This past weekend was our first visit to our second home on Cedar Creek for
quite some time (I was birding Kansas and Texas with my son for most of
October). Although we had no rarities, there was a nice mix of species with
Red-breasted Nuthatches and Purple Finches overlapping with a late catbird. We
also
had our FOS Fox Sparrow and nice counts of juncos (25) and goldfinches (23) at
our feeders. Large flocks of robins and waxwings were working our very
abundant wild grape crop which I hope will keep them in the area for a good
long
while. Unusual for us were a Common Grackle and a House Finch. The total
species count was 30 which is good for us at this season--and especially given
that
the feeders were empty upon our arrival.
Thanks to Bob Abrams for his brief discussion of phases and morphs. Items
like this are helpful from time to time.
Dave Davis
Arlington
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