Thursday, April 11, 2013 Redpoll and Siskin flurry continues


Seward Sporadic Bird Report

The cold wintry weather won't let up! It was even colder this morning at 8 am at 11º rising to only 23º, accompanied by a brisk northwest wind. We know it's spring only because the sun is bright and high and lingering, just not very warm. The firm crusty snow is still over three feet thick or more in places, but sublimating along the edges and top. Maybe this is how the snow will go this year, instead of melting precipitously into a spring flood.

The 100s of COMMON REDPOLLS and PINE SISKINS continue to buzz like bees and hover like hummingbirds around my feeder. On Tuesday, feeling the dismay of Mother Hubbard and her empty cupboard, I bought another #80 of black oil sunflower seeds. They devour #10 a day so I hope this purchase will take them through to warmer weather. I was told that the supplier, AK Mill and Feed, has sold 10x the usual amount of birdseed this year.

In return for my generosity, the birds allowed me to photograph them up close. While the point and shoot camera didn't bother them at all, the mirror-slap of the DSLR made them jump, but they soon returned. It was another fun photo shoot with them landing lightly on my hat, hands, shoulders, and camera. Each is an individual work of art with varying shades of color and patterns. Such joy is well worth the price of the sun seeds!

Spring news: On April 10, FOS TRUMPETER SWAN reported by Robin C at Stash & Store Pond. Single SCAUP reported by Lowell Point waterfall by Kit D.

Happy Birding!
Carol Griswold
Sporadic Bird Report Reporter











2 comments:

  1. I don't know where you are, but here in St Andrews in Scotland I saw two birds on my nyjer seed feeder this morning I've never seen before here - a siskin, which I've seen in the Highlands before, on the feeder withthis other bird - and what frantic searching in the bird book revealed to be a redpoll - which I've certainly never seen anywhere at all before - very particular almost marbled feather markings, very neat with a chestnut-red headpatch and a rather odd-looking "mask" appearance when it turned full face towards me. Very exciting!
    Rosemary, St Andrews

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Rosemary,

    That's pretty exciting to find "our" birds in Scotland!

    I apologize for not being more specific as to my location. I have now added "Alaska" to my entries.

    Thank you for the post.

    Happy Birding!
    Carol

    ReplyDelete