Pine Grossbeak

Oh yes, Barred Owls are pretty common around here, but that year they were everywhere. I went out with a friend one evening and we saw 12 during a single 3 mile walk. I never got any shots of the Great Gray, but I've had some nice photo encounters with my neighborhood barred owls. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6783165. The one I hear occasionally that I'd love to get a look at is a Saw-whet Owl.

I kept hearing tales of all sorts of far northern birds visiting people's feeders and was getting kind of frustrated by not even getting a glimpse of them. By the time March rolled around I'd kind of given up. I was pleased and amazed when one day I walked down to the campus pond and saw several hot pink birds in the trees. Who knows when they'll get down this way again. We had an owl irruption a couple of years ago as well. Tons of barred owls showed up as well as a great gray owl. That was a sight to see!

I just came across this spotting. I remember that irruptive season as well. Here in western Mass. People were reporting seeing the grosbeaks, gray jays, boreal chickadees and other northern birds. I just posted a couple of pics from March 2008 here: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/6768163