Great Backyard Bird Count
Today is the start of the Great Backyard Bird Count. We counted over 100 birds this afternoon, including this close-up that I finally got of our neighborhood Loggerhead Shrike.
Loggerhead Shrike
Cedar waxwings and robins
The oak trees in front of the house have been full of cedar waxwings for the last couple of mornings. There’s been a flock of robins hanging around, too. Some of both stopped in at my fountain for a drink…
Cedar waxwing and robin
Most of the waxwings stayed in the trees. There were so many!!
Waxwings
Female cardinal
I was pleased to get a picture of the female cardinal I saw this afternoon (see below). I know cardinals are fairly common, but in our yard anything that isn’t a blackbird or dove is a welcome change! We also saw two Loggerhead Shrikes. I’ve seen them before but never gotten close enough to identify them, and then today I heard them sing and now I’m sure they are shrikes. Now I’ll have to try to get a good picture.
female cardinal