Winter is coming

An irruption is happening: red crossbills (above) have left their normal areas and are appearing South and East of it.


More waterfowl arrive, these for a month or two till the lakes freeze. A female bufflehead.

Some more winter birds: pine siskins:

Another female crossbill:

Harris's sparrows stay all winter:

Waxwings eating cedar "berries":

A Western grebe:

And a few cormorants may stay as late as possible. They do not mind cold but do need to dive long distances for fish, so the whole lake needs to be ice free. It is drying its wings here.

Even a kingfisher. We have salty creeks where they can fish into December.