Not Around, Maybe

Absenteeism is always a problem for the eager and anxious back yard birdwatcher.  It seems we're never able to see everyone who should be around.  And my list is long.  In recent weeks I can't recall seeing a Downy Woodpecker--or a Hairy.  Or a Pine Warbler.  No Flickers, and no Mockingbirds.  What on earth?!? They seem to waive off for periods of time, or at least I am quite unlucky when I am around.  And of course when one of these jokers does show up, my absentee list may pick up something else, say, a Brown Headed Nuthatch.  Quite the party! 

Absentees Abound

It has been a fairly interesting season, not only with warm weather but also for the bird oddities.  In are some irruptives and old winter friends like the Pine Siskin and Red Breasted Nuthatch, and even Hermit Thrush.  Absent are a bunch of species we usually see...Pine Warbler, Northern Flicker (shown), American Robin, and Northern Mockingbird, among others.  I don't see any anywhere.  Of course birds do come and go.  And I puzzle at the periodic absences, almost as if there is some magic number of species the property can tolerate.  But next month, or even tomorrow, one will fool me and return as if nothing happened.  Lesson: enjoy the birds of the day.  They will change!