I had a nice photo session this morning with White-throated Sparrows at the Saco Riverwalk. I enjoyed watching them extracting the seeds from crabapples, the opposite of true frugivores that consume the flesh and cough up or poop out the seeds.

It’s been a productive seven days, with this week’s highlights being decidedly wintery in nature. ‘Tis the season!

• 7 Red Crossbills, Florida Lake Park, Freeport, 12/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).
• 1 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW, Hunter Road, Freeport, 12/9 (with Saturday Morning Birdwalk group).

It’s never a good sign when you must circle the bird in your attempt at a documentation shot! I got one shot off before it flew.

• 2 Red Crossbills, our property in Durham, 12/10.

• 39 total WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in scattered small groups, and 54 total Pine Siskins, Long Falls Dam Road, Somerset County, 12/12 (with Jeannette).

• 1 Northern Shrike (first of season), our property in Durham, 12/13.

• 1-2 Swamp Sparrows, Tidewater Farm Preserve, Falmouth, 12/14.

• 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Saco Riverwalk, 12/15.

NOTES.

Since we’ve had a mix of “the birds are back!” and “there are still no birds at my feeders” at the store recently, I wrote an updated blog talking about the season and the inconsistencies we are seeing with overall feeder activity, which is posted here:

Why There Are Not (or, maybe there are now) Birds at Your Feeders, December 2023 Edition.