BIRDS AFTER SNOWSTORM

Cardinal outside our kitchen window.  We have had almost a foot of snow this week.

                                                             Cardinal(female).

                                                       Blue Jays after the snow.

Pine Siskins have a little yellow below their white wing bars that helps identify this bird.

Tree Sparrows are down from up north in good numbers.  TO SEE MORE NATURE PHOTOS GO UP AND TO THE RIGHT AND CLICK ON DECEMBER 2012.

THE WONDERS OF THE FIRST SNOWFALL

We got our first snow of the winter and the beauty of such an event is hard to match.

FIRST SNOW ARTICLE FOR SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE

Almost everyone that feeds birds in our area has had Pine Siskins at their feeders this year. This is the first year in 3 years that we have had siskins at our winter feeders. Pine Siskins often hang around with Goldfinches, which are similar in size, and also similar when viewed from the back.  There also have been reports of Pine Grossbeaks in S.E. Minnesota.  This year may be what is called an "irruption" or "invasion" year with more species comming down from up north than usual.
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS OF THE NATURAL WORLD GO UP AND TO THE RIGHT AND CLICK ON DECEMBER 2012.

We have had more Purple Finches this winter than we have had for several years.  The one shown is a male.  As of Dec. 6 we have had no snow that has stuck with us.