Foraging In The Snow

We returned to Fort Collins Friday evening - Jan from California and me the Middle East. The weather had changed greatly since we left - a cold front came in with temperatures dropping, and it snowed the day before. This morning the prediction was for snow starting at 7:00 AM - the weather man was pretty much on target. By late morning, a few birds were poking around the general environs of the feeder - we need more seed. Our first birds of the season in the snow.

Northern Flicker

This young Northern Flicker is getting its first taste of winter. An adult male was working over the finch feeder, and another young flicker was in the juniper next door. They seem to be hanging out in the common lane area behind our house.

Dark-eyed Junco

A Dark-eyed Junco was picking through the two inch snow blanket looking for seeds that have fallen from the feeder above. I had first landed on the finch feeder, and then moved to the suet feeder hanging below. A little bit of snow freckles its face - the temperature outside is 16° outside. In the far west, this junco is known as the Oregon Junco - thoughts of home.

American Robin

This American Robin defied what I knew of the species - it kept picking at the juniper berries and ate them. I thought these were only an insect eater on the ground. Perhaps desperate times have already begun in early winter.

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch with their winter coloration. It seems that everybody else wants a piece of the action at their feeder - big and large seem to have adapted to the small mesh and limited perch space.

House Sparrow

Now it is the House Sparrow turn. I have noticed how birds seem to come in waves of appearances. Even the larger Scrub Jay, American Robin, Northern Flicker travel in trios or better.