Winter Birds Are Coming

Early Sunday morning I awoke to the distinctive clear high whistle of the white-throated sparrow. The rhythmic “Oh sweet Canada, Canada, Canada” song signaled to me that winter birds are making their way down from Canada. These guys are usually the first to arrive for our mild winters and are followed closely by dark-eyed juncos and American goldfinches. Any local birder will tell you that this summer was rather dull, so let’s all get our goldfinch feeders ready and hope for the best. Last year I charted white-throated sparrows arriving on November 11, so they’re a little early. (Probably flying ahead of the cold front headed this way.) Goldfinches are usually expected after November 15. Last year, I didn’t see one until December 3.  (That’s Jack’s picture. He’s the first male of the first pair to arrive in my yard.) Tra la. Have you seen anything?