Hello, Lovely thread:)
I have enjoyed my bird watching hugely this winter. I have seen several types that I've never seen in the past. Brown Creeper, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and my very favorite one, a Yellowbelly Sapsucker.
It took me awhile to identify him, because he is a juvenile and won't get his adult colors till spring. I am so hoping that he hangs around till he has changed. I am not in his summer territory. He is the coolest bird to watch. The first time I saw him I thought he looked ancient. I call him my "old man" bird:). He is very slow moving, very diliberate in his movements. When he comes down the same tree he always does to get a drink from the bird bath, he backs a ways, then turns and looks, backs some more, turns and looks. Then when he's in the right place you can see him gather himself up for the leap from tree to birdbath:). The oly thing he seems interested in to eat is the peanut butter I have smeared on several trees. Most generally I see him several times a day, but every once in a while he disappears for a day or two and I worry about where the old man is:)
I will try to get a picture of him, once he lands at the peanut butter he stays along time and doesn't seem to take off in a panic over much like the other birds do. But my camera.s zoom isn't the best so it may be hard to see him.
Thanks for the thread.
Becky
I too notice the larger variety of birds in fall and winter. It's so exciting to have new visitors to ID in the yard. Isn't the Brown Creeper a funny bird. :)
I once had a Red bellied Sapsucker, for a short time in spring during migration. My pictures of him are blurry. I saw this bird for a short time, 2 years in a row. If you post a picture of this bird, please ping me.
Did you ever do the winter backyard bird count? If you haven't and you are interested, let me know and I'll freepmail you the link. You have such a great variety of birds. It's in Feb.