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#remixWednesday I've always enjoyed the look in this guys eye!

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The flip side to last weeks Boreal Chickadee in fall colors. Black-capped Chickadee in the blowing snow.

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Boreal Chickadee has become my second favorite backyard bird.

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#remixwednesday Breathing new life into an old shot. This weeks is a Red-necked Grebe patrolling Potter Marsh (at Potter Marsh)

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250+ Mallards at Cuddy Pond (at Cuddy Family Mid-Town Park)

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Tucked away in the tree’s tangles #gbbc

Can you find the Black-capped Chickadee?

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Picture of the Day #gbbc

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What's up with ducks in winter?

I Awoke determined to put yesterday's slow start to the Great Backyard Bird Count behind me. Today I had a plan. Today, I had companions. Today our counting campaign would succeed.  Flanked by nephews, fueled by our breakfast, we set forth...  To the backyard. Actually, we just counted from the breakfast table.  Backyard 1 - Black-capped Chickadee 31 - Common Redpoll Snow pants, boots, hat, gloves, binoculars, and camera. We departed for the Campbell Creek Science Center. Dodging joggers, skiers, and their dogs we made our way through the trail system. Sun full shine, but woods full quiet. A chickadee here, and chickadee there, the woods were alive with the stomping of our boots and little more. Arriving at the bridge I was optimistic, we would glimpse an American Dipper? No we wouldn't. Wasn't meant to be, our brave counting party continued dipper less. 

Campbell Creek Trail System 13 - Black-capped Chickadee 1 - Common Redpoll After a snack attack stop, we sought a change of scenery. What's up with ducks in winter? You will see Mallards flying around town during the winter months. Any source open water is an opportunity to search for food.  The open water at Cuddy Pond wasn't open. It was filled with hungry Mallards. Cuddy Pond 300 - Mallard 7 - Black-billed Magpie 3 - Common Raven

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A slow start to my first day of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Spent my lunch counting around the house. Backyard yielded 20+ common redpoll, one brave black-capped chickadee that snuck in between the battling redpolls. Overhead went a raven... oh, to the south a Steller's Jay is moving from tree to tree. Realizing I should be on my way back to work, I head out the front door, turn to lock it, and stop. That sound. What is that sound? Turns out to be the symphony of the Bohemian waxwing horde positioned in the neighborhood tree tops. 250+ waxwings moving as one. A slow start, but amazing finish.

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May 17, 2012 - AM Bird Walk

Another glorious 6:30am. Meeting Dave W. to help him with his #birding story.

Is there a story here?

The birds were ready. Our optics were ready.

A flash of color at the top of the tree line.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet #birding

After the Kinglet's serenade, we were treated to an encore by The Thrush Family, featuring Varied, Hermit, and American Robin.

You're only as good as your bird book. 

Quick flash of color along the river's edge, could it be?

American Dipper #birding

The Dipper ended up being the epic climax. A frustrating conclusion as we ended the walk with an unidentified mystery bird.

What story did Dave find? We'll have to wait, to find out.

-- May 12, 2012 Campbell Creek Science Center

Species Identified: Dark-eyed Junco Boreal Chickadee Varied Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin American Dipper Yellow-rumped Warbler Ruby-crowned Kinglet