I saw the first tree sparrow that has arrived from up north.  He should be joined by others soon.  We usually have about a dozen over the winter months.  They look just like the chiiping sparrow, but have a dark dot on their breast. 

A northern shrike visited our front feeder area this afternoon looking for a songbird snack.  He did not get anything.  All the birds hid in the bushes as he arrived.  Two chickadees ventured out as if they didn't see him as a threat.  He thought about chasing them as he hunched down to fly toward them a few times, but decided against it.