Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Snowbirds

This weekend we did some very nice birdwatching. We were successful in photographing several new birds, including snow buntings and snow geese. We also know of several other "snowy" birds, that we have in our photo collection. Among North American snowbirds, we are missing the Himalayan Snowcock, which is native to Pakistan and India, but has been introduced into the Ruby Mountains of Nevada. Below are our photos of the other North American snowbirds.

Snowy Plover, Coal Oil Point Reserve, Santa Barbara
Snowy Egret,  Chincoteague Island
Snow Bunting, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, Saginaw, MI.;
Snow Geese, Watkins Lake, Jackson County, MI 
Snowy Owl, Washtenaw County, MI
Dark-Eyed Junco, informally called the snowbird
We are just starting to see juncos this week, as they arrive at our bird feeder. "Juncos are the 'snowbirds' of the middle latitudes. Over most of the eastern United States, they appear as winter sets in and then retreat northward each spring." (Cornell Ornithology Lab)

Of course the term snowbird means something else too
(source: Gabe Clogston)

2 comments:

Geri Saucier said...

Great pictures. I love the snow owl:)

Jeanie said...

I don't know much about birds and so I'm always glad when I learn new things from you!