first junco this fall

donald lucius

15 years ago

overcast with scattered showers and chilly winds blew in the first junco of the season

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Comments (14)

lisa11310
15 years ago
In my 7 years of birdwatching the Juncos have always been right. I know the day they show up is the last day of my growing season! I also know when they leave we wont have to shovel any more snow.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Interestingly, I have never seen Juncos in my NW GA yard unless there was snow here or snow on the way. I was sitting on my porch the other day, and a Junco flew into my Cherry tree. I couldn't believe my eyes. I sure hope that he was just lost or just passing through. It certainly isn't time for any snow here.~~Angie
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janie_may
15 years ago
Wow, a Junco in GA already???? I'm in the Atlanta area and will keep an eye out. I had fewer Junco's last year than ever before and wonder why. When I was doing the Cornell Bird Count a few years ago I'd see as many as 25 plus at one time. Last year it was rare for me to see 3 at the same time and some days I didn't see any.

Pretty little birds.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
I know janie, that is exactly what I thought when I saw it. And now, I've just seen another one in my yard on October 24th!! It's scaring me actually. I honestly NEVER EVER see those little sweeties here unless there is snow coming or snow on the ground. The normal time for me to see them would be in January.~~Angie
janie_may
15 years ago
I do see them as early as the first or second week of Nov. but never before that. I'm lookin'.......... :D
deanie1
15 years ago
bandjzmom, I can't help but ask -- just where on the TN line are you? I'm in TN very near the GA line.

My MIL has seen juncos every year in her yard and I have NEVER seen a junco in mine and she lives a half a mile away from me! We don't get that.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Hey deanie! I am in Ringgold, GA. The Chattanooga TN line is about a 10 min drive from my house. My sister, who lives 15 min from me gets birds in her yard that I don't see in mine, but then she had a woods line running along the back of her lot where I don't. ~~Angie
mindysuewho
15 years ago
In South Jersey, just saw several groups today in my honeysuckle vine and azaleas. Rainy and windy Had a frost last night. They usually stay til sometime in late April.
tzmd
15 years ago
I am in SEPA and I had my first junco (at least that I have seen) at the feeders this morning.
troutwind
15 years ago
bandjzmom and deanie1, I'm just up I-75 in Cleveland, TN and the only time I ever see Juncos is when there is snow on the ground. Have never seen one otherwise.
bandjzmom
15 years ago
Hey troutwind! Wow, you aren't too far from me. Maybe like 45-50 mins drive? Do you ever visit Ooltewah Nursery? Like you, I don't see the Juncos unless there is snow here or snow coming. That is why I am astonished to have seen two of them already this fall. Maybe they were just passing through!~~Angie
LindaMA
15 years ago
I'm in Massachusetts and the Junco's have been in my yard since the second week of October, which is a bit early. They usually don't show up until November. The other day, I counted over 20 of them on the ground picking up seeds that either fell out of the birdfeeder or I scattered around. They'll be around now until the middle or end of April.

Funny, there are usually some white throated Sparrows that accompany them but I haven't seen any yet. My feeders are loaded with Tufted Tit Mice, one of my favorites, along with Chickadees.

Linda
troutwind
15 years ago
bandjzmom:

I pass by the nursery all the time but have never stopped. Mostly I go to the Varnell nursery on Lee highway south of Cleveland.
seaflea3
15 years ago
I live in NY state and I saw the first Junco VERY early this year....earlier than I have ever seen them before....does anyone know if this is an indication of a particularly hard winter??