Mallard on my pond

On Sunday, a female Mallard visited my pond, staying the entire day. I noticed her in the morning enjoying a section of open water in the thawing ice mantle. Most visiting waterfowl don’t linger long because of my rude dogs that live to harass any and all “outsiders.” Yet this solitary lady ignored their rude barking and paddled about until my harassing hounds finally loss interest. (Image courtesy of U.S Fish and Wildlife Service.)

Though windy and cold, Sunday was another sunny day in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania. At times, my duck visitor climbed onto the ice to stand motionless in the sun, perhaps sunbathing. Then I could easily see her bright orange legs and deep blue speculum (rear portion of the wing). This shiny mark is especially noticeable given the females otherwise dappled brown coloring.

The Mallard quietly shared our day until the light began to fade. Then she began to loudly quack, once again interesting the dogs. Who knows? Maybe she was just looking for a little attention. When the dogs and I came into the house, she was still outside. I wonder if she spent the night or flew on. Whatever, she’ll always be welcomed back.

Until next time . . . happy birding!

Georgia Anne

Two Bald Eagles

On Sunday (Dec 21), I was traveling home after a visit with my sister in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. A bright, sunny day provided perfect conditions for the leisurely three-hour trip. A few miles outside Huntingdon (driving West on Rt. 22) with a long stretch of highway ahead, I noticed two large birds circling high in the afternoon sky. I might have passed the observation off as turkey vultures but then . . . did I see I a white tail? I didn’t need more incentive. I pulled the car off the road, grabbed the binoculars always kept on the front seat, and jumped outside to confirm my hunch: Yes, white tails and white heads! There could be no doubt. Circling high above me, on a windy afternoon, were two majestic Bald Eagles!

The beautiful day had just become remarkable.

So keep your eyes open. On any day, our avian neighbors are out and about attending to their business, just like you and me. You need only to look to see them. (Image courtesy of the Digital Library System of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.)

Happy birding!

Georgia Anne

A Winter Visitor: Northern Pine Siskin

Today a small flock of Northern Pine Siskin is visiting my feeder, mingling within the much larger flock of goldfinch. A finch of northern latitudes (Alaska; Canada), pine siskins visit us here, somewhat unpredictably, mostly during the winter months.
(Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.)

Unlike regularly scheduled visits by migrating birds (for example, warblers in the spring), visits by the pine siskin cannot be reliably tracked. As such, the erratic visits of the pine siskin are known as “irruptions,” which delight birders, because who doesn’t like a pleasant surprise?

Unlike its cousin the American Goldfinch, whose male wears bright yellow breeding plumage, the colors of the pine siskin (even the breeding male) are far from showy. The pine siskin is brown and heavily streaked but for traces of yellow at the base of its flight feathers.

So the next time you see a group of goldfinch at your feeder, take an extra long look—you might be surprised to find their “cousins” are visiting.

Until next time . . . happy birding!
Georgia Anne

Hungry American Goldfinch

For the last week I've been feeding black-oil sunflower seeds to a large flock of hungry American Goldfinch. If you think of a "goldfinch" as a bright yellow bird with a jaunty black cap (tipped low onto the forehead), then you're thinking of the breeding male. In the winter, males loose their colorful spring and summer plumage and dress in a more drab olive green, looking very much like their female counterparts. Like many bird species, male and female American Goldfinch are different in color--the breeding male being ever so bright and the breeding female appearing a bit drab by comparison. However, males loose their brilliant plumage during the fall molt and then it's sometimes hard to tell the males from the females. (Maybe this is to keep them from becoming too vain! Ha!) One sure sign of the wintering male goldfinch is a yellow shoulder patch, which isn't always so obvious since the yellow can vary in intensity. This photo appears to show two wintering males though the yellow shoulder patch is extremely pale in the more distant bird. Until next time, Happy birding!

American Tree Sparrow

On this cold, blustery morning in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, I am watching an American Tree Sparrow at my bird feeder. In my state, he's a winter visitor, who spends the warmer months much farther north in northern Canada and Alaska. So if you see the Tree Sparrow in your yard, you know that winter can't be far behind. Learning how to distinguish among the many species of sparrows can be a challenge. But I find Tory Peterson's field guides to birds helpful. For instance, within the Peterson field guide, you'll find sparrows organized visually, for instance, those with rusty caps (the Tree Sparrow has a rusty cap), those with streaked breasts, and those with clear breasts. Of course, there are many more physical characteristics you'll need to recognize. Notice the central dark spot of this bird's chest? It's yet another characteristic of the American Tree Sparrow. There are more such characteristics to learn, but these are a good place to start!

Till next time, happy birding!