In its own irreverent way, I found it hysterical!  I may never look at them the same.

Inadvertant fat finger mistake, but funny nonetheless.  That name could actually fit, as they really are somewhat pugnacious.  :}

I’ve never heard them called that before, Jeff, but you just made me laugh out loud!

I’ve had a Red-breasted Buthatch hitting my feeder for a few days now.  They are an infrequent visitor to my place, as I live in a small oasis surrounded by farm fields.

  But what’s more significant for me is the appearance 2 days ago of a pair of Stellars Jays, a bird I’ve never seen here, and a long ways away from their typical habitat.

  They didn’t stay, but it was a pleasant suprise.  I wonder if this years fires are moving birds into other areas?

  Jeff Brough

 

 

Many years since I’ve seen a Pygmy Nuthatch, and never here, & the Red-breasted was always a Fall visitor, but only in past few years, has it become year-round. White-breasted has always been rare for us. That’s neat that you get all three, Nancy. 

 

Fall migrant birds are slowing here, too, Bill. Just a handful of YR Warblers & more winter residents arriving with DE Juncos showing & a few Townsend’s Solitaires starting to stake out juniper trees. Have a good bunch of White-crowned Sparrows appearing, but they never stay for long. And the kettles of Swainson’s Hawks appear to have pushed on through. 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot 

 

 

We’re sparse here. Two kinds of chickadees, black headed and mountain, magpies and turkeys with a several times a day red tail flyover. Turkeys are getting sparse because season opened.

Bill Moore

Hoot Owl

Inkom

An old friend returned this AM, WB Nuthatch. Over the past 3-4 yrs, RB Nuthatches have become year-round residents. But, the WB remains an infrequent visitor. Only once, in a January, did we have an irruption for about a month of WB Nuthatches gathering & making caches of sunflower seeds. The one this AM was visiting the platform feeder, as well.

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot 

Watched several kettles of 75+ Swainson’s Hawks headed South this afternoon. Then, toward dusk, one group started dropping into our property’s cottonwoods. In our 36 yrs here, have witnessed such only one other time, when a group dropped in for a rest & was gone by daybreak.

 

Most I counted on one tree today was 10 individuals (photo). Other groups were in neighboring trees in 3’s to 6 or more. Just imagine, some of these birds may find their way to the Pampas of Argentina this month! 

 

Brian Carrigan 

Blackfoot