[robin]

I have read that robins will gather in large flocks during the winter. Then when breeding season starts , they will break off and look for mates. That is why I think of spring when I start to see single robins or pairs. A look at a range map will show robins all year in the U.S. states. I'm not sure where I heard robins are a sign of spring, but I have heard this for as long as I can remember. I am 58 years old, so it has been quite a while.

 

[robin]

Robins are usually a sign of spring. I saw the first ones about two or three weeks ago. I photographed this one today. Mcfarland Ks.

 

[red tailed hawks]

19 hours ago, Aaron said:

I’ve never seen a red-tailed hawk in a urban setting..  

                                   I live on the corner of my little town in the flint hills. This is a view from my front porch. There is Mill Creek about a quarter mile to the right and another smaller creek a eighth mile to the left. I see bald eagles, red tail hawks, northern harrier hawks and cooper hawks amongst others from my house. My songbirds will take cover when a predator flies over , but this was the first time I have seen one in the yard.

[red tailed hawks]

From my front porch I was taking bird pictures , by my woodstove, this cold snowy morning . As I was focusing on and framing a picture of several gold finches, BAM , birds went everywhere. Five or six came strait at me. Two hit the glass of the window I was shooting through. I jumped back and thought WOW. What is going on. Then I saw him. A red tail hawk came off the ground, just a couple of feet from my camera. I looked quickly to see if he had any luck at my bird smorgasbord. He was gone in an instant, so I couldn't tell. After that the feeders were vacant, except for a Downy Woodpecker. As he clung to a feeder in terror, he was motionless. It was about five minutes before I saw him move. It was another ten minutes before any of the birds came back to the feeding troughs. I guess the hawks have to eat also. Such is the circle of life. I have a friend that calls the red tails "killing machines". I tend to agree. I am curious If other birders have seen these predators in action, at their feeding areas.

David Anderson from Mcfarland Kansas. 2/7/2021 

 

[Hairy Woodpecker? Sacramento, California]

On 1/30/2021 at 11:03 PM, Aidan B said:

Awesome point, thanks for bringing that up! The pine it is on is a Pinus sabiniana, which, according to Wikipedia has a needle length of 8-12 inches. The bird is larger than the smaller needles, which would make it around nine to ten inches in length. 

That would make it a Hairy. 

[White birds.]

The grayish feathers you see is shadowing. In person , it is pure white. It has the black eyes so I had wondered if it was leucistic or albino. I did a little more research and agree with the comments that it is leucistic. I am still curious if something in my environment could cause these birds to be leucistic or if it is genetic. 

[The best bird seed to attract new birds to my feeder]

I have to agree with everyone who says black oil sunflower seeds. I have tried many different mixes while also using black oil sunflower seeds. Almost all birds go for the sunflower seeds first. I also put out suet. Mainly for the woodpeckers, but nuthatches and finches will use the suet also. 

[Hairy Woodpecker? Sacramento, California]

I get both downy and hairy woodpeckers regularly here in Kansas.  Easiest way to tell the difference is the size. My bird book lists hairy as 9 1/4 inches long and the downy as 6 3/4 long. I see no red hindcrown spot , so I would say it is female. I don't know how long the needles are in the evergreen "pine tree I am guessing" , but they appear about the length of your bird. On your 5th and 6th picture I think i see black bars or spots on the outer tail feathers ,if it isn't tree bark I see. That would make it a downy. If you could measure the needles , I believe you could identify it that way.

[First bird of 2021]

Tufted Titmouse for me.

[White birds.]

I agree Avery. I have birdwatched for years and haven't run across this. 

 

[White birds.]

Last year I had a "dark eyed junco" with Leucism . It stayed around last winter, yet it is gone this year . This year I have a "Tufted titmouse" with Albinism. It is totally white except its eyes. They are black not pinkish red. It has been here for about a month. I was wondering if there could be a correlation or if it is coincidence.