One of my resolutions for 2021 is to pick up my birding activity in my local county. Ginger and I have been out every day but often we just hike and listen — bird naked, so to speak. The last couple of days we have returned by auto to some of my favorite spots. Yesterday, I went looking for Snow Buntings and others, and at a spot where I’ve spotted them in years past, we found 8 or 9 birds high in a tree. The lighting was lousy and they were way out there but when I got home, I saw that they were in fact Snow Buntings.
Today, after some errands, we swung by the airport (always hoping for a Snowy Owl) and pulled into a medical complex where I’ve seen shrikes and a snowy. Sure enough, perched way at the top of a far off tree, swaying in the north wind, was this Northern Shrike.
It was pushing the limit of my point and shoot but it was nice to leave the car running, grab 20 shots, and get back to warmth. Fair weather birding via Honda Fit.
Good spot on the Snow Buntings in the trees! That’s not where I would expect to find them, either.