Date: 10/30/12 12:49 pm
From: Jim Nelson <kingfishers2...>
Subject: [MDBirding] During and Post Sandy Yard Birds, including Cassiar's Junco, Bethesda, Mont. Co.


During Sandy, it was amazing to see all the birds feeding in our small back yard, mostly during lulls in the wind and rain. Today, post Sandy, we did not have anywhere near the variety seen in a yard like Rick Sussman's.


But we've had nice numbers of birds so far -- 10 Dark-eyed Juncos, including one female Cassiar's form nicely contrasting with the other Slate-colored forms. The Cassiar's form is illustrated in the big Sibley Guide in the box on the lower right of the page (the form from the Canadian Rockies). Since being clued into this form a few years back, I have had yearly sightings in our yard. Also had four White-throated Sparrows, a Chipping Sparrow, a Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler, Car. Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Goldfinch, House Finch, Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Jays, and Mourning Doves. All were very hungry and seemed to enjoy the lack of wind and rain.


We have power, but Verizon Fios is down at my house, so a neighbor kindly let me use their computer to check email. So I still have the vicarious pleasure of reading all the interesting birds other are finding post Sandy.


Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD

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