Jester Park

I spent about an hour birding Jester Park today.  I split my time driving (stopping when I spotted or heard birds) and in the blind.  I was hoping for redpolls, even though they haven't been spotted around the lake in a couple weeks, but struck out.  Instead I just enjoyed the residents.

This Downy Woodpecker was digging through the safflower seeds - I don't know what he thought he would find beneath them (peanuts or sunflower seeds?) but all he found was more safflower.  That didn't stop him from flinging them everywhere though.  Note the small beak size compared to the head (meaning it's a Downy and not a Hairy Woodpecker), and the red patch on the back of the head means it's a male.

The White-breasted Nuthatches were busy chasing each other (and the Black-capped Chickadees) and caching seeds but I snapped a photo of this female when she paused.

It's not shown very well in the photo, but the dark cap on the head isn't solid black - it's dark/slate gray instead.  Male White-breasted Nuthatches would have an all-black cap and nape.

All the birds seem to be gearing up for the breeding season - chasing and singing.  That means spring is on its way!