October 11, 2020
Welcome back Backyard BirdRacers!
Last year we introduced the new and revised version of the Backyard BirdRace.
This time around, we each watch for birds in our yard — however you want to define that — and keep a list of them to share here each month in the BirdRace diary in some way. We’ll each be keeping track of our own bird lists this time. eBird is a very easy way to do that. Or you can write them down in a notebook. 📒
Or you can take pictures and add them to a folder on your computer.
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There are no “rules” for the BirdRace beyond what you set for yourself. Some ideas for information that you might share here as part of the conversation, any combination of:
- a total list of birds you’ve seen
- new birds you’ve seen, since the last tally
- interesting behavior you’ve seen
- any patterns or changes in patterns
- general location in the country
- type of habitat
If you move during the year, it would be very interesting to compare the backyard birds you see in the different settings!
Fall has settled in here in the PacificNorthwest islands, with cooler temps and rainstorms. The summer birds like swallows, warblers and osprey have departed. Still a few Turkey Vultures around but they will likely stay through the winter, some do every year now.
Winter birds are just starting to show up. I’ve seen one Red-breasted merganser and a half a dozen Horned grebes this past week. This is the latest I’ve seen Horned grebes return; usually they come back in September. Heard a Mallard in the pond across the road, which has been empty of waterfowl all summer (except for Canada geese).
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My general locale is coastal northwest Washington state, a mix of habitats from shrubs to woods to roadside to beach overlook.
My new total number of birds for the year seen in my neighborhood is 83. New birds include:
Great Horned Owl (heard only)
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Northern Harrier (flyby over a field across the road)
Mourning Dove (gleaning seeds under the birdfeeder)
Please add your Birdrace observations in a comment below.
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And of course as always, we welcome your notes about any aspect of nature in your area.
This diary is also The Daily Bucket for today.
The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge.
We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns.
We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below.
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For a while after they arrive back here in the fall, Golden-crowned sparrows sing. In another few weeks they’ll go quiet until spring. It’s a lovely song though, a bonus for us at this time of year.
You can hear the song in this video. Hard to see the birds but that’s pretty typical for birds in trees.
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Overcast in the PNW islands today. Breezy. Cool temps, in the 50s.
What’s up in nature in your area today?
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