Today is the shortest day of the year, and aren't we all ready for a bit more daylight?  We'll soon turn that corner and days will gradually get brighter and longer. In the meantime, there are just ten days left in this year.

There have been a few avian visitors that have stopped by in the past couple weeks, joining the usual suspects. A Pine Siskin came in again on 12-6-18 just for the day. It's the striped bird on the right. 

American Goldfinch, Pine Siskin 12-6-18
 

I spied this Yellow-bellied Sapsucker on 12-8-18, and confirmed it was a female when it showed me its white throat. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female 12-8-18 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female 12-8-18

American Robins use the water features all the time, and will stop by the fountain for a drink if the bubbler is too busy with bathers.

American Robin at the fountain 12-8-18

A Hermit Thrush waded into the bubbler basin and then checked out some American Holly cuttings with berries on them that I had left nearby.

Hermit Thrush 12-10-18 Hermit Thrush 12-10-18

On Tuesday, one of the robins didn't hesitate to gulp down a few of those berries. 

American Robin eating American Holly berries 12-18-18

Cedar Waxwings still come in on some days in their family groups, often mingling with American Robins for a bit of safety.

Cedar Waxwings 12-7-18 Cedar Waxwings 12-7-18

This male Hairy Woodpecker has been seen almost daily, hungry for bark butter.

Hairy Woodpecker 12-14-18

The Brown Creeper comes more regularly when the days are colder.

Brown Creeper 12-20-18

Sometimes, we hear one of the Barred Owls. Last Wednesday, one flew in and watched from this perch for over 20 minutes. Wary prey never appeared. 

Barred Owl 12-12-18

We've been playing musical feeders, trying to outwit the squirrel brigades. Sometimes, they behave and eat acorns, as they're meant to do.

Eastern Gray Squirrel 12-7-18 Eastern Gray Squirrel 12-20-18

We'll see how long they'll leave this peanut feeder alone. This Tufted Titmouse was the first to grab a nibble.

Tufted Titmouse 12-20-18

So, the years go round and no two years are ever exactly the same! That's what keeps us backyard birders looking all the time. My best year was 2011 with a total of 115 species of birds. So far, I've had 112 species for 2018. There are a few birds that still could make an appearance. One that is probably a regular in many of your yards is a Northern Mockingbird. Yes, that's right, I have not seen a mockingbird here yet this year! They like more open habitat and our yard is so wooded that I usually only see one when it comes in to get water in the winter, like this bird on 1-11-2016. They are considered uncommon in winter.

Northern Mockingbird 1-11-16
 

There just may be a surprise left, waiting in the wings. Time will tell...

In the meantime, we wish you the peace and joy of the season.

Northern Cardinal 1-14-17