Winter Birds

After a cold, rainy weekend, we were lucky to have a sunny lunchtime walk today. Temps in the low 40's, very little wind. There were a lot of birds around this morning as we all arrived at work, but after lunch we scared up only a few birds, but a good new one!

Today's birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Meleagris gallopavo, Wild Turkey, high count of 11
Branta canadensis, Canada Goose
Larus delawarensis, Ring-billed Gull
Larus argentatus, Herring Gull
Columba livia, Rock Pigeon
Zenaida macroura, Mourning Dove
Colaptes auratus, Northern Flicker
Picoides pubescens, Downy Woodpecker

Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lZfSFoZeDLc/SujIvr813FI/AAAAAAAAB9w/sF0uSvvJ5LM/s400/Fox+Sparrow.jpg
Corvus brachyrhynchos, American Crow
Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay
Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling
Turdus migratorius, American Robin, still a big flock hanging around
Bombycilla cedrorum, Cedar Waxwing, flock of a dozen
Poecile atricapillus, Black-capped Chickadee
Junco hyemalis, Dark-eyed Junco
Zonotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow
Melospiza melodia, Song Sparrow
Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow - good bird, Lynn!!
Carduelis tristis, American Goldfinch
Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged Blackbird

Alas, I am very jealous, because I didn't actually see the Fox Sparrow, well, except as it flew away. This sparrow spends the winter from Connecticut south to Georgia and across the southwest to California and Mexico. It breeds in northern Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador through the prairie provinces, and from Alaska south into the Rocky Mountains of the U.S.

I often see the Fox Sparrow only in early and late winter - December and March, so our sighting today is pretty typical, but still a beautiful little bird to add to our list.