In early February, I put up a bird feeder that I got for my birthday – it’s one of those ones that has a camera in it so you can login and watch the birds dig through the seeds, finding the ones they like best. Every day since, there has been a feeding frenzy of redpolls, red breasted nuthatches, chickadees, Steller’s jays, European starlings, magpies and the occasional squirrel.
🙁paying my respects to the deceasedthe ravens came a few hours later
We’ve also been visited by Bohemian Waxwings as they forage for the fermented fruit of our neighbors’ apple tree. Unfortunately, one such bird got a little too tipsy and crashed into our window, despite us having placed anti-bird-crash stickers to help them avoid it.
Here is a collection of all the birds that have visited our back yard this winter.
dark eyed juncodark eyed juncoredpollchickadeenuthatchpine siskinpine siskinredpollBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingBohemian waxwingchickadeechickadeeredpolla hungry redpoll waits for the feedera hungry redpollSteller’s jaySteller’s jay – maybe with a slight bit of avian keratin disorder: the upper part of the bill extends outward a bit too farfemale downy woodpecker visiting our back yardfemale downy woodpecker visiting our back yardfemale downy woodpecker visiting our back yard
I’ve also been going down to the Campbell Creek trail to get some steps and enjoy a bit of nature. I’ve seen lots of birds and animals, even during the coldest winter months. Here is a small collection of the birds I have seen along the trail.
mallardAmerican dipper chasing away a Bohemian waxwing at the edge of Campbell Creek.James Pond (common goldeneye)belted kingfisher at the pondbelted kingfisher about to splash downeuropean starlingcommon goldeneye aka “James Pond”common goldeneye – aka “James Pond”a young moose on Campbell Creek trailA raven on trash dayducks at the pondMallards coming in for a landingEuropean starling in the neighborhood on a frosty morningmale downy woodpecker along the trail at Campbell Creekcommon merganser flyoverjuvenile bald eagle perched on a tree by campbell creekjuvenile bald eagle perched on a tree by campbell creek
In midwinter, Anchorage’s Campbell Creek corridor becomes a lifeline for fruit‑eating birds. The trail entrance at Greenhill Way, where residential plantings meet native trees, often holds onto berries longer than the deeper forest sections. This overlap creates a seasonal buffet that draws in nomadic flocks like Bohemian Waxwings—sleek, masked songbirds known for their synchronized movements and soft trilling calls. When the fruit peaks in sugar and softness, waxwings descend in coordinated waves to feed, turning quiet branches into a flurry of motion.
A European starling feeds alongside the Bohemian waxwings
Occasionally, their feast attracts unexpected company. European Starlings, opportunistic and highly social, will slip into waxwing flocks when food is abundant. Though the two species differ in style—waxwings elegant and orderly, starlings bold and noisy—their shared love of berries creates moments of ecological harmony. These mixed flocks offer a glimpse into winter’s adaptive choreography, where abundance briefly bridges behavioral divides.
If you enjoy these small windows into the life of Campbell Creek, consider subscribing to the blog so you don’t miss the next story from the trail.
I got some more photos of some robins and dippers today along the Campbell Creek trail. Unfortunately I lost my glasses while crawling in the snow by the riverbank – let me know if you find them.
While out on a walk today, I saw a peculiar bird doing a little dance by the edge of the water and actually swimming down under water. Apparently, these birds are not all that uncommon, but it was my first time seeing one.
I do not consider myself a birder or a bird person – but it is another reason to carry a camera with me and get outside. And I do have the Merlin app on my phone to identify birds by their calls and songs or by a photo, and I think that’s also interesting and fun sometimes.
You must be logged in to post a comment.