Here in eastern Massachusetts, zone 5/6, we are bit ahead of you. The White throat sparrows and Juncoes have been back here for about a week. I was out working on a stone wall earlier in the week and could hear the Juncoes all around me, with that weird twangy noise they make.

I don't like the cold weather, but enjoy the winter birdies that return from their summer range.

Juncos arrived in West Michigan October 6th. The day after the first freeze, how do they know? It always hits 32 or snows upon their arrival! We have been back up into the 60s since then. The White Throats got here a few days ago so I guess winter is coming. BOO. The Blue Birds were still here yesterday. Haven't seen or heard any yet today.

we had a mild frost last week but not enough to kill the plants or blooms. my summer birds are all long gone south but just this week are getting a few chickadees and nuthatches and a titmouse all of which stay up in the forests till the first hard freeze or snow. the juncos and towhees and white crowned sparrows don't come here till it snows enough to stick on the ground for awhile. there have been a few high mountain snow showers and it's freezing at night up around the ski areas but nothing to stick on the gound yet even up there. the oak brush and aspens have started to turn colors this week and i see patches of orange and yellow. which means the bad weather is not far off. Hunting season for deer and elk started this weekend and it almost always snows on the hunters up in the mouintains or wilderness areas.

Okay update: Saw my first 2 juncos about 2 days ago. Maybe earlier, because I just started paying more attention.

This week we will have plenty of sun and temps from 55+ to the mid 60's. Tommorow is the worst day of the week. Getting more birds now: Cardinals,Chickadees,Finches,Juncos,Some Sparrows too. Hope I can support them throughout the winter!

I saw my first Junco about a week ago, and they are coming in fast. Today the yard was filled with them. I also love their twangy call. Sounds like a rubber band to me. Also arriving are the Song Sparrows and the White-Crowned Sparrows.

Here in SE Tennessee we saw our first white crowned sparrows last week. Love these birds! But they are very shy. We had a light frost last night. No juncos yet. On my morning stroll today I saw a huge flock of house finches which I had never seen there before -- the males were very red and beautiful. Also tons of cardinals.

@Lisa: I'm sure gonna miss the bluebirds! I usually don't feed them in the winter and I've had other problems lately so It'll be a while before I see them again.

I can't stand the thought of winter! Us up here in the north now that the winters are just too long!

Can't wait till March though! The nesting season and bluebird return is always exciting! It won't be long though! I can't believe there's only one week of October left!!!

So interesting about the bluebirds...I am in N AL and today a male bluebird took nesting material in the box (pine straw). Wondering if this is for cold weather roosting or anticipation for spring nesting. Anyone seen this before?

I saw my first Junco last week. I am hoping that I'll see more. I have seeing White Crown sparrow lately, too. The gold finches (no longer gold) seemed to have come back from where-ever they had gone. I am hoping to see some American Tree Sparrow next. They are the most common birds in my yard during last winter.

Now that it's cold enough, I put up my modified suet feeder (with a tail extender attachment). The woodpecker found it within 5 min. Unfortunately I haven't been able to make the Red Belly woodpecker that comes infrequently to come more often.

How long do the ducks stay? I thought they have left by now with the water staring to freeze, but a large group seems to come in the morning to raid the feeders. I am hoping that they leave before more of the Junco comes back. I can't keep anything in the ground feeder.

Paul