and one (#24) I had been expecting for quite a while (and it's the local, not a migrant, as I have yet to see any moving yet):
The Siskin is surprising b/c it is very sporadic in my yard. 2 springs ago they were common every day all the way into May, but last year I didn't get it until almost the very end of the year. I haven't had it since that single day in December until now (1 Mar), and then just this single bird which hasn't been back since. Either way, it's a good one for me to get out of the way...Away from the yard I finally got RWBL today, plus AMCR are clearly migrating- several were seen way up high winging north. I suspect movements in this species are often missed since so few people really focus on them. Not too much else to report other than the shocking WWCRs I found 2 days ago in the local State Game Area (Rogue River). They were feeding surreptitiously on tamarack cones, and would have been missed if I didn't happen to walk up to the exact tree they were in. Given the paucity of reports this far south this year, it was a surprise to say the least. Now, if they would just fly over my house, that would be the ultimate salvage from the invasion year when I missed them for the yard.
The siskin is cool but how did you miss WWCR in winter 2008-09? I was going through a serious mid-lifer living on my sisters couch in suburban Detroit and I even managed to peer up from the darkness that had befallen me to grunt "huh, crossbills, that's weird."
ReplyDeleteWhat's your excuse? Were you lackin a network of supportive friends?
so much material here....
ReplyDeleteI agree Caleb, Crow migration is not too well paid attention too. I was at Lake Erie Metro Park this afternoon and there were a few crows moving northward along the lake (also FOS KILL, HOLA, RWBL). Last year on March 6th I was birding Monroe Co (Lake erie) and had an amazing 5000+ crows migrating north that day- it was an incredible movement! In the UP, there are year-round birds, but you notice when you get a pulse of migrants into the region.
Ok- for realziees?! How did you miss WWCR that year. I had them daily in Motown when I was done for the holidaze that year! Several times I had them flyover my folks place in Ferndale. Though I have at them on Grosse Isle 2-3 times over the years in non-invasion winters.
Kitty- you came back soooo gray that spring!
PITME!
Not sure how I missed WWCR that year. But I do vaguely remember a bunch of leucistic HOFIs all winter with strange white wing patches. Strange coincidence.
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