On Christmas morning siskins returned to my feeders in abundance!  I had a single bird 6 or more weeks ago, but on 12/25 i counted as many as a dozen at once.  They were most partial to the thistle sock, but were also hitting the upside down thistle tube feeder and the sunflower seed feeder.  This morning my high count was 7.  It was nice to see that some of them were displaying a modicum of yellow. 
 
More than a week ago, an immature Y Bellied Sapsucker was indutriously drilling my decidious magnolia.  I've noticed that some of the holes were leaking sap during the warmer weather, but the bird hasn't returned to my knowledge.  I live in community that was developed from farmland in the 70's so the tree selection is limited to non-native species; woods including South Mtn are not that far away however...
 
Still looking unsucessfully for R-breasted Nuthatches this season.
 
Jim (Michael) Speicher
S FRED CO
Broad Run area (N of Burkittsville)