We observed a striking leucistic NORTHERN CARDINAL with a red bill, very
faintly rosy head, white back, wing feathers and belly feathers and rosy
tail this past Saturday, 2010-02-13.  It was in a group of 30 or so
cardinals vying for one of our platform feeders against a horde of AMERICAN
CROWS.  That's one great thing about extreme weather conditions - you can
see some very intersting birds.  Alas, by the time I scrambled for my
camera, the pied-Redbird was gone.

Also of note: AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are here, finally, and an EASTERN
PHOEBE is looking forlorn in the cold, windy white of our meadow.  Two
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS and our resident COOPER'S HAWK are keeping the
passerines wary.



Frank Boyle
Rohrersville, MD