Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Comments:
Redpolls at the feeder
After weeks, okay months, of seeing the same species of birds at our bird feeders, I just happened to be checking on the feeders with my Nikon Premier LX 10x25 binoculars and (drum roll), I spotted a Common Redpoll. Now redpolls may be common at some locations, but our yard isn’t one of them. I do expect to see a few redpolls every winter, but this current winter has been slim pickings as far as bird diversity at the feeders, so seeing the Common Redpoll in the binoculars was a real treat.
That’s birdwatching for you, though. You can get lulled into thinking that all you’re going to see the same old birds in the birding binoculars that you've been seeing for weeks and then, without any warning, a new bird makes an appearance. I love this element of surprise in birding. It truly does keep things interesting.
By the way, thee redpolls appeared just before the arrival of a polar cold front, which I regard as not being a coincidence. As always, it pays to keep an eye on the weather forecast if you are a bird watcher.
About the pic: I was lucky enough to do some digiscoping, this morning and got these two Common Redpolls at my feeder.
Where do you live? Basic geographic location would be fine?
This year I've seen no Common Redpolls at my feeders in Northeastern Alabama. In previous years they were plentiful. 2012 has brought unseasonably warm weather for January and the first week of February.
Another strange sight was 5 Goldfinches last week. This is way to early for the Gold Finch in the Tennessee River Valley. (Posted by
Garry: 12:14 PM )
Northern Wisconsin.
Redpolls are basically a northern bird, but they are known for heading south when food supplies run short north of the border in the winter. That some years you see them and some you don't is very common, even this far north. (Posted by Joanie K: 5:31 AM )
This year I've seen no Common Redpolls at my feeders in Northeastern Alabama. In previous years they were plentiful. 2012 has brought unseasonably warm weather for January and the first week of February.
Another strange sight was 5 Goldfinches last week. This is way to early for the Gold Finch in the Tennessee River Valley. (Posted by
Garry: 12:14 PM )
Redpolls are basically a northern bird, but they are known for heading south when food supplies run short north of the border in the winter. That some years you see them and some you don't is very common, even this far north. (Posted by
Joanie K: 5:31 AM )