Return of the Rusty....

Today has been an interesting day!  The weather this morning was awful, pelting down rain...which I guess was good in a way because there wasn't much to do than try to count the masses of Dark-eyed Junco that were at the feeders.... and all of a sudden, did a double take....

the Rusty Blackbird was back!  and to make it even better, it is a Project Feeder-watch day so I will be able to report him.

he spent a fair bit of time perched in this tree, allowing me to get a really good look at him, he also was calling and his call is quite different from any other blackbird.   Some observations - his posture is very similar to a Red-wing Blackbird, not the upright strutting posture of a Brewer's Blackbird, however he isn't 'flighty' like the Red wings.  Another identifying feature is the long slightly down curved bill.

Here is one more slightly wicked looking view....

after the excitement of the Rusty and with the weather letting up a bit we decided to walk over at Kilby today...

this pretty much sums up the way the weather has been going!

the Bald Eagles are at their nest.  Soon they won't be visible as the trees are pretty close to leafing out.

This wet cornfield beside the dyke was alive with birds, mainly...

American Robins and lots and lots of Dark-eyed Junco although I couldn't catch one of them on the ground..

but did get this guy in a tree.

Apart from the usual geese....

saw this trio of Common Merganser....

and this Common Loon, still in it's winter plumage.