Critter Count 10-18-13 (a tally of the critters in my yard)

Time: 2 p.m.

Conditions: 47 degrees with clouds and a chilly westerly breeze

Notes: Migrating birds must have ridden the cold front that swept in from Canada last night because the backyard is a flurry of activity. I was hoping the Red-breasted Nuthatches would be irrupting to this area for the winter, and, wahoo!, I just spotted one!

Today’s bird/animal count:

25+ Goldfinches

6 White-throated Sparrows

3 House Finches

3 House Sparrows

1 Downy Woodpecker

1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch

2 White-breasted Nuthatches

1 Chickadee

1 Cardinal

10 Juncos (yes, the snowbirds have arrived!)

1 Fox Sparrow

1 Blue Jay

2 Gray Squirrels (this fall I’ve seen fewer squirrels than ever before)

2 pesky chipmunks