Back in the UP

I've been "out of the yard" for a month -- it's late fall in the U.P.  Tons of birds to shift through at the feeder and the yard (mainly small finches, tree sparrow, and juncos).  The notables are TONS of Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwing.  I suspect that both species will have EPIC incursions into the south.

Also have heard a couple of flocks of Red Crossbills -- still haven't scored it at the Swamp Lair - it's my only bird goal for the remainder of 2012...

The other interesting thing at the feeder is 9 cardinals last night....5 males, 4 dull birds.  Not sure what to make of that.  Red-bellied Woodpecker is also back after an absence of almost a year.

Rounding out the goodies was a male Sharp-shinned Hawk stalking the feeder this morning and a flyby Northern Harrier.

The hummingbird juice is frozen solid...

What's on tap for 2013?

Century bird

I managed to snag a half hour of watching the sky today and was rewarded with a sharp looking dark morph RLHA circling up high with 115 SACR before setting its wings and zipping over (#100).  It was followed shortly by 4 CACG (#101) with some CANGs (way overdue considering how common CACG is around here).  We're actually moving back up to WI next week, so this will likely be my last blog post from this yard.  It's been fun, I was glad to break the symbolic 100 barrier for this yard before leaving.
#99 came in the form of some CORE in the neighbors birches last week.  And I had my county RECR about 300 yards north of the yard a few weeks back, but I wasn't in the yard when I picked them up - near miss!

Red Crossbill 148/195

While standing in the driveway waiting for family to pile in the car to go to my Aunts for Thanksgiving dinner I discerned the call notes of at least two Red Crossbill flying high over the treetops. Yard Lifer 195!

What's your type?

For the 3rd time in 2012, I just had a Red Crossbill over the house. Difference this time is that I was finally ready to record it. Here you go:


http://soundcloud.com/user9140545/recr-21-novermber-2012-1508hrs

Cool thing too, is that Matt Young of CLO responded to my email about call type within minutes, confirming it as type 3. Pretty freaking cool! (even though I don't get a year tick)

Lots of *talk*. . .

Lots of *talk* about Evening Grosbeaks. Well, here's an actual *photo* of an Evening Grosbeak, in my yard earlier this afternoon:

Evening Grosbeak 147/194

I had 2 calling birds fly over as I was filling the feeding stations. Yard Lifer 194! Keep your ears open, they are all over the place here in the lower penninsula of MI right now.

...and the winner is...?

White-winged Crossbill!  #100 for the year and #108 for life.

I thought it woulda been RECR...or RLHA.  I'll take it though!  Now I can breath a sigh of relief...