Winter Recap

Red-winged Blackbirds are back so to me that means Spring is here. It has been a LONG winter. I spent a good portion of it focused on my family, or asleep honestly. I forced myself to get out at least once a week most weeks but I didn’t always have the energy to share what I found, so here’s a quick winter recap.

November highlights included Goldfinches in their winter plumage, eating seeds from Sweetgum Trees. And, my closest ever encounter with Cedar Waxwings. I spent about 30 minutes with a flock of around 20, and they seemed completely unbothered by my presence. I also had a lifer (new sighting), Common Redpolls, which are not actually that common around here.

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I saw lots of the birds you’re likely to find here every winter:

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I had a few raptor encounters I will probably never forget. First, the Northern Harrier, a hawk with an Owl like face. They hover close to the ground when hunting. Although I didn’t get many “usable” shots, it was quite an experience! At one point I crouched on the ground, and flew just a few feet from my head.

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Then, there was the Short Eared Owl! It was way out on the river, and at first I thought I was looking at a Northern Harrier, based on it’s behavior and the fact that I’d seen one a few times this winter. According to Ebird, one has not been sighted here since 1970, and only one other time in Canada since then.

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I had a few surprising Beaver encounters.

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And I’ve been seeing the loneliest neighborhood deer. It has been so funny getting and giving the reindeer report around the neighborhood though!

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I’m usually very selfish with my birding time, I joke that it’s my therapy. But, this winter had me wanting to share more. I’m trying to teach my nephew the healing power of nature and birds early. So far, I’ve learned that toddlers do not make the best birding partners, but that’s okay.

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