Still ducks, geese, and gulls around

We drove to Brandon yesterday. There were ducks in many sloughs. We saw a number of mallards(photo). We saw several farmers cultivating fields with flocks of herring gulls following to feast on whatever was unearthed. We also saw several magpies although they are few and far between.

The feeder is still busy but with the regulars: house sparrows, red- breasted nuthatches, pine siskins, and chickadees. We bought some different seed rather than just sunflowers we have a mixture. Perhaps some new species will appear.

The Usual Visitors

The feeder is busy but there are no new birds. The most common visitors are still house sparrows. However I saw as many as three chickadees at once. There are also more red breasted nuthatches than usual. There are also quite a few pine siskins. The slate coloured juncos are not as common as some years but there are a few. No doubt there are more at other locales.

Another Downy Woodpecker

At the feeder yesterday, a downy woodpeck appeared. They are not that common. I have not seen any northern flickers lately. They are around all winter but only visit the yard occasionally. I have never seen one at the feeder as they are rather large.
The usual house sparrows are busy dumping out seed. There are still plenty of juncos but they do not usually eat from the seeder. They hop around the yard or pick up seeds from under the feeder.
Red-breasted nuthatches are rather common. I saw three at one time at the feeder, most unusual. Purple finches appear from time to time. Chickadees are constant visitors and there is the odd purple finch. Pine siskins are still common visitors.

Geese are still flying south every day so far. Once the weather turns colder they will soon all be gone. We are enjoying almost Indian summer weather these days although the wind is often cold.

Many flocks of geese, mostly Canada geese

I was outside for a while in the yard and there were flocks and flocks of geese flying over. There was a lot of honking so most must have been Canada geese.

The bird feeder is busy most of the time. There was one period this morning when the feeder had about six pine siskins at once (photo). There were also quite a few red breasted nuthatches and a few chickadees. House sparrows are still plentiful and there is the odd purple finch.

On the ground around the trees slate coloured juncos are still common, not having moved further south yet. It has not been all that cold so I suppose birds including the geese may be around for a while yet.

Savannah sparrows appear again

There were several Savannah sparrows at the bird feeder again. I had not seen any for several days now. There are still hordes of sparrows who insist on dumping seed on the sidewalk.
There are quite a few red breasted nuthatches every day as well as the always present black capped chickadees. There are also quite a few slate coloured juncos still around and also pine siskins as well as purple finches.
Out in the country I saw two magpies as well as several crows or ravens. This time of year I am never sure. The crows go south but tnen ravens drift in from the north.

More snow geese in the fields.

We drove to Russell yesterday and again we saw a field with many snow geese browsing on the ground. I assume there is plenty of grain dropped by the combine. There are a few crows or ravens about but not many other birds.

At the feeder there are still slate coloured juncos, red breasted nuthatches (photo),
house sparrows, chickadees, and some purple finches and pine siskins. The nuthatches seem more prevalent than usual.

Late Leavers

On Friday we drove to near Roblin to a farm. In the yard there were high bush cranberries. Lo and behold there were quite a few robins eating the berries. It is getting rather late for robins to be still here but I guess as long as there is food and it is not too cold they will stay. There were also many slate coloured juncos. On the way home we saw a newly cultivated field replete with herring gulls. They too are staying late. I assume come the first big freeze or snow they will finally get the message and fly south.

Snow Geese Flying south

On the way to shop in Shoal Lake the other day we saw a large flock of snow geese in a field. Some were white but not all of them and perhaps there were other geese mixed in. The photo is of a flock at sunset--not here but in the northern US just south of us.
There are plenty of pine siskins around and also nuthatches, chickadees, and several purple finches. Of course there are oodles of house sparrows as well. There are some slate coloured juncos but not that many as yet.

Several purple finches

For the first time I saw several purple finches at the bird feeder at one time (photo). There have been many red-breasted nuthatches visiting and also there was one downy woodpecker, the first I have seen in some time. As usual chickadees are still around. The most common birds are house sparrows in large flocks and plenty of pine siskins as well.

Many Canada Geese: Honkers

We drove to Russell yesterday. In Russell there were many flights of Canada geese overhead. The noise of their honking was so loud that a nearby dog started up howling when they passed overhead!

On the way home we passed a newly cultivated feed. There were numerous herring gulls feasting on whatever grubs or insects had been uncovered.

The feeder is still busy. There are plenty of house sparrows and pine siskins (photo) as well as chickadees, and nuthatches. The other day I saw another Harris sparrow.

Two Crows and a Magpie

In the countryside on the way to shopping at Rossburn we saw two crows and a magpie. I have seen very few magpies this year for some reason. We also saw a hawk but we were not close enough to identify it.

THe feeder is still busy with the usual house sparrows, pine siskins, chickadess, and red-breasted nuthatches. There are a few slate coloured juncos around as well.

Another junco or so!

There was at least one slate coloured (or dark-eyed) junco along with the house sparrows at the feeder this morning. There was also a Harris sparrow again. There are still plenty of pine siskins and there wads a purple finch as well. Red breasted nuthatches as well as chickadees are present every day.
I hear flocks of geese going overhead quite regularly these days. Most of them so far seem to be Canada geese.