Just a reminder that GBBC is this weekend.

Claire

Hi Claire, I'll be doing the GBBC this weekend. There's been an uptick in bird activity at the feeders here in the past few days, probably because of the cold and snow, which will be good for the count. Have you noticed this?

In fact, the Bluebirds have finally shown up - only saw 1 or 2 every now and then all winter. I missed them! This is the first winter they haven't come regularly to eat the home-made suet nuggets since 2007! I guess they can find plenty of berries or stuff on the ground or whatever they eat when we have mild weather and no snow cover.

Great, terrene! I've also seen more birds than usual, particularly since the blizzard yesterday, which also happened to be the first day of my Project FeederWatch count. They're forecasting an Arctic chill over the weekend here but at least not the major storm that hindered last year's GBBC in the northeast.

I finally saw my first Bluebirds this year but they only stopped by for water after a cold stretch - it's just too woodsy in my yard for them.

I hope lots of people participate this year - it's such fun watching the results come in online.

Claire

1. The GBBC started today and this screenshot of a map shows the checklists submitted as of about 7:20 PM:

There are even some checklists submitted from Antartica.

Claire

I've done this occasionally in the past, and was thinking that this year's warmer weather would be perfect, but given the roaring winds and cold temperatures, I think I have to give it a miss since my birding has to be actually outside. Enjoy the view from the windows for those of you who have feeders to observe.

Usually I count at a few local spots as well as from my windows, but I thought twice about it this year. When I thought third, though, I realized I need to start up my car anyway and drive when it gets really cold (I don't have a garage) so I decided to check one of those spots by car (in warmer winters I walk there). I drove to the marsh and took pictures from the side of the road.

This is my local marsh where I saw about thirty Mallards and thirty-five Dunlins today in a very cold setting. The mallards did not look happy.

Dunlins very far away:

Claire