It sure looks like November today, windy and raw with our first light snow falling!

11-11-19 First Snow on Oak leaf hydrangeas

Let's go back a bit. A beautiful Northern Flicker came to the bubbler on 11-4-19, taking over the basin from the robins and really getting a thorough dunking. They're such a colorfully marked bird, yet blend into the woodland.

11-4-19 Northern Flicker and American Robin 11-4-19 Northern Flicker 11-4-19 Northern Flicker 11-4-19 Northern Flicker

The first of the season 'snowbird' showed up right afterward, a Dark-eyed Junco. White-throated Sparrows have been around, but are more difficult to spot at times in the leaves. The Brown Creeper is seen almost every day now, and they are masters at clinging to the bark.

11-4-19 FOS Dark-eyed Junco 11-4-19 White-throated Sparrow 11-4-19 Brown Creeper 11-4-19 Brown Creeper

Mourning Doves will often just hang out for naps around the bubbler, particularly when they feel safe under a large perch. 

11-7-19 Mourning Dove at rest

American Goldfinch numbers have really picked up. Some days, I've had three dozen or more. They really can blend in with the fallen leaves, and are hard to count in the garden. How many do you find in the middle photo? Look for six.

11-7-19 American Goldfinches on the 'wc' ( Wally's cedar) 11-7-19 How many American Goldfinches? 11-7-19 American Goldfinches

All the splashing activity has also attracted other species. Some male Eastern Bluebirds have been visiting the pond when the goldfinches come in. Yellow-rumped Warblers have shown up, too.

11-7-19 Eastern Bluebird 11-7-19 Eastern Bluebird #2 11-7-19 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11-7-19 Yellow-rumped Warbler 11-8-19 Eastern Bluebird 11-8-19 Eastern Bluebird 11-8-19 Eastern Bluebird

American Crows have remembered that I will put out bark butter, and they came in and cleaned off the tree trunks. They are certainly not clingers like the creeper, but somehow they manage when a free meal is involved. They are intelligent and wary. It took years for them to come to the bubbler. 

11-8-19 American Crow eating bark butter 11-8-19 American Crow eating bark butter 11-8-19 American Crow

Two days ago, there were at least a dozen goldfinches taking turns in the bubbler basin when a single Eastern Bluebird joined in. Seeing a bluebird sure has a way of lifting spirits!

11-9-19 Eastern Bluebird and 9 American Goldfinches 11-9-19 Eastern Bluebird and 4 American Goldfinches 11-9-19 Eastern Bluebird

The first fall flock of Common Grackles came in on 11-9-19 and I estimated 80 birds. They swirled in and left again fairly quickly. Perhaps a hawk was onto them.

11-10-19 Common Grackles

Finally, for #80 at the bubbler this year, a family of Cedar Waxwings came down to drink. The youngest bird sure looked a bit of an ugly duckling, but by spring it will be as lovely as its parents.

11-10-19 Cedar Waxwings 11-10-19 Cedar Waxwings 11-10-19 Cedar Waxwing juvenile 11-10-19 American Goldfinch,Cedar Waxwings juvenile 11-10-19 Cedar Waxwing juvenile

Yesterday morning about 10:30, I was cleaning off a table to bring in before the weather changed. I heard the sound of large animals crashing through the woods! Three large white-tailed bucks were chasing a doe. They circled our neighbor's house and two of the bucks were locked onto the doe's movements. They soon came hurtling back across the street. The Rut is on! 

11-10-19 White-tailed Bucks chasing a doe

To view all the photos since the last post, begin here:  Photos since 11-3-19