A couple of degrees below freezing at first light but it warmed up quickly as the sun got up. Lots of bird activity – especially in the vicinity of the feeders. I think the American Goldfinches must have taken my concern about them in the Fall to heart….they all came back to see me today. For the local Goldfinches, Ruthven is the place to be – to see and be seen, to check out the ladies….you get my drift.
We had a couple of firsts for the year show up: a Hermit Thrush and a Chipping Sparrow.
The weekend is supposed to be really nice and my sense is that many birds will be on the move as they try to make up for lost time due to the recent inclement weather.

Banded 61:
2 Mourning Doves
5 Golden-crowned Kinglets
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Northern Cardinal
1 American Tree Sparrow
1 Chipping Sparrow
5 Song Sparrows
5 Dark-eyed Juncos
7 Brown-headed Cowbirds
6 Purple Finches
1 Pine Siskin
26 American Goldfinches

Retrapped 30:
1 Downy Woodpecker
2 Eastern Tufted Titmice
1 Black-capped Chickadee
1 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Northern Cardinal
1 American Tree Sparrow
4 Song Sparrows
11 Dark-eyed Juncos
1 Pine Siskin
6 American Goldfinches

ET’s: 38 spp.

Rick