This weekend I traveled to the Adirondacks to see winter finches and boreal birds with Joan Collins. On Saturday morning we headed to Keene and Keene Valley to find the Bohemian Waxwings that had been hanging around. We were not there long before we found a group of between 150-200 in a tree. The lighting was awful, but you can see the rusty color under their tails. Over the weekend we saw lots of Evening Grosbeaks. On Sunday we walked route 28 hoping for a Black-backed woodpecker and boreal chickadees. At one point it was snowing so I left the camera behind. Of course, that was when we heard the tapping and had to climb down a 15-foot embankment and trek a bit into the woods. But it was worth it to observe a BBWO at eye level for 15 minutes. He didn’t he seem to care. Upon our return to the car, we had a flock of 19 Pine Grosbeaks. Again, the lighting was horrific, but still a beautiful bird with a lovely song. My only disappointment was missing Boreal Chickadee and bad pictures of the Pine Grosbeaks.

Last winter crossbills were dripping from the ADKS, this year Evening Grosbeaks were found at numerous stops and frequent flyovers.

Apparently, there is a lack of seed this winter and the Chickadees were VERY happy to get a handout.