The Great Rideau Ferry Bird Count!

Dec. 19 was our local bird count. Our feeder was pretty busy, but with our regular crew. I took a long walk in the forest and didn't see any exciting birds. It was somewhat disappointing. Here are the birds I saw! Scuttlebutt has it that all the bird watchers had lower numbers. It was 10 C. the day before, and then a sudden drop and snow overnight.
Funnily enough, I found Tigger licking bird seed from the feeder the day after! Tigger stole the bird seed!

What was fun is that I first saw two goldfinches in their olive coats, then 3 together, then 4 and finally 6, by the end of the day. It was as if the word spread and they all came out! Several had a drink of water in the heated bird bath.

Goldfinch, junco, woodpeckers, nuthatches, blue jays, chickadees, mourning doves, robins.



Happily, I've seen THESE winter birds at other times, even if they chose not to appear in the count. Some are just rebels like this! Just like people who refuse to fill in their census forms!

Saw-whet owl, barred owl, redpoll, purple finch, cardinal, grouse, pileated woodpecker, red-tailed hawk, snowy owl, sharp-shinned hawk, bald eagle, the three musketeers (American crows!).