Oh My Gosh

 Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh! Oh My Gosh!

I was enjoying the morning watching the light snow and several BlueJays, Tufted Titmouse, Chickadees (the usual subjects) coming and going from the feeders.

Then something caught my eye, and when I looked up, there was a nice flock of Evening Grosbeak at the feeders.

Oh My Gosh.

I had never seen an Evening Grosbeak before, but I knew that they had been sighted in NW Wisconsin. For about 10 minutes, they were all over the feeders and then off they went. I'm sure hopeful that they come back but even if they don't, I am a very happy birder.

Here are a few of the many photos I snapped.

Here is an article I found about the irruption.

Irruption Alert: Evening Grosbeaks are moving in their largest numbers in 20+ years.

By Tyler Hoar and Matthew Young:

The Evening Grosbeak irruption for winter 2020-21 is well underway! Similar to the Fall months of 2018, the last time the Evening Grosbeak moved southward in numbers, this year’s movement has mainly come out of the Province of Quebec as well (see below eBird maps comparing Sept-Oct 2020 to Sept-Oct 2018). The irruption has triggered eBird alerts across Ontario and the northeastern states down to West Virginia and Florida already. In the last week more birds have also been noted in the Great Lakes region, where sightings have reached Indiana. This fall’s irruption appears to involve a larger number of individuals than 2018’s, and we’re only getting started with still almost a week left in October.

So, I started the morning being very disappointed that my dishwasher repairman was home sick, so I'm rescheduled until next week.  

Bummer.  

Then I learned that one of my friends from the senior center is sick with the Covid, starting to be so many of my friends who are sick.  I'll have to restrict any activity away from the house even tighter than I have been.  

The political news is still grim, the Trump team still refusing to recognize the President Elect Biden.  

But then, Oh My Gosh, the Grosbeaks.

Every day is a gift.

☮ Peace ☮