Tis the season (Arapahoe County)

[Mary Kay Waddington]

This morning there were 5 Goldfinches at my thistle feeder after months of none, and for some reason they burst me into song:  5 Gold(en) Finches, 4 calling Jays, 3 winter sparrows (White-throated, White-crowned, Song), 2 collared Doves, and a Screech Owl in an Elm tree.  So what else is in my yard?  12 Drummers drumming (OK, maybe only 4 Flickers, 2 Downies and a Hairy, but if you add the White-breasted and red-breasted nuthatches it equals 12), 11 Finches filching (sunflower seeds), 10 Juncos jousting (for position at the feeders), 9 Robins robbing (the Hackberries -- but where are the Waxwings?) ,8 Magpies munching (everything -- they're omnivores) ,7 Starlings staring, 6 Geese a - cackling (multiply x 10), 5 Golden Finches (etc., ending of course with the lovely Screech Owl).

But the real Christmas presents were the Dipper and the Greater White-fronted Goose, both new yard birds and quite unexpected!!

Enjoy the season!  (And I hope the song doesn't run through your head now every time you see 5 Goldfinches.)

Mary Kay Waddington