Changing of the Seasons - 24 Oct 2015

While scanning the feeders this morning I spotted the first Dark-eyed Juncos of the season. Five birds: 2 females and 3 males, including this handsome fellow.

I also spotted the first Tufted Titmouse of the fall. A pair of birds came into the feeders for a spell. They are even tougher than the Black-capped Chickadees to photograph. They just don't stand still!

White-crowned Sparrows are still in the area. This handsome 1st year bird posed in the morning sunlight for a few moments before moving on. White-throated Sparrows also continue, with 3 birds moving through the hedges.

Other sightings included a pair of Chipmunks, a Downy Woodpecker, numerous Blue Jays, the Northern Cardinal pair, a dozen American Goldfinches, and of course, the House Finches and House Sparrows.

With Hurricane Patricia pounding the Gulf we had strong southwest winds that pushed dark clouds past us all day. Though it was mid-afternoon the skies were twilight dark. While Asia ate grass in the yard I sat and enjoyed a stream of Turkey Vultures float lazily over the house, taking advantage of the strong winds to soar against the winds. They painted a lovely picture of black silhouettes against dark gray skies.

Brownton Abbey, 26340 Higgins Way, Wayne, Michigan, US
Oct 24, 2015 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Yard
12 species

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)  15
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  1
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)  6
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)  3
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)  2
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  6
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  7
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  12
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)  5
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)  3
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)  3
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S161925841

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)