A sighting......

I'm so excited!!! I haven't had much of an opportunity these days to get out and do much birding. I try to keep my feeders well stocked for the local birds this time of year, hoping that some unique or obscure bird might visit my feeders or property.

Well wouldn't you know it...that is exactly what happend today. It was around 4:30 this afternoon when I arrived home from work. I was coming down our drive when I spotted this bird on the ground....it had a very distinct tail and flight pattern, oh how I wished I had my camera. Anyhow, later in the evening my hubby tells me to go look at the camera to see what he captured on film. Wouldn't you know it....it was the same bird that I spotted in the driveway. As it turns out this bird had been hanging around for some time pecking at the ground, giving my hubby an opportunity to capture this bird on film.

Clark's Nutcracker

This is a very special sighting as these birds only make their way to the Pacific West about every 15 years!!! And here we are with one right on our property!!! It turns out it's main food is pinyon or whitebark pine nuts. These birds are considered scavengers at campsites, and picnic areas; they eat suet at feeders, but also eat insects, birds eggs and nestlings, and fruit. So although they are a pretty bird to see, I don't think I would want them to take up residence if they are going to mess with our nesting birds and their eggs.

Anyhow, I was so excited to see a new bird in our area that I just thought I would share this with you. If you are interested in birds I have another blog called The Amateur Birder . There I journalize birds I have spotted in my area or on the Island. So I am going over there now to write about my new sighting.

Cheers all!