Birding Journal Observations - November / December 2014

A Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker sneaks up to my Suet Feeder

The final two months of 2014 closely resembled the previous year with some bitter cold days and wetter than average conditions. Just before Thanksgiving parts of the Lowcountry set a new low record temperature with 22-degrees for two straight nights, which quickly killed fall foliage causing it to fall to the ground in short order. Just after the cold a five-day stretch of rain with around 5-inches of rain set the stage for another wet winter in the woodlands.

So what do the climactic observations have to do with birding? Well these subtle natural factors have an affect on avian life in terms of food production and suitable habitats. In 2013 the conditions led to a brown-headed nuthatch visiting my feeders for the first time ever, but no such luck thus far in 2014. Of course different types of feed attract different types of birds and peanuts and suet seem to really be the best birding feeders to have up during winter.

Notable observations include pine warbler on Nov. 13, and on Nov. 15 the first goldfinch, yellow-rumped warbler and ruby-crowned kinglet were recorded. Other observations include white-throated sparrow, tufted titmouse, white-breasted nuthatch, dove, chipping sparrow, cardinal, downy woodpecker, pileated woodpecker, kingfisher, great blue heron, great egret, Canada goose, red-bellied woodpecker, Carolina wren, mockingbird, merganser, yellow-bellied sapsucker, Carolina chickadee, brown thrasher and towhee.

To view more 2014 Birding Journal Observations click here.

To view past Birding Journal Observations for Nov. / Dec. click on 2013 - 2012 - 2011 - 2010