Notes on the season to date. 


Mourning dove numbers have been consistently high, 54 the top count, and there have been several 40+ days (47 today) too. Blue jay numbers hit a season high of 20 last Friday. Last year's top count was in the 30s. The top dark-eyed juncos count to date, also last Friday, is 11.


Other bird top counts: downy woodpecker (2), hairy woodpecker (3), american crow (3), black-capped chickadee (14), tufted titmouse (2), red-breasted nuthatch (2), white-breasted nuthatch (3), american tree sparrow (3), common redpoll (10+/-), american goldfinch (24) and an incursion of bohemian waxwings (14) in mid-December. 

Species not present that have been here in the past: wild turkey, brown creeper, wrens, grosbeaks, pine sisken, cedar waxwing and raptors (at least that I've seen). No owls. A few years back there were cardinals, but they have not shown lately. They still can be seen, a mile away, at Post Pond.

A lot of days ahead to March 21, and thank goodness they are getting longer.


Blake Allison

Lyme, NH 03768-3322