Mystery Solved

I have been a member of the local Audubon Society.  So I receive their newsletter, which just arrived to tell me this news that Mountain Chickadees moved into the lower elevation for winter when not enough food(conifer seeds) was available in the higher elevation.  It happened in the winters of 2000-2001, 2007-2008, 2012-2013, and the current 2015-2016.

No wonder I found one of them in my backyard this winter.

"You got it finally."

"I appreciate your seeds."

More Food Available

Too much rain has caused a lot of flooding around Oregon.  Many rivers have overflowed and people had to evacuate.  Along I-5 major interstate highway, a landslide occurred blocking one lane.

It's been cold, wet, and dark close to 12/21,  the winter solstice.  I see a Mountain Chickadee visiting here every day now that he can certainly find some food in my backyard.

"Today I found the suet!"

"Here I got a roasted sunflower seed.  This is yummy, too."

"I am swift to avoid a mean Junco who can jump on me."

A New Bird on the Block

The weather is now wet.  A typical Oregon autumn/winter weather.  Between the rain, the sun sometimes shows up.

I thought I saw a chickadee, which is a resident here.  But with the help of a zoom lens, I discovered I saw someone new.

"Hi, I come here once in a while, but you never noticed me before."

As I looked closely, he/she had the black marking covering the eye.  It is not the black-capped Chickadee which I always see in my backyard.

"I am "Mountain Chickadee".  Nice to meet you."

Welcome to my backyard!  I hope to see you more often.