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Thursday, January 31, 2008

One last bird

Today is January 31, 2008, the last day of the January Backyard Bird Count that Michele and I have been doing as a fun competition. I have been behind by 5 for awhile and neither of us had landed a new bird for a week or so. I'd conceded defeat some time ago and am sure Michele is picking out a good breakfast place where she can claim her prize.

Part of me hoped that a miracle would occur this morning and that, finally, goldfinches and pine siskins would appear to up my count closer to Michele's. But, alas, the nyjer sock remains untouched.

But when I walked out into the yard with a bowl full of suet dough I heard an odd call. One of those that's familiar yet not. It was close but I just couldn't see where.......

I walked back inside, grabbed the binocs and went in search......and found it!

A pair of Cedar Waxwings were perched in the top of the apple tree calling like crazy! That's why the call was a little hinky........typically you hear waxwings in a large flock with lots of voices and they're not sitting right next to you so their high, thin tseeee sounds odd when given by just two birds. You learn something new every day in the bird world.

Thanks, waxwings. You don't show up at my place often but when you do it's perfect timing.

5 comments:

Carolyn H said...

I've never had any luck with a niger sock. I have to take the niger out of the sock and put it into a finch feeder. I don't know if my finch aren't smart enough to figure out the sock or what, but as soon as the feed is in a regular tube feeder, the finch are here. The sock will sit idle for weeks.

Carolyn H.
http://roundtoprumings.blogspot.com

NW Nature Nut said...

Cool! Thats way more exciting than a "boring" golfinch. Sorry goldfinch.

Seth and Michelle said...

That's way cool! I love waxwings. It has been a lot of fun watching you guys do your Birding Battle Royale!

OneWuff said...

So who won? Who gets to buy and who gets to gloat?? This competition was more fun to witness than a beauty contest/American Idol/football game/soccer match, etc. ad infinitum....you're both certainly polite about it all!

Laura W. said...

Michele won by 4 species, I think. I'll be buying.....