I haven't seen robins or my blackbirds that usually come flocking into my oak trees. Last year, the robins came through and one tiny baby one got left behind. He sat in the top of a bald cypress next door crying, and I was afraid they would not come back for him, but sure enough, mama hightailed it back for her baby and they flew off together. If they hadn't, I don't know what would have happened to that little one, since we have a red-shouldered hawk around here that snatches up baby birds like jelly beans!

Nice to see them, isn't it? If they were in a flock, they were probably robins that stayed all winter. People think they all leave for warmer parts come fall, but up to 50% overwinter in flocks in their breeding areas up here. We just tend not to see them as much during winter, though mine have hovered around my yard since December so I got to take lots of pics.

I think I want to have a little chat with that groundhog- early spring indeed! ha! I participated in the great backyard bird count again this year. At the website you can print out a sheet that lists all the birds found in this area of New York. The GBBC always seems to do its count on the coldest days of the year. I only find one or two birds then because it is so cold, but I'll continue marking off the birds I find for the rest of the year just to see how many I can get. No robins yet, but I did get my eagle. They are common around the lake and easier to see in the winter. Here is a link that might be useful: my webpage

i don't know i still have part of a bucket of apples left and have been throwing them out in the yard a few at a time whole and the magpies and jays or the deer get most of them but the robin came every hour or so and got a fill before the others got them all. this one never got up on the platform or the hopper one with a tray under it. other years some robins or bluebirds would try the feeders and i would put raisens or cramberrys or fuit in pieces for birds and the grosbeaks tried them too