Most of the birds observed on our Littleton farm during the winter months are permanent residents but we do welcome some regular winter visitors and residents. Among these are dark-eyed juncos (slate-gray, Oregon and gray-headed subspecies), common ravens, pine siskins, brown creepers, white-crowned sparrows, American tree sparrows and a lone Townsend's solitaire.
Less common winter visitors include mountain chickadees, Steller's jays, red crossbills, Cassin's finches, golden-crowned kinglets and the occasional northern goshawk. Since purchasing the property in 1990, I have observed one flock of Bohemian waxwings on the farm and I am still hoping to encounter evening and pine grosbeaks, pygmy nuthatches, Harris' sparrows, northern shrikes and other rare visitors here.
Of course, it is this latter group of wanderers that coax me outside on cold winter days to scan the trees and shrub lines. Hoping to find the unexpected is the motivation for all birders!
Less common winter visitors include mountain chickadees, Steller's jays, red crossbills, Cassin's finches, golden-crowned kinglets and the occasional northern goshawk. Since purchasing the property in 1990, I have observed one flock of Bohemian waxwings on the farm and I am still hoping to encounter evening and pine grosbeaks, pygmy nuthatches, Harris' sparrows, northern shrikes and other rare visitors here.
Of course, it is this latter group of wanderers that coax me outside on cold winter days to scan the trees and shrub lines. Hoping to find the unexpected is the motivation for all birders!
