Reports of some unusual species (Sandhill Cranes, American Tree Sparrow, Rusty Blackbirds) at the Lickinghole Creek Reservoir in Crozet prompted Walt Childs and me to take a look. We didn't see these species, and only a few others, but did enjoy watching White-breasted Nuthatches bringing nesting materials to a tree cavity high above the forest floor. And the temperature in the upper 60s wasn't bad, either!
Hermit Thrush
Eastern Phoebe
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
In a dramatic change in the weather, it started with sleet and freezing rain yesterday afternoon that changed over to snow last night. We awoke to about 1/10 inch of ice covered with about 5 inches of heavy snow, and it was still snowing lightly this morning. I cleared the ice and snow from our bird feeder, and put out some bread on the ground near it. Our feeder became the avian place to be in the neighborhood. From yesterday afternoon through this afternoon, I counted 15 avian species at the feeder and/or on the nearby ground eating bread or seed that had fallen from the feeder. I was content with watching and photographing some of these birds through a window.
Carolina Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, Tufted Titmouse, female Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Male Northern Cardinal
American Goldfinch
White-throated Sparrow
An early arrival Chipping Sparrow spent more time trying to stay warm than eating, and was probably wondering if it should have migrated here so soon.
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
The highlight of the morning was a pair of Fox Sparrows, and new feeder bird for me, although I have seen this species near our house in previous winters. One of the Fox Sparrows was constantly chasing the other one away, but didn't seem to pay any attention to other species of birds. At one point, one of the Fox Sparrows started digging in our garden just under our deck.
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrows
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Fox Sparrow