Varied Thrush!

Certainly hasn't been ideal conditions in any way shape or form for bird watching the last few days but one thing that has everyone talking is the amazing number of Varied Thrush that have shown up the last few days.

this wasn't taken today but a few days ago although we continue to get bouts of wet sloppy snow from time to time, but back to the Varied Thrush, they are everywhere!  Counted 27 of them on our grass playing field alone.  Have also noticed them perched up in trees which is a bit unusual, they are usually so secretive, staying down low near underbrush.

So the bird count is over for another year.  The Red-breasted Sapsucker has been on the same tree every day, including this morning and we saw a couple of Anna's Hummingbirds one of the days as well.

The first 3 days of the count, not a robin was seen....yesterday we did a run of Nicomen again and guess what?  American Robins everywhere so if the weather ever clears I imagine our playing field will be covered with robins again, right on schedule as they usually show up mid February....and just think, another couple of weeks we should be looking skyward as the first of the Tree Swallows could be back and shortly after that the Rufous Hummingbirds....can hardly wait!