January 6, 2008: Ithaca, NY Area Birding (22 BIRD PHOTOS)

We drove down to the Ithaca area today to check out a few things, including reports of Evening Grosbeaks in the Summerhill area. Sucess! We got some great photos of the flock, and some other birds, also. This was on Salt Road near Dresser Rd in Summerhill. If you go, bring a donation of sunflower seed for the feeders - these guys really devour seed! We also visited Cornell's Sapsucker Woods, but did not get photos there. This is a great place to visit!

Shots of the beautiful Evening Grosbeaks on feeders:

Evening Grosbeak and Common Redpoll for size comparison

There was a sizeable Evening Grosbeak flock on the ground:

Evening Grosbeak Flight Shots:

Blue Jay on the feeder here (they looked smaller and greyer here)

Possible Hoary Redpolls? (Above and Below)

Above and Below: Snow Buntings (with some Horned Larks): Groton, NY

Snow Bunting

Flying Snow Bunting flock

January 2, 2008: Photos from Our Yard (Alden, NY) (6 PHOTOS, 5 BIRD)

This morning, the sun actually came out briefly, so I was able to get a few photos from the birdfeeder...

American Goldfinch (awfully yellow head for winter plumage)
Purple Finch and Common Redpoll

Suspiciously white redpoll but probably still a Common

Common Redpoll (above and below)

The Holly bushes in the front yard

January 1, 2008: Pictures from Home and Backyard (Alden, NY)

Here are a few pictures from our home on this First Day of 2008:

Above and Below: Common Redpolls

Red-Breasted Nuthatch

Mystic