Sunday, May 24, 2015

Common Redpolls

1. Redpoll-kab Common Redpoll in my yard 3-16-15

Earlier this year I had my first ever Common Redpolls in my yard. They first showed up on January 11th and I recorded the last one here on April 12, at least 2 weeks past the time they should have left. While I was listing these birds every day, it was surprising to me to see that on March 23rd they were expected to be here, and the next day they became a rare bird and were flagged on my ebird list!

2. CORE on feeder-kab While they started out with just one or two birds, their population soon swelled until I was seeing two dozen on a regular basis with a high count of 90 birds on March 19th! Starting April 1st I saw 5 or less individual birds each day until April 12th. Then they were gone. These photos were taken between February 3rd and March 16th. I have several feeders in my yard and as you can see the birds moved around from location to location and feeder to feeder.

3. Redpoll Feb 25-kab When the redpolls first showed up I searched and searched for a rare Hoary Redpoll among them. Hoary Redpolls are described as being paler with a frosty look, and having a stubby beak that looks like a punched in face and they are only supposed to have three or less streaks on their rumps. There were times that I thought I saw one, but I never got a photo. Then I read a few articles that suggested they may not be a different species after all, but just a color variation of the same bird species, or a sub-species. There is talk of lumping them all together. Once I read that, I just gave up looking for a Hoary Redpoll and just enjoyed the birds! (See links below)

4. redpolls feb25-kab As you look through these photos notice the variation in color among the birds.

 

5. under the dome-kab These small finches seemed to like sunflower and nyjar seed the best.

 

6. in the snow-kab 

7. ground feeding-kab 

8. snowbirds-kab 

9. common redpolls-kab 

10. redpoll-kab 

11. in tree-kab 

12. redpoll-kab I hope they come back next year!

 

13. Common Redpolls-kab Common Redpolls alongside my driveway 3-16-15

 

10 comments:

  1. Hello Kathie, I love the Redpolls. They are cute birds. I was very happy to see a Redpoll in Maryland.. Great post. Have a great Sunday and new week ahead!

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    1. Eileen, that must have been quite the treat! They are such cuties!

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  2. HI KathieWell it wasmarvellous that so many turned up adnstayed so long.You got alot of good shots of them. Have a good week.

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  3. Lots of great shots of the Redpolls Kathie.
    All of our Redpoll visitors have now gone back North to Scandinavia for the Summer. I only observed a few this last Winter.

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    1. Roy, I think this is the most I have ever seen! It helped brighten a long, white winter!

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  4. There were redpolls at my feeder this winter to (so I'm told). They don't show up every winter! BY birding can be so much fun.

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    1. KaHolly, yes it can! I am sorry you did not get to see the redpolls in your own yard!

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  5. Still a bird that eludes me! Stinkers! Pretty finches. I think that I am going to wait on the Hoary because if they lump them together, I would have wasted energy searching for them. If one flies my way.....which will never happen.....then ok:)

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    1. Chris, no redpolls yet? You will have to come back to Maine, unless you can find some in Wisconsin!

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Welcome to my nest! I hope you will enjoy spending time here with me and the birds. Thank you for your comments. I will try to get back to you as soon as I get back from counting more birds.