Feeder report, Columbia, SC

[Jerrold Griggs <griggs@math.sc.edu>]

Between final exam grading and the whole family down with the "crud",
I missed the local CBC's.  Staying at home has its own rewards, however.
Saturday night the temperature abruptly shot up 20 degrees, a thunderstorm
blew through (I heard reports of ice pellets in the area), and Sunday's
stiff breezes brought cold and clear conditions.  Watching the feeders around
1pm, we were astonished to see a dazzling male Baltimore Oriole feeding on the
ground below the seed feeders.  It hung above on the suet cage for awhile,
flew over to perch in the Leyland Cypress for a few minutes, and hasn't
been seen since.  It's the first Oriole for the yard list (sp. no. 88 in two
years), and the first time we've ever had one at our feeders.  Further
east in Sumter, large numbers spend the winter and come to feeders.

Of course, the Green-breasted Mango up in Concord is the most amazing bird
of the year for me.  But the birds that showed up this year at our own
feeders rival the Mango for personal excitement:  
	The Common Redpoll that came in February, 
	the Black-chinned Hummingbird that came for a month this fall, and
	the stunning Baltimore Oriole on Sunday.

Other feeder notes:  A small flock of at least 6 "Snowbirds" (Dark-eyed 
Juncoes) came by for a couple of days but has not returned.  We are overrun
with Northern Cardinals now, at least 20 of them.  American Goldfinches
continue, but no Purples yet.
---
Jerry Griggs       j@sc.edu
Columbia, SC    (Irmo area, on Rawls Creek, near Lake Murray Dam)