Sunday, November 22, 2015

I didn't get out birding at all this weekend, it was snowy and blowy and not much fun to go outside. So I kept my binoculars and camera handy on the kitchen table while frequenting the feeder stations from the windows. Both days I saw, Common Raven, Black-billed Magpie, Steller's Jay, Black-capped

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Today felt exceptionally cold. I think the high was maybe 1 degree. This is were the test comes to see What you're made of, what kind of a birder you really are. Me? I'm dedicated. I hate the cold, but I love birds more. I went to lunch at noon. The sun was out, reflecting off the ice particles shimmering in the

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Today I packed up my family and headed out to the Eagle River Nature Center (ERNC). It was a beautiful, clear, crisp day today with a high of about -2 degrees. We bundled up, and after letting the car warm up for 20 minutes or so, set out for our destination. It's a nice 10 mile drive to the ERNC, and the sun beamed down onto the surrounding peaks. As we drove, we could see tiny ice particles in the air reminding us of the cold awaiting us outside of the warmth of the vehicle.

Saturday, November 14, 2015

It was a clear, crisp day out today. My son has been sick all day with a fever so we didn't get out at all. Still, we had quite a few winged visitors around. Our first guest was four Steller's Jays. I keep some whole peanuts on hand as they love them. I've even been able to get one of them to take a peanut from my hand. Next up was a Black-billed Magpie, he was after the peanuts too. There's always plenty of Black-capped chickadees and the usual Red-breasted Nuthatches around, and today was no exception. A female Downy Woodpecker stopped by, pecking away at the trees for food. To my surprise I also saw a Ruby-crowned Kinglet high in the branches. That was an unexpected treat. I also heard a Pine Grosbeak and caught a quick glimpse of it as it flew through the trees. And all this from the comfort and warmth of my own home. My son and I have our little bird watching nook that we watch the Chickadees and Nuthatches as they visit our feeders. Maybe tomorrow we'll get out to the Eagle River Nature Center. Cheers

How it all started

I have always loved birds. I remember as a kid watching the chickadees flutter about in the trees during the long cold winters of Alaska. My dad would always keep record of the first Robin he saw each spring. I loved hearing the song of a robin on a summer day. To this day, it brings me a sense of peace and serenity.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Today, on my usual lunch break birding adventure, I drove around Government Hill as well as the area around Valley of the Moon Park with my eyes on the trees, looking for Grosbeaks, and other winter birds. I was about to head back to the office when a last minute turn down 20th avenue turned out to be a great idea. I saw a few birds land in a tall Cottonwood tree and quickly got out of my car with my