2024 Birding Journal Observations - November / December

American Kestrel sighting on Dec. 21, 2024

Drier than average weather with mild temperatures prolonged the beginning of any type of cooler Fall weather until after Thanksgiving. Some cold spells in December made things feel more normal, but warm ups at Christmas and New Years showed that winter was not quite here yet. Sightings of wading birds were still very common, but sightings of waterfowl were more scarce than normal, aside from hooded mergansers and a few lesser scaup. Raptors like the Bald Eagle and osprey seems to be in abundance. 

Backyard bird feeders continue to welcome Baltimore orioles to the grape jelly, and ravenous bluebirds looking for dried mealworms too. Suet brings a bevy of woodpeckers and in some areas lots of pine warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets as well. Hermit thrush sightings are up, with some painted buntings mixed in, while goldfinch sightings are then. The double-breasted cormorant seem to be doubling up their presence on the landscape all across the coastal plain.

Male downy woodpecker

To read about the start of the Christmas Bird Count season click on 2024 Palmetto Bluff Count

To view past Birding Journal Observations from November / December click on 2023 - 2022- 2021 - 2020 - 2018-  2017 - 2016 - 2015 - 2014 - 2013- 2012 - 2011 - 2010