Since the birding activity in my yard lately has been slow, at best (possibly due to the black cat which is often found perched in my driveway starting up at the feeders), while I am inside I have kept one of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Bird Cams up on my screen.
Lately, the one I have most likely been tuned into is the one in Ontario, and I have seen several new (for me) species, including one which I had seen (or more likely, heard) in the woods of Northern Wisconsin but never at a feeder, the Ruffed Grouse. The number and variety of birds attracted to this feeder is amazing.
Ruffed Grouse: Anyone who has spent any time hunting or wandering in the woods will likely have had the daylights scared out of them after coming too close to one of these and having it take flight in a loud flutter of wings:
Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)
Evening Grosbeak : These I do not recall ever having seen. Though their species page shows that their winter habit includes both Wisconsin and North Carolina, they were new to me when they flew down to feed this day.
Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)
Gray Jay: This bird, may winter as far south as Wisconsin, but again, I do not believe I ever saw one while living there. Perhaps their species name is truly indicative of their range.
Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Now the question becomes, is it acceptable to list birds seen only online like this on one's lifelist?
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