My part of the state is known as the "Home of the Ducks" and that's an apt title, given what we've seen over the past 10 months here. We're close enough to a golf course pond that hosts Mallards (and Wood Ducks) to entice them to feed on our driveway. We hosted 2-3 regular Mallards from early April through early July of last year (and a pair of Wood Ducks for about a week last April). Two weeks ago, they returned. But while we saw maximum numbers of 2-3 last year, we're hosting up to 6 now. I don't know why they left at the beginning of last summer, but it's certainly nice to have them back.
Other than the ducks, activity here has remained approximately the same as before, with a slight uptick in Goldfinches (both American and Lesser) and Woodpeckers (Downy and Northern Flickers), as well as a more frequently-observed male Townsend's Warbler. The Song Sparrow that stayed with us into early January has been MIA for some time and no "winter finches," such as Purples, Evening Grosbeaks, or Red Crossbills, have been observed. I can't complain much about the lack of the latter two, but it would sure be nice to see a couple of Purple Finches.
American and Lesser Goldfinches dine on thistle in the backyard.
A Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler feeds on suet.
I'll be switching over to a new computer later this week, and will probably not post again until later this month. We'll see what happens between now and then.
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