Date: 2/5/26 10:57 am From: Shelley Page <shelleypage.imagine...> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Feb 5 Thursday Birding Meetup Recap and Feb 12 Plans
Some mornings are sparkly, I mean literally sparkly all around! Such was our experience at Shindagin Hollow this morning as the Thursday Birding Meetup convened in zero-ish sunlight. Sparkly in two ways--first was hoarfrost on the branches and diamond dust snow glittering in the clear sky, creating magical glitter all around us. And, second, the "sparkly" evening grosbeaks flew in like celebrities all dressed up on the red carpet. We were thrilled to observe eight of them up in the tree tops with the morning sun illuminating their gorgeous colors, as well as closer looks as they congregated on a platform feeder. Sparkly indeed!! For some of us, this was a lifer, others a welcome look at a bird we haven't seen for decades. We saw 13 species in total (thank you for ebirding, Tracy McLellan <https://www.facebook.com/groups/423723264332161/user/100000604080233/?__cft__[0]=AZYAKsrxV9s01-gjNBi3L2AghIZJNAWTJh643H54UdnE4unNO8bfbszC2HvsbErl7ZTydjaXKr2ASiWnrAB4cgtCcLCvYUusSao0Qc_KPxMgDnl8s84J5oWZ64W88FMsYI9pANatIh8FGJHybL7kDBYW&__tn__=-]K-R>!) with the woodland birds offering their hopeful hints of spring to come. The titmice and chickadees had their spring songs going and woodpeckers were drumming. The eleven of us called it a day after in hour in the glittery cold but were all very glad we came out to bird today! Nine of us warmed up with breakfast at College Town Bagels East Hill, still glowing from our magical time together. Want to bird with us next week? We're heading to Taughannock State Park to look at waterfowl. Gather with us at the South lakeside parking area at 7:30 am. All birders very welcome to join us--leave for work or other activities as you need to--or join us for breakfast afterward. From Ithaca, travel north on Route 89. Turn left into the parking lot for Taughannock State Park, before the bridge.
Shelley Page *she/they/ki*
313-550-1437 261 Coddington Road Apt. B Ithaca, New York 14850
