Junco getting a drink

 

This has been a weird winter. The juncos may be heading north and some catbirds have already been reported. Chris thought she heard an oriole yesterday.

Dark Eyed Junco

The arrival of the juncos remind us that winter is approaching.

Winter Backyard Birds

Dark-eyed Junco

Northern Cardinals

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Although no one eats the cranberries, one adds some color to the Junco picture. The red bellied woodpecker and male cardinal bring their own color.

Backyard Birds

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren blowing in the wind

Blue Jay

Junco

House Finch

Tufted Titmouse with a peanut

Northern Cardinal in the snow

Chickadee

A visit to Sandy Hook

Eastern Phoebe 

Dark-eyed Junco 

Yellow-Rumped Warbler 

Sunday's weather was nicer than Saturday so Mike talked Chris into going to Sandy Hook again. We've been disappointed by Sandy Hook a few times. It's so large and confusing to someone new to birding. Today was a bit better. Still we didn't find the bobolinks, wood ducks, cuckoos, and vireos that others report. The first of season Dark-eyed Junko reminds us of the impending doom some call winter. We spotted quite a few kinglets, both ruby-crowned and gold-crowned.

Winter Birds in New Jersey: Junco, Titmouse, and Blue Jay

 

 

 

More Winter Birds: Junco, Goldfinch & Cardinal

Female Northern Cardinal

American Goldfinch

Dark-eyed Junco

The dark-eyed junco is a common winter visitor. This black and white bird mostly feeds on the ground. The cardinals stay year round but they come to our feeders much more often in the winter when food is scarce elsewhere. The American Goldfinch, the state bird of New Jersey, also stays year round, but its yellow color is more vivid in the summer.