Dick,

I also noticed that my usual 15-20 goldfinch did not fly off for hours and come back later.  Instead, there have been a constant 20-30 feisty frenzied goldfinch at my feeders from dawn to dusk the last few days.  I fill the feeders every day or two.

I also  saw a few chipping sparrows that came along the last few days too,.eating off the deck floor.

And to my surprise, I finally was able to positively id a purple finch or two at my feeders this weekend, a lifetime bird for me.

Another surprise. At my berry suet, I have had a pair of bluebirds come by this past week, visiting once while the suet was hanging, and once visiting while the berry suet was on a table..

I also have rbnh at the suet too.

Harry Lotis
Owings, Md (Southern Md - near North Beach in Calvert County)

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Rick Sussman <> 

> Hi all, 
> I noticed a big jump this weekend in the numbers of both American 
> Goldfinches and Chipping Sparrows here in my yard. Our small dogwood tree was 
> covered 
> with goldfinches this afternoon; I counted at least 3 dozen in the tree and 
> at the 2 feeders. Chipping sparrows were all around this morning too, at the 
> feeders, in the grass and in the back of the property and adjacent lands. 
> 
> After our grocery shopping mid-day, we stopped by Metzler's Nursery 
> (Eldersburg?) for some replacement blackberries, as the ones I bought (and 
> planted) 
> from Lowes have died. Anyway, never let a gardener loose in a nice nursery in 
> spring. I came away with a beautiful ornamental weeping peach tree which we 
> just squeezed into my van. Took most of the rest of the afternoon to plant, 
> water, and mulch it, but now I can look at it from the computer window, and 
> hopefully it will put out enough fruit for the birds to enjoy! Beautiful bright 
> pink double flowers! 
> 
> Happy birding, 
> 
> Rick Sussman 
> Woodbine,MD 
>  (mailto:[log in to unmask]) 
> 
> 
> 
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