No not me, I am in my usual lousy wintertime shape.
But this guy, a Common Redpoll, is sporting a lovely pink winter vest, raspberry-red cap, and pinstripe suit from Birds Brothers.
Isn't he natty?
Common Redpolls breed way up in the taiga and boreal regions of the Arctic and only encounter people much in irruptive years when they come south to partake of our feeders. Poor cone crops in northern conifers is what drives them our way.
In earlier years we saw them on our feeders nearly every year, if not every single year, but more recently they are much less common. Last fall however, I saw flocks of as many as 90 both in Maine and here in our yard.
Now we have this pretty fellow and four of his cohorts coming in for seeds. Fine looking birds. I like them.
We haven't seen any birds beyond the ever-present ravens for the last few days. But it's cold here: -7° down by the river, in the valley below our mountainside retreat.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the lovely pictures.
LOVE that you've got Redpolls! It bears repeating! "Lucky Ducky!" Now . . . that old adage . . "Misery loves company." Doesn't apply here. Sorry that you're in the same winter mood we're in. {{Hugs}}. :)
ReplyDeleteRev. Paul, thank you for your kind words! Been cold here too, alas. I know it's the season, but I am not a fan.
ReplyDeleteCathy, delighted to see them, although we only have a few and not every day. Hoping for a Hoary!