So I wonder, if there seems to be an irruption, and/or early migration and/or higher number of birds coming further south - is that more about past and current weather/food conditions, or does it indicate a bad winter on the way? Or both? I thought a mild winter was predicted? Mary, Greene County On Nov 2, 2007, at 9:06 PM, DANIEL WEBER wrote: > With all of the reports and anticipation regarding the irruption, I > thought that I might send an update from Athens. I haven't been > out birding in a while, but live adjacent to a substantial piece of > mature oak/hickory forest. I see and hear a nice variety of birds. > > To begin with, I have had at least 3 RBNU for nearly a month. This > is the first time that I have had the opportunity to observe this > species. They are bold and very active. They only hit the > sunflower feeders and ignore the suet so far. > > I have been anticipating the Pine Siskins and yesterday I had a > single individual come in to the sunflower seeds. it seemed > skittish. Today, I noticed at least 3 individuals-all associating > with a flock of American Goldfinches. > > Dark eyed juncos are spotty so far, but I had a single bird arrive > at least 3 weeks ago. I was surprised to see one when the day time > temperatures were still breaking 85 degrees. > > Other winter arrivals include Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Golden > Crowned kinglets, and Brown Creeper. > > Last, but not least was a Northern Harrier that I spied two weeks > ago. This is only the third NOHA that I have seen in southeast > Ohio and the first that I have seen in Athens County. > > I am still changing my hummingbird feeder every couple of days, but > there has been zero activity. If anyone in the area is interested > in the location of these sightings, please feel free to contact me. > > Dan Weber > Athens, OH > > _________________________________________________________________ > Climb to the top of the charts! Play Star Shuffle: the word > scramble challenge with star power. > http://club.live.com/star_shuffle.aspx? > icid=starshuffle_wlmailtextlink_oct > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask]