Here are a few pictures from the GBBC weekend.

There is a pileated woodpecker in there--can you see him?

I don't blame you--he kept inside the twigs mostly.

But once he looked right at me as if I were the paparazzi!

Look how much yellow the pine siskins are getting. I had more of them today too because it's cold tonight.

This red-bellied woodpecker can't get into the cage for the peanuts, but can stick its head through far enough to reach one.

I hadn't seen the hooded mergansers for over a week, so I was thrilled when three of them came up the creek at high tide.

Chipping sparrows were the only species I had good numbers of, but still only 63. Half of what I had last year.

And only one bluejay--he looked kind of sad.

Now it's off to put my GBBC report onto the site. I hope you all had great bird counts too. It's always fun! I added a couple of species to my February yard list too.

Wilson's snipe

For the first time ever, a Wilson's snipe was slightly visible long enough to take a picture or two--well, actually about twenty, but here are the usable ones.

Here is the whole scene with it in the middle.
Zoomed in a little and you can actually see it. The tips of their mandibles are very sensitive and they can flex them some. They probe the bottom for goodies to eat.

Such pretty patterns and that bit of rust coloring on the tail is a good ID when they fly.

These were taken at the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge last week.

How are you coming with the bird count? It was drizzly here today so not so good for looking around the yard. I have 24 species now, but not big numbers on anything. It's supposed to rain again tomorrow too. Pooey.

Snowy egret

A snowy egret was very cooperative the other day at Donnelly Wildlife Management Area. He's sitting on a trunk that controls the water into what used to be rice fields and are now water fowl havens. The trunk opens or closes to let water in or out with the tide and can be controlled by the managers to the optimum depth for the birds and the plants that they feed on at various seasons.

Don't forget the Great Backyard Bird Count this coming weekend!