I live in the high desert of Nevada, cold winters and few trees. Not too many birds up here but a few years ago we had a big flood and it filled up the old lake bed that is normally just a one acre puddle. It added sixty acres of water some six feet deep and filled both sides of the road for two years. It was so cool to see all of the shore birds and marsh black birds on the drive home. Ducks of many kinds, geese, Herons, long legged shore birds and swans everywhere. My birder friend said there were fifty two new species showing up on their migrations.
Last year I put an eight foot wide floor to ceiling bay window in the living room. We have three feeders and three rocking chairs to sit in front of the fire looking out at the birds. We have Mountain Quail, scrub jays, Morning doves, Rock doves and several different colored house finches. The thistle sock has several tiny finches. I know that for many of you birds are common but out here they are few. It is fun to watch and see new ones show up and sometimes there are none and five minutes later they are climbing over each other. Sure beats watching the chickens peck the ground for entertainment.
I’ve never in my life seen anything so amazing as far as birds go. That is the most bizarre mutation. So colourful. Now any of my bird pictures will look boring as ever. 
