It's sunny here today, with 25 1/2 inches of snow and drifts of at least 36 inches (what we have measured so far).  The bird feeder is a hoppin' place, with large numbers of all the common species.  Our best feeder bird yesterday was a PURPLE FINCH, female.  It would be cool if a male would come hang out with her, but still it's a good bird for our feeder and I'm glad to see her.  She came back today, too.  

I'm excited to report my best yard bird ever, seen a few minutes ago.  I had a PEREGRINE FALCON fly into one of the tall trees into the treeline.  I was outside and the bins were inside, but I grabbed a back-up set I keep in my car.  I struggled to get a perched view, with the lenses fogged and the focus mechanism reluctant in the cold.  I didn't get a look good look at that point and thus couldn't focus to confirm the typical facial mark as it sat, but the bird quickly lifted and flew across the yard in the sunlight, giving us a fantastic view of the slate-gray back and very light underside.  Bare-eyed, I thought I saw the facial mask, but I really need bins to be 100% confident in such a mark.  I AM 100% confident that it was a falcon with all the other appropriate field marks of a PEREGRINE.  It was too big for a kestrel or merlin, and too small for a gyrfalcon.  I'm confident. 

Having spent most of the new year circling the South River Bridge for my 2010 peregrine, with absolutely no luck and a rising gasoline bill, I am ever so grateful and thrilled that one decided to come visit me!  

Joanne

West River, MD