Had a rare sighting of a pair at my thistle feeders this morning. While not uncommon some years in my flyway along Lake Ontario during migration, these two were "rare" because the last ones seen in my yard was in May 2012!

Happy Birding,

Jonathan





Video
https://flic.kr/p/24c6Bgx

Just the wee ones I've been missing ,Jonathan !

All winter I haven't seen any at my feeders, and Ive missed them terribly. They are the only ones who sit close to me as I work and sing year round. Softer in winter, loud in spring- but singing nonetheless.

They mimic other beautiful songbird's chorus and integrate stanzas into their own- making a truly unique orchestra of life and lovely sound.

They are so tame I can work within inches of their bright curious gaze.

Often, Redpolls from the far north are seen with them in migratory interruptive winters.

I miss them all.

Thank you for the share of your visitors !

See you on the surface ....

J the Pine Siskins have been at my feeders here in north central Wi all winter. But now with the warmer weather they have erupted in happy song, twittering away all day while feeding. During cold winter they arent as vocal.... thanks for posting pics.

Very Nice!

The House Finches with their bright colors should start showing up on my feeders any time now. Haven't seen a pine siskin all winter. Lots of cardinals, though.

Sharon, This has been a very unusual migratory interruptive winter here for songbirds. Years I have seen Siskins in the yard they are easily spooked with the slightest of my movements. I can only get close with a long lens. I keep looking for the Redpolls - have not seen any since March 2013.

Today four Siskins showed up briefly once this morning. Their "yellow" was more visible and brighter today. They came to the thistle feeders with 5 Goldfinches.

Jonathan

Videos
https://flic.kr/p/24uUTUL

https://flic.kr/p/24dGNfR

Portraits

I don't see them now.

Jonathan, I cant account for their spookiness, other than possible hawks there that have been chasing them .

One trait I have liked with Siskins is their very tame and curious demeanor. But everything spooks with arial predators, however.

Im glad you can enjoy their visit, along with the twinkies

Sure do love their song, even softly in the dead of winter.

I have some Redpolls mixed in with my Pine Siskens and yellow finches.

RF, Those three species usually show up here together, or not too far apart during migrations. This is my best Redpoll portrait from March 2013.

Jonathan

Wow. What beauty ! Thank you for the share

My dad lived in SW Montana for years and had a feeder outside his kitchen window. He hated the siskins. He said they made a mess of everything and bothered the birds he liked. I used to sens him ten pounds of thistle seed every year just to keep them around. My mom liked them.

Pete

Wow, what pretty little Birdies. That Red pole is an eye stopper. His fain't reddish color really off sets the red patch on top of their little Birdie head.

I have some on my feeder right now.

Goldy, Lucky you!

I set up a trail cam close to the feeders to see who might show up in the mix.





Video
https://flic.kr/p/22UDjPf

Jonathan

That one is sure aggressive with the yellow showing on it's wing.

This is the year of the white birch having it's seeds available to be eaten, so there is some northern hold up in the migration of the northern finches.

I remember when at the banding station with a hundred band rings per person and someone did males and the other did females. So of those days were 400 birds, so they do get use to you around.

A pair of House Finches showed up at my feeders Easter Sunday. They arrived last year Easter weekend! Their feeding schedule is hard to catch, but I was able to get close-ups of them as they fluttered around with the Pine Siskins.

Jonathan



Videos

https://flic.kr/p/24pfu8V

https://flic.kr/p/G784g6

https://flic.kr/p/G77RWn

Been having some Pine Siskins showing up at the feeders here lately.