Snow geese have not been seen on the Island this winter or last fall.

Northern shrikes are perhaps our smallest avian predator, about the size of a mockingbird and with a generally similar gray and white plumage. The shrike is also known as butcher bird for its habit of impaling its prey on thorns and branches.

We all eagerly anticipate when the first osprey will return home to the Island.

The most unexpected bird this week is the Eastern phoebe reported by Mike Ditchfield, which he found in Dark Woods on Feb. 10.

Large flocks of grackles are not necessarily welcome at feeders.

Barrow’s goldeneyes are not very common in these parts, but it seems that at least one or two individuals show up in January or February.