Thank Heavens for Backyard Feeders

It's been more than a month since I had any time to go birding and the last time was with a group of Boy Scouts working on their Bird Study Merit Badge. Here are a few of my backyard visitors.



American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin










Black-capped
Chickadee

European Starling

 

Spotted Towhee










Dark Eyed Junco Oregon Race

 

Dark Eyed Junco Slate Colored Race











Downy Woodpecker











Northern Flicker Red-shafted









House Finch












Western Scrub Jay












California Quail










Eurasian Collared Dove











Sharp-shinned Hawk

I just realized that I have no pictures of the most common visitor to my backyard feeders, the House Sparrow. Mark Stackhouse once said while guiding us on a tour of Deseret Ranch that many birders fail to list birds like house sparrows, rock pigeons and starlings because they are all so common. I guess it's true. 

2009 BIRDS OF THE MONTH

Last December I decided to spotlight a different bird species every month, it's hard to believe that a whole year has already gone by. Here is a list of 2009's birds of the month including last December which was the first month I spot lighted a bird.

December 2008 Bufflehead

  January 2009 Merlin

  February 2009 Cedar Waxwing

  March 2009 American White Pelican

 April 2009 American Wigeon

  May 2009 Marsh Wren

 June 2009 American Avocet

 June 2009 Black-necked Stilt

 July 2009 Bald Eagle

  August 2009 Western Scrub Jay

  September 2009 Wilson's Phalarope

 October 2009 Loggerhead Shrike








November 2009 Black-capped Chickadee









December 2009 House Finch