Harris sparrow among pine siskins

The Harris sparrow stands out among the group of pine siskins feeding underneath the feeder. It is quite a bit larger with a black head and throat and light coloured breast. I have seen more Harris sparrows this year than any other year. Usually I am lucky to see one or two a year but this year I see several every day.

Abundance of Harris sparrows..

There are more Harris sparrows than I have ever seen before attenting at the feeder. They are a reasonably large sparrow and look quite large compared to pine siskins or the chipping sparrow. They even outnumber house sparrows at the feeder these days.

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.

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.

Another Harris sparrow

I saw a Harris sparrow this morning, the first I have seen for some time. There were a lot of red-breasted nuthatches visiting today more at once then I have seen so far. There were also several purple finches again. As usual there are chickadees as well and pine siskins but the house sparrows are still coming in substantial flocks.\

This morning I also saw the first slate coloured junco of the fall season. No doubt they will soon be here in large numbers.

A bit more variety!

There was a Harris sparrow clearly visible in the grass by the feeder. I haven't seen one for quite a few days. I saw a house sparrow as well. It is strange that what used to be such a common bird is not all that common around the feeder this winter and spring. I also saw a couple of chickadees. As well there were the usual goldfinches and chipping sparrows.

Goldfinches frequent visitors

There have been many goldfinches visiting the feeder. The finches like canola seed better than sunflowers but at least some of them must be satisfied with the sunflower menu at my feeder. There are quite a few Harris sparrows these days. I do not recall seeing these birds in the past. There are a few chickadees that still visit. Starlings visit also. They are a bit too large in size to perch comfortably but they manage somehow. The juncos are all gone to the north it seems.

I visited the other place. There are still a tree swallow couple in one bird house there. Another swallow invaded the surrounding air space and was chased off by one of the couple.

Some new arrivals!

The last two days since we arrived back from Toronto there are at least two new birds at the feeder. There are numerous American goldfinches. I always find these birds to be quite attractive. Locals sometimes call them wild canaries although the yellow warbler probably is more deserving of that name.

The other newcomer is a sparrow. I believe that it is a Harris sparrow. I have enclosed a photo. It certainly looks like the bird in the photo but I could always be wrong. There are also still red polls about and a few chickadees. Starlings are also frequent visitors. Crows keep up a constant din during the day.