Somehow I expect December to be cool; I realize October in Florida isn't really "Fall" but after Thanksgiving rolls through and all the pumpkins and corn stalks have finally marched away, I expect to feel a chill in the air and hear the sweet tweet of migrating songbirds and winter visitors.
This year I have a fraction of the visitors I remember from previous years, and I think it's because the winter has been so warm, so far, that migrations have been delayed. Of course, the major snow storms and fierce winter weather now slamming through the Mid-west and eastern US should be the final push the slackers need to start winging my way, and I'm ready for them! This year I have a cedar feeder with millet (for painted buntings, sparrows and finches); a coachlight feeder on a platform plus a plain platform with mixed seeds, including millet (for the redwing blackbirds, red bellied wood peckers, grackles, sparrows, doves and painted buntings); a hopper feeder with shelled safflower (for the cardinals and titmice) and thistle (for goldfinches.) I also have a hummingbird feeder and a block suet feeder, empty still as it needs to be cool before I can put up blocks of suet or peanutbutter bread for the many birds that enjoy this treat each winter.
My stream bed attracts Yellow Rumps, Pine and Palm Warblers, Phoebes, and many other birds, including a pileated woodpecker, but it is definitely not getting the attention it normally does; as only a few of these migrating flocks have arrived since fall began.
Maybe this weekend will be the turning point... now that winter is finally coming to the north!
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