Our first official day of birding has arrived, highly anticipated. Already we took the easy way out due to the COLD weather. We birded in the backyard and from the kitchen window. It helps that Ar lives in an area peppered with many birds. So armed with our binoculars and earmuffs, we headed out into the cold.

As we quietly took a turn about the yard, the kids next door were yelling at the top of their lungs in a heated basketball game! This did not bode well for our first birding expedition. We persevered despite the disruption.

Our patience was rewarded! As we blocked out the noises common to suburbia, we were rewarded with our first siting. We had agreed that the first bird to be spotted would become our mascot. That bird turned out to be a White Breasted Nuthatch.

Our backyard birding experience was productive, given the circumstances. We further saw Downy Woodpeckers, Red Bellied Woodpeckers, European Starlings, Black Capped Chickadees, Mourning Doves, Song Sparrows, and many American Robins. We also spotted some high-flying Sea Gulls, but they were too high to identify. Also heard some Canada Geese, but never saw them. We will have to include these at another time.

It's dark now, and we must retire our binoculars for the evening. Until next time...