Lesser Goldfinches

American Goldfinches are common here on our farm in the summer but seldom seen in the winter.  I've sworn I've never seen Lesser Goldfinches here. Dawn V., however, took a photo of a male Lesser here so there was one but I never saw it.

Today, November 16, 2019,  a whole flock of what I think are Lesser Goldfinches spent a lot of time feeding in the birch tree right outside our back door. I took a zillion photos. Will revise this post if anyone explains why I'm wrong.

First Raptor Run of 2019/2020

The kites are back! Not everywhere, but in 3 of the sites where we used to see them. We saw a total of 5 kites today, three of them flying about together in one area. The only place I got a photo, of one kite, the landowner said there were usually two kites. Maybe they'll stick around and nest! It was a long look to this kite so my photos are blurry. (that's my excuse.)

More excitement came from a tip from a friend: an eagle nest we did not know about on our route. An eagle was stationed by the nest today.

Farther along on our route in the Sheridan area, there is a small dug "fire" pond. Today a Black Phoebe was hanging out nearby, preening.

It was a beautiful day for a drive but we were still under the weather from the colds we are recovering from. The kites and eagle nest and phoebe were great spirit lifters.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is back!

Lousy photos but if you see all of them you can put the bird together. He (for it appears to be a male since it has a red throat), and yellow-bellied because no red on nape and the red on throat has a complete black border. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. (11/7/19)

And on 11/17/19 it returned but very camera shy.