birds visible today. I have not seen any actually land on the feeder. They feed on the ground and seem to find something even where there is no seed. They did eat some of the stale bagel crumbs but most of them were consumed by visiting crows.

At the feeder there were the usual chickadees and red polls. I also saw a downy woodpecker again but no house sparrows today.

There is a snowfall warning for tonight and tomorrow morning and it is raining now. The roads in town are already muddy. There is quite a bit of water running the ditches by the highway. My small house on the highway has a leak in the porch and the house I sold has water oozing into the basement but not too much. The melted snow and now rain will cause a lot of water in basements in town but once things dry up a bit they will dry up well enough. Quite a few people have sump pumps.

Juncos are definitely back!

I include a photo of a dark-eyed junco. I am not sure this is exactly the sames as the ones here. Ours may be the slate coloured junco a sub-species. That is what I have always called them. There are plenty of them hopping about the yard now. There is a distinct flash of white when they fly up into the spruce trees. Their tail feathers must have some white in them. Their bills are almost pink but the top parts are dark dull grey with white on their underparts. They will stay for a few weeks and then depart for sites further north.

We had the usual red polls and chickadees today and I also a downy woodpecker again. I put some chunks of old blueberry bagels in the yard and crows came and ate some of the chunks. There is still snow but the open spaces are growing. It may rain tomorrow and that will clear away even more snow. There is little standing water as yet.

Maybe there are juncos!

I thought I glimpsed some juncos a couple of times today but I didn't really get time to verify my suspicions. I thought I saw the characteristic flash of white in their tails as they flew off.
My wife found a dead sparrow by the side of the house. It was puffed up like a balloon. I have seen several red polls that were in the same condition. It seems to be a fairly common happening.
THere were many red polls at the feeder and chickadees as well. I saw one house sparrow. I include a photo of a chickadee.
The crows are still around the village making a lot of noise already. The water is running in the deep ditches but the snow seems to be melting without much standing water. Most of it is going right into the ground.

Well above freezing!

Snow is melting quickly now. In the deep ditch by the highway water is finally flowing. However, there is not all that much standing or flowing water as most has either evaporated or soaked into the ground. This will be good for farmers as the land needs moisture for seeding.

We drove quite a ways out into the country today. We saw quite a few crows and on the way back we saw our first geese of the season, Canada geese, just three on a small slough. Most sloughs still have ice on them.

The bird feeder had the usual chickadees and red polls and one downy woodpecker again. I put out some stale bagels for the crows.

Ducks are returning.

We drove to the city today (Brandon). There were a number of crows to be seen along the way. Where there was open water below a dam at Rivers there were quite a few ducks. I was not close enough to see what species they were.

The bird feeder is very busy. The usual red polls and chickadees visited and also a downy woodpecker.

This afternoon we had rain. When we arrived back home the birds were chirping noisily in the huge old spruce trees around our front yard.

The Crows are back!

Not only did I see almost half a dozen crows when I went for a walk but there were several prancing around in the yard for a while. Whenever I go outside I hear their sqawks. Many people dislike the crow but I enjoy them in spite of their noisiness. They are an intelligent bird. I like to feed them leftovers. They usually clean them up before any stray cats or dogs find them. If leftovers are left overnight skunks sometimes claim them!

The downy woodpecker was active this morning so I have a photo of one for today. I must look up a photo of the crow. There were the usual red polls and chickadees but no house sparrows. There is one poor redpoll who seemed very bloated. I wonder if it is a common problem of red polls to do this.

First Day of Spring

The wind is strong and cold but nonetheless the snow is slowly retreating and the bare patch in the front yard is growing. There were just the regulars yesterday at the birdfeeder: chickadees and red polls. I regularly hear crows now but they have never tried landing on the feeder yet. They are too large. The photo is of a chickadee. They are faithful visitors to the feeder but always stay only briefly and then flit away.

Gradually the snow shrinks

Windy today but above zero. Lots of activity at the feeder but the same actors. I did not see the downy today but my wife did this morning. The feeder has been so busy with red polls that I filled it up today. I include a chickadee pic today since there were several at the feeder. We are expecting warmer weather later in the week and this evening it is spring so perhaps so new birds will appear!

A Downy Woodpecker is Back

There was at least one downy woodpecker sporadically visiting the feeder. The weather is well below freezing and with the wind last night and predicted for tonight again we will have windchills in the minus twenties. However, it is to go back above zero tomorrow and perhaps rain on Wednesday again.

As well as the downy there were many red polls --but no house sparrows that I saw. Also, the chickadees are still darting back and forth from time to time. I am eagerly awaiting some sign of birds returning from the south but nothing seems to be back yet unless crows.

One House Sparrow

I include a picture of a house sparrow. There was just one at the feeder that I saw. He was in the midst of the red polls. They have been feeding all day. There is a very strong wind and cool drizzle all afternoon. There were several chickadees at the feeder too. I hear cawing outside. I am not sure if the noisemakers are crows or ravens. It could be the crows are back already.

Only the regulars

We were supposed to have snow today but it looks as if we will not get any snow until later tonight. The red polls have been very busy all day and also a few chickadees but that is all that I saw today. I am not sure but I think crows may be back already unless ravens make the same crow sound. When I was out walking I distinctly hear crow like sounds. Perhaps they are already back.

The red polls and chickadees were busy at the feeder today but that is all I saw at the feeder. We went to Shoal Lake and the dump. At the dump there were at least a half dozen or more ravens. We also saw several flocks of birds along the highway, probably more red polls. The photo is of a raven of course. Soon they will be replaced by crows for the spring and summer months.

Fresh snow!

Birds were at the feeder shortly after it became light out. They made fresh tracks in the new fallen snow. Fortunately the snow is not too deep just a couple of inches or a few centimeters. The birds have been so busy that I added more sunflowers today.
There was a downy woodpecker and the usual red polls. Along with the red polls there were two housesparrows that seemed to blend in with the large number of red polls. As usual a few chickadees visited. In fact today I saw three chickadees at one time. Usually there are only one or at most two visible at once.

Winter Storm Warning Issued

The birds were busy at the feeder today. The temperature has fallen well below freezing and there is a storm warning with snow expected. Perhaps the birds are filling up before the storm and cold winds that will accompany it.

The usual red polls were active and a few chickadees but also a downy woodpecker re-appeared for the first time in several days. Soon we should have some warmer weather and perhaps birds from south may begin to appear.

Return of cooler weather.

I saw just one raven on our trip to the next town shopping. THe snow is retreating from the edges of the road and soon snowmobiling will be impossible. However, there is to be more snow in two days so maybe the season is not over yet.

There are still plenty of red polls at the feeder. The area clear of snow is gradually spreading in the front yard by the spruce trees but the snow is far from gone yet. Even the roads are not yet free of ice and snow.

A few chickadees dart to the feeder and away but they and the redpolls were the only visitor yesterday and today. The photo is of a raven of course.

No new birds!

The snow melt is continuing although it cools down at night. The red polls and chickadees are still busy throughout the day. There are no new birds so far. The photo is of a chickadee of course. I can hear their distinctive note each time I go out for a walk. There is still lots of snow and the melt has a long way to go before the streets are even clear. Perhaps as spring nears I will soon see some new birds at the feeder.

Another warmer day.

I took a pic of red polls at the feeder the other day. I guess I need to clean the window and remember to use the zoom! There are plenty of red polls today. I did not see any house sparrows but I was able to go for a walk since the weather is lovely and I saw some at a neighbours. There are also chickadees rushing back and forth to the feeder but the downy woodpecker has moved on. Maybe the grubs are thawing out.

More above freezing weather.

The birds are busy eating and enjoying the weather. When I was out walking I thought I heard crows but it may just be the ravens. I saw four or five. At the feeder there are the usual red polls and still the one downy woodpecker. There are a few chickadees looking very much like the one in the photo. Now that the snow is melting under the feeder big piles of sunflower seeds are emerging. The red polls and house sparrows love to scratch and send the seeds to the ground where they often eat them.

Finally some melting!

The snow is finally beginning to melt and there are huge icicles on the eves dripping all day. The temperature will only go a few degrees below freezing tonight. The birds are busy. Red polls are still the most common bird at the feeder. They sometimes are so many that they fight over space. There are the usual chickadees as well. The down woodpecker (as in the photo) also stays in the vicinity of the feeder in case his grub search doesn't turn up enough food.

Warmer tomorrow!

This post is for yesterday, Wednesday the 7th. The weather is still a bit below freezing with a raw wind. The birds are busy at the feeder. The downy woodpecker seems to be present every day--assuming it is the same one! The lone sparrow has disappeared but there are plenty of red polls and also chickadees each day as well.

We drove to Shoal Lake and on the way there and back saw several ravens. I assume they are still ravens but crows will soon be back.

Warming up a little

A downy woodpecker has been quite active today rushing from the spruce trees back to the feeder. He seems a bit embarassed about not finding enough insects beneath the bark! Sunflower seeds just dont compare in flavor to grubs!

The usual rush of red polls is evident. There is one lone house sparrow that seems to be part of the red poll flock. Neither the sparrow nor the red polls act as if there is anything special about that. Maybe humans can learn from the birds.

The chickadees are still to be seen every day. They refuse to relax at the feeder and rush off to whatever they must do.

Red polls rule

There are oodles of red polls busy all day at the feeder. I restocked the feeder with sunflower seeds. I should buy some suet strips some day! There were also quite a few chickadees today so I have included a photo of one--borrowed from another site.
I did not see any pine grosbeaks or even any house sparrows today (March 5). However, the downy woodpecker was back. When he gets frustrated when he finds nothing under the spruce tree bark he comes and pigs out at the feeder.

On our shopping trip to the next town all I saw was one lone raven.

A few Pine Grosbeaks again

Here is a photo of a pine grosbeak. The males have more rosy red colours on them.
There was also a downy woodpecker again today. As usual the red polls predominate at the feeder. The red polls are very common this winter and they are at the feeder in much larger numbers than the common house sparrows who in past years have been far the most common visitors. I saw no sparrows today. There were a few chickadees as usual. Before long some of the spring birds should appear except that it is turning colder tonight! Also, some birds such as the juncos begin to appear on their way north but I guess it will be a while yet. I had to visit a shed in the yard and the snow went almost up to my knees.

Another downy woodpecker

This is a photo of the rock dove or common pigeon. We saw many of them today around downtown Brandon near the railroad tracks and MacKenzie Seeds building. We saw several flocks of small birds on the way in, probably red polls. On the way back we saw one lone raven.

The bird feeder has plenty of red polls this morning as well as the occasional chickadee. The seed level went down low enough that I decided to put in more seed. After we got back from our trip I saw a downy woodpecker on the feeder several times.
The birds seem to enjoy the warmer sunny weather. However, it is not that warm. It is still about minus ten and tomorrow night it is to get down to minus 25 again but at least that should be temporary!

Pine Grosbeaks are back!

The snow has finally stopped and there is bright sunshine. Although it is a bit below freezing the sun is melting snow on the roof and creating large icicles. The birds are very active at the feeder.

Red polls still predominate. However, there are also chickadees and a few house sparrows. I also saw a downy woodpecker again. I have posted a photo of a downy. Also, at the feeder for the first time in many days are a few pine grosbeaks.

We will be going back into the city tomorrow. I will keep my eyes open to see if there are many birds in the countryside. We drove to Shoal Lake today but the road was so icy I kept my eyes on the road rather than see myself in the snow filled ditch!

Downy woodpecker back

We have had a very snowy blowy day again (March 1). There are lots of birds at the feeder. There are oodles of red polls enjoying the wind and snow, a few chickadees zipping back and forth to the feeder, and several house sparrows as well. I also saw a downy woodpecker for the first time in some while.