[ValleyNature] domestic geese, flickers, r-br nuthatch, snowscapes, r-t hawk

[James W. Wolford]

DEC. 31, 2009 - Today at my feeders my FIRST JUNCO for this winter  
turned up.  Although juncos havebeen seen by a lot of people already  
this winter, these birds seem to be late in showing up from their  
northern or woodsy nesting grounds.

Also a male flicker, 2 starlings, etc. at the feeders.

At the Canning Aboiteau (lower Habitant River, east of Canning), the  
3 domestic white geese were there on the ice and fast asleep through  
the high tide period, and with them was another sleeping goose,  
probably a lone Canada goose, which might also be domestic/tame and  
owned by the Cadegans, who live directly south of the aboiteau and  
east of the first road junction.

Later Brenda  & Bill Thexton confirmed that the 4th goose above is  
indeed a Canada goose.

After an hour, I rechecked the above geese, and one of the domestic  
white geese was gone.  One of the remaining white geese obligingly  
stretched a wing to show a completely feathered wing, and I wonder if  
these domestic geese can fly?


JANUARY 1, 2010 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

JAN. 2, 2010 - Today we got hit by a nor'easter storm that had moved  
up the east coast from New England with high winds and snow, at  
temperatures a bit below freezing, and dumped several cm. of snow on  
us, and more of the same is expected overnight tonight, which must be  
a big problem for all the people who are traveling now after the  
holidays.

In late morning at home I saw a female flicker eating mountain-ash  
berries.

JAN. 3, 2010 - Yesterday and overnight and now today with  
temperatures about at the freezing point, at home in Wolfville we now  
have about 15+ cm. of wet snow (actually quite a bit more ended up in  
the back yard, perhaps 30 cm. in all) (was powdery yesterday with  
lower temperatures).

Taking advantage of that is a female n. flicker who is perching on  
the snow surface to reach my tubular peanut feeder, which has no  
perches.

Today at our busy feeders it was nice to see the red-breasted  
nuthatch that we see only occasionally, along with 4+ goldfinches, 3+  
cardinals, 1 song sparrow, 6+ white-throated sparrows, a single  
starling, a few mourning doves and blue jays, 4+ chickadees, 5 crows,  
one pheasant, one downy woodpecker, and the flicker.

JAN. 4, 2010 - Today we awakened for a lovely snow-covered landscape  
-- all the bushes and trees etc. etc.-- but only until late morning,  
since thawing temperatures created quick melting of the arboreal snow.

JAN. 5, 2010 - I saw my first junco in our yard for this winter on  
Dec. 31/09, but today there was a flock of 10+ juncos just a few  
houses north of us.

At mid-day in the centre of downtown Wolfville, perched in the  
exposed top of a medium-sized hardwood tree just south of the Bank of  
Montreal and just north of the Post Office, was a red-tailed hawk,  
who was presumably watching the comings and goings of the  
Wolfvillians on foot and in their cars.  I imagine that crows will  
soon harass it enough to make it go elsewhere.

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville

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