It was even colder today. Although the temperature was 20 degrees when I went out around 10:00 this morning, the wind was much stronger, and the wind chill must have been close to zero, or possibly below zero. I started off at the golf course pond where there were lots of Canada Geese, although not as many as yesterday. I did see a pair of Redheads there.
Redheads
I drove over to the wetlands area and hiked a bit there, until I was so cold that I had to head for home. I saw White-crowned, White-throated, Song, and House Sparrows, as well as a couple of Northern Cardinals.
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
But it was another sparrow species that caught my attention. There was a flock of about 50 Chipping Sparrows at the edge of the wetlands. This is a common species here from mid-March through mid-November, but rare in the winter months. In a few previous winters, I had seen a single or pair of them, but not every winter, nor never so many of them in the winter.
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Chipping Sparrows
Chipping Sparrows
Chipping Sparrows
Chipping Sparrows
Chipping Sparrows