Siskins and Sparrows

Today on the birdwalk I went on in the Ramble, we started at the birdfeeders looking for an out of season Chipping Sparrow that had been reported there. There was a Fox Sparrow there, but no sign of the Chipping. As we wandered throughout the park, we saw a couple of young Red-Tailed Hawks flying around. Maybe they just left their parents? We also saw a few more Fox and Song Sparrows throughout the day. Anyway, on the east shore of the Lake near Warbler Rock, we saw a male Hairy Woodpecker, which was also here last week. We think this bird might be here all winter. We then went into Mugger's Woods to try to see if there might be a few Pine Siskins there. We played the tape, and immediately 4 Pine Siskins flew into the holly tree above us. They then flew into a sweetgum tree with some goldfinches. It's good to put them on the year list so early and not in October or November. We then went to The Reservoir, where there were 2 Gadwalls, 2 Hooded Mergansers, a coot, a female Wood Duck and just 1 of the 3 Ring-Necked Ducks. Somehow, one person on our walk spotted a Peregrine Falcon on a building about a half mile away there too. on the way back to the boathouse, we saw one of the young Red-Tailed trying unsuccessfully to eat a frozen squirrel  When we took one last look at the feeders, we were surprised to find the Chipping Sparrow feeding in a milk carton feeder. This was a great day of winter birding. With 6 new year birds, my species total for the year is at 43.

Species List: 38
Canada Goose
Wood Duck (#42)
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
RING-NECKED DUCK (1 at The Reservoir)
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Red-Tailed Hawk (3)
American Coot
Ring-Billed Gull
Herring Gull (#40)
Great Black-Backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Peregrine Falcon (#41)
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-Capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-Breasted Nuthatch
American Robin
European Starling
CHIPPING SPARROW (1 at the birdfeeders, #43)
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White Throated Sparrow
Dark-Eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
House Finch (#38)
PINE SISKIN (4 at Muggers Woods, #39)
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

I am not sure if I will see Pine Siskins or Ring-Necked Ducks again this year