Winter is finally here. We just got a dump of snow a few days ago. Winter birds are settling in, Redpolls, Blue Jays, ravens. I haven't really been birding much in the last while, or making a lot of posts other than Feathers on Friday and Weekly What Birds, so this morning I went out and watched the birds at the feeder. There have been three finch species hanging around, Common Redpolls, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins. I saw them all today at the feeders.
Chickadees of course are the most common and the boldest as I sat on the deck. They were always flitting back and forth from the feeders, while the redpolls and siskins took a long time for them to gain my trust and start feeding.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_tXmS18iULjAehql6xL3NupoAKkV11xhAyOqQxx1wfSy8vEnh8Cp89fFWm0SGjb08swsw0wa_ZiPng8e0jsMiyJA_QaU1yfplNyZMwgFztn5rOZjW4IJL31U7cBQxjeogHJphUhoMWOe/s1600/IMG_4458.JPG) |
Black-capped Chickade |
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Black-capped Chickadee |
The chickadees hid seeds in the bark of the trees and store them for later.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxKjMI-NwRVjJ3sPwvhI0VE9xVI4y8mgPs7lZ8rt9eTAGV0r8H7hZmogB2AwlsidHwRLsv3JQBpftWqhVGMXi0445TgII607Vcx9kxN-EcrSBCZ0PsKezJpR3VJ1sZfRNuHguPkCb8daN/s1600/IMG_4485.JPG) |
Black-capped Chickadee |
Eventually the redpolls came warily closer, if I made a move they would fly. After several attempts for the feeder and seeing I wasn't moving a lot, they became comfortable with me and the flock came in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4u3HkCVzSuDmJgRV8GGEyNraRuvSPmIxBPi47KOixCP04wplZXMxKZvN55z64uYvDmxDUWYDPt-e_hyphenhyphenNK5yAvQcMQictFuTddNv_mysDkJ0vJDKhOevZKymniGCFY6sCTBW11COcvtwG/s1600/IMG_4494.JPG) |
Common Redpoll |
Last year we scarce had redpolls at all, so it's a treat to have them back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxmoBxSV5OK2vbuFO7Tx1KwR6uq3kIvkaTodtrz8d1aMg8tHJyNIHCVnqiGQQEj-i6Lg_Jv90jQ4oUTbe32X0J7eu6qp4Q0gIuzqLrqbNo4hXSUfv9JDmn-S0FFUUZNx-41Yi4snzqfpp4/s1600/IMG_4495.JPG) |
Common Redpoll getting ready to fly down to the feeder. |
The siskins chorused in the nearby trees but didn't dare to come near.After waiting quite a while and seeing the siskins weren't coming, I started to leave. I waited a moment and came back. Already a whole bunch of sisksin were at the feeder. I cautiously approached and leaned on the deck rail to get closer.
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Pine Siskin |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6RxzbQstsdqwXv0FAJAAY9VPsLMorp5CD98lISM9kW6-rxGNv5CnVp_coYNA37mcGoXFEHdMkcDbI3kp2e6mx6wYGdG9JXrNGVmq8SfStRTclAiAbNPJFb6iX1Cr05WjRQPVwIRUG1lcA/s1600/IMG_4548.JPG) |
Pine Siskin |
A Downy Woodpecker came around later on a close branch, and I got a pretty good photo.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYCNnnIdenXakfgNEOCf38ODPjWGkoi43xGmi6R-TQl_mb3MUNPxh41P7zIjvYx2eyZLCkEymwA1hiU4clMdglhYgY3cbD2haZh_VhrmqiPZd7eFpeaxBNDUA0tr2-szODGiSuYxO7U2h/s1600/IMG_4553.JPG) |
Downy Woodpecker |
After being inside a few minutes, my brother said there was a big bird at the feeder. He got a bit of a blurry picture before it flew away. It looked like a Rusty Blackbird. Five minutes later it returned. I was able to get a decent picture of it under a chair.
Quite the bird! It's a lifer for me, and I didn't expect to see it here in the winter, nevermind at our feeder.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdPCWBs-XwM5SLU0si4aN_Q7k6F7smLCoHjPXPp7CszIXVtFyjCuB442oG1S4t68XWGVBIMMCrLPPxj0AwD4tnvnk9JUzf-c3HWBlVHsQzzuXI7s9wIBgSFOG9OizqAzisTxzHLaR_vy9/s1600/IMG_4576.JPG) |
Rusty Blackbird |
I am planning to make some new posts soon, the final part of the Churchill trip, a post about my field guides, and I should be making others. So stay tuned!
Great photos! The Rusty Blackbird must have been a surprise. I really want to see a redpoll...unfortunately they aren't common in NM.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I guess. They like more wintery conditions, seeing they live even more up north in the summer.
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