A very tattered pine grosbeak

The weather is perishingly cold again with windchills in the minus thirties C. There are almost no birds at the feeder. I did see one lone house sparrow who visited for a short while.
The main guest today was a pine grosbeak. It has been here before. I recognise it as it is a female and it is very puffed up. Today I noticed that it has something trailing from its vent (anus). Also the area between the folded wings has lost many of its feathers. It is very plump and puffed up in appearance. I think now that it must be bloating and unable to defecate properly. It seems able to fly but it seems to just go beside the house. It can certainly still eat but I just wonder if its days are numbered. I imagine it is by itself because it is unable to keep up with a flock.

Poor navigation

The weather is very cold today with high wind chills again. Tonight there are flurries. There was a bit more activity at the feeder today. There were quite a few chickadees darting back and forth. I also saw several red polls but not in a flock by any means. There was one lone pine grosbeak early on, a female. She was fat and fluffy and all by herself. Later just before dark a grosbeak banged against the window. Fortunately it hit sideways. It dropped to the ground but was up and tried to fly off immediately but fell on the snow and made a grosbeak snow angel before righting itself and flying off for good.
We drove out of town today. I saw the usual ravens near the village dump and one flock of redpolls further down the road. On the way home I saw my first pigeon in some time looking for some way to enter a steel grain bin it seemed. Maybe it wanted in to get warm. Here is a photo of the rock dove or common pigeon.

High wind chill at the feeder

It was cold and windy this morning with wind chills in the minus thirties. The birds must have been huddling somewhere to retain warmth. There was one fat pine grosbeak that visited the feeder several times. It seemed puffed up. Maybe that kept it warm.
Aside from the grosbeak there were a few chickadees that rushed to the feeder and then away again not stopping to rest! I think the photo is of a pine grosbeak just before dark!

A few chickadees

There were only a few chickadees at the feeder today. We did not go outside as the windchill is high and there is blowing snow so I saw no other birds. However, on looking in the mirror I saw a ruffled grouch.

Ruffed Grouse

It was a very slow day again at the feeder. I saw one lone redpoll and several chickadees but that is all. However on a drive out of town I saw several ravens near the village dump. Finally I also saw a ruffed grouse near some woods at the side of the road in the snow. This is the first grouse I have seen this winter. Usually they are in groups. I have often startled them while on walks.

Two Pine Grosbeaks

Finally yesterday I saw two pine grosbeaks for a short time at the feeder. They were the only birds I saw all day except for a few chickadees earlier. There are no signs of red polls or even house sparrows. The two grosbeaks were both females. Maybe they are a lesbian couple. The photo is of a pine grosbeak.

A foggy day

This morning it was relatively warm for this time of year but also foggy. The temperature is just a few degrees below freezing. Just after it became light a few chickadees came to the feeder. These were the only birds I noticed the whole day. The chickadees simply snatch a sunflower seed and fly off. There were no footprints on the snow around the feeder so I doubt that any house sparrows or even red polls visited. Here is another photo of the cute black cap chickadee.

Another no bird day

Maybe we should move to another country where there are birds all year round! There are not even tracks in the light dusting of snow we had overnight. Not a single feathered friend visited. I haven't even seen any when I walked to the post office or drove around town. Where did they all go? I am sure they are not snow birds. The snow birds are already gone long ago! To celebrate no bird day I post a picture of that most exotic of birds the house sparrow.

At least a few!

There were a few brief appearances of several chickadees and also some red polls but other than that this was another day of bird scarcity. At the dump we saw ravens again. They seem to be regular inhabitants who recycle garbage without expecting anything but board.

Absolute zero

I did not see a single bird at the feeder today. Even when we drove out in the country to the next town there was not a bird to be seen. Maybe some days the birds just can't be bothered getting out of bed. I can understand that!

The Winter doldrums

An incredibly unbusy day at the feeder. It is a lovely winter day with plenty of sunshine and not very windy. I guess there is no bad weather coming because the birds are not in a hurry to eat. There were just a very few birds all day. I saw a few visits by a chickadee or perhaps there was more than one. There was also one brief visit by a few red polls. There were not even any sparrows! To celebrate here is a pic of a chickadee.

Where are all the birds?

I have seen absolutely no birds at the feeder today. There was light snow last night but it is a beautiful day this afternoon. We took a trip late this morning into the country. It was foggy. I saw several ravens and one flock of red polls but that is the sum total of my observations today. Since I saw a raven I have added a photo to commemorate that exciting event!

A decrepit red poll

There was not much activity at the bird feeder today. I saw a few chickadees and red polls but that was all. However, one red poll stayed around by itself for a long time. I am not sure if it is moulting or has some disease. If it were a dog I would think it had the mange! Near the tail the feathers are mostly gone, not a very pleasant state of affairs in the cold weather. It seems to be able to fly but it is all alone with no other red polls with it.
We went to the dump again and there are still about half a dozen or more ravens. Today they were right at the garbage itself even though smoke was drifting over the area from burning garbage.

A boring day at the feeder

Not much activity at the feeder today. The weather was windy but not very cold for here. I saw a couple of chickadees, a few red polls and house sparrows and that is all.
We went shopping to a town nearby and I spotted three ravens only and none on the way home. Today is not for the birds or rather it is!

Little Activity

I observed very few birds at the feeder today even though it is a lovely mild winter's day. There were a few red polls and the odd chickadee and one short rush of house sparrows.

Finally a grosbeak

Just before sundown a lone pine grosbeak visited the feeder. Well maybe given the hour it was an evening grosbeak.

Trip to the dump

Still very cold. The wind chill is in the minus thirties (C). So far only the regular are showing up at the feeder: red polls, chickadees, and house sparrows.
We made a trip to the local dump and there we saw about a half dozen ravens and two magpies. They were not actually at the dump but in a field nearby. Perhaps smoke from a fire at the dump drove them away temporarily.

A Dull Day

It was overcast most of the day. The cold is continuing. The only visitors at the feeder today were regulars: red polls, house sparrows, and a few chickadees. I will soon need to add sunflower seeds. Maybe things will brighten up tomorrow and there will be some grosbeaks, nuthatches, or jumping cats.

Sick Red Poll

This morning one lone redpoll sat for some time on the feeder, its feathers rumpled up. I am not sure whether it is moulting or not but it was puffed up compared to other redpolls. It seems as if its wing was tucked under one wing. Perhaps it was taking a brief nap. Anyway Sonia, my wife, thought it was very ill and convinced to go out and try to retrieve it and bring it into the house. Of course the bird was long gone by the time I dressed and reached the feeder. Oh well I got my one outing for the day with a windhcill of about minus 35 when I ventured forth.
There are just the regulars of far today: red polls, house sparrows, and a few chickadees. Red Polls outnumber sparrows.

Day of the red polls

Red polls have dominated the feeder today. However, some house sparrows finally appear. At one time there was even a fairly large flock but they did not stay long. There have been a few chickadees as well.
We went for a visit in the country this afternoon. I saw few birds. There were a couple of flocks of small birds. I think from their flight they were also red polls. I saw one lone raven. We did sight a beautiful red fox by the side of the road. It took off at an amazing pace when the car came closer.

Almost zero

This morning there were no birds at the feeder for about ten minutes. I just sat admiring the bright sunshine refelcting from the feeder and illuminating the spruce and the snow covered ground. Then two red polls appeared and finally a third. All of a sudden a black capped chickadee popped onto the feeder snatched a sunflower seed and was off to the cover of the spruce. That is it. No house sparrows, no woodpeckers, no grosbeaks. Almost zero refers to the birds not the temperature. It is minus 26 not almost zero!

Two more species at least!

Around lunch time I observed a Pine Grosbeak at the feeder a beautiful male. There was also a chickadee. There are still lots of house sparrows and red polls. The sparrows like to scatter sunflower seeds on the ground and then eat them there.
It is still very cold. I plugged in the car. Fortunately the wind is still quite light so windchill will not be a factor.

A Cold Morning

Last night the house was making cracking and groaning noises complaining about the cold. It is minus thirty six at 9 AM. Fortunately, the wind is absolutely calm so it actually feels warmer than last evening when the windchill was at minus 41.
The only birds I saw at the feeder were house sparrows and red polls. I guess the chickadees decided to sleep in. The birds seem to have filled up the last few days in preparation for the cold weather.
Here in Manitoba the cold is often accompanied by a great deal of sunshine. To look out over the snow it seems like a beautiful day for a walk. However, if there is any sort of wind it is not pleasant at all unless you are very well insulated. When I have my hood all well fastened I find that my breath manages to fog up my glasses so I can't enjoy the scenery.
Birds seem to do fine just with their feathers. It seems that some of the birds at the feeder must be moulting. I can see loose feathers sticking out.

A Cold Morning

Last night the house was making cracking and groaning noises complaining about the cold. It is minus thirty six at 9 AM. Fortunately, the wind is absolutely calm so it actually feels warmer than last evening when the windchill was at minus 41.
The only birds I saw at the feeder were house sparrows and red polls. I guess the chickadees decided to sleep in. The birds seem to have filled up the last few days in preparation for the cold weather.
Here in Manitoba the cold is often accompanied by a great deal of sunshine. To look out over the snow it seems like a beautiful day for a walk. However, if there is any sort of wind it is not pleasant at all unless you are very well insulated. When I have my hood all well fastened I find that my breath manages to fog up my glasses so I can't enjoy the scenery.
Birds seem to do fine just with their feathers. It seems that some of the birds at the feeder must be moulting. I can see loose feathers sticking out.

Downy woodpecker, Pine Grosbeak

Later today I observed two rosy hued pine grosbeaks at the feeder and later still a downy woodpecker. I assume it is a downy. Hairy woodpeckers are not very common in this area and I believe it is a larger bird than this one.

The First Day for the Birds

Hi. I live in rural Manitoba, Canada, near the Riding Mountain National Park. I have a bird feeder right beside a large double pane window in the living room. I find it restful just to watch the birds each day. There may be the odd bit of sex when I observe mating behavior and the odd bit of violence when a bird hits the window but mostly this will be a peaceful blog with low ratings on the popularity scale no doubt.

The most common birds this morning are house sparrows. Variations of the house sparrow are seen worldwide. When I was in the Philippines I was amazed to observe on the upstairs patio of our house many birds that looked identical to our Manitoba house sparrows. There they are called maya-maya.
This morning the sparrows are stuffing themselves probably to give them energy to brave the cold. This morning it was minus 26 C with a windchill of minus 41. This must be the coldest day so far but the temperature is to go down further tonight.

Besides sparrows there are red polls. They are a bit smaller than the house sparrows and have a distinctive red poll on top of their head. They seem to be puffed up making them look a little plumper than usual. I am not sure they do this or whether it is just the breeze.

There are a few black capped chickadees that are visiting from time to time. Unlike the sparrows or red polls, they just stop briefly and fetch sunflower seeds and then takeoff. I guess I should take off too. It will soon be lunch time. Sonia is making bihon, narrow noodles with vegetables that are yummy.