Chirps and Cheeps

Here at home, I've been lamenting the fact that the irruptive species passed me by this year.  (Irruptive means that the species will travel south, from their arctic or northern ranges to seek food sources during a winter of shortages or competition from too many birds.)  Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins have visited us several years, except for the winter of 2013-2014 when their normal seed crops were plentiful up north. But this year, I had no visits from either species, in spite of several reports that they were seen at other home feeders in Western New York.

My feeders were well-stocked all winter long with the nyjer thistle both species love - but no redpolls or siskins!  I did have a five minute stopover by one, single Pine Siskin a couple of weeks ago, but finally, today, seven of them came by!  And they've been here for five days running now, numbering up to nine at times.  What a treat!

Chipping Sparrows continue to come to our feeders as well as Purple Finches, a White-throated Sparrow, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, and one male Eastern Towhee. We had a surprise yard bird yesterday: an Osprey flew over for the first time that I've ever seen. Wow!

Also, a couple of walks through some parks gave me my first Yellow-rumped Warblers and a pair of Louisiana Waterthrushes.  I've been missing on the reported Pine and Palm Warblers, though, but I bet I'll catch up to them soon too!