More redpolls

I managed to get a half decent photo of a rather fat redpoll in the snow by the feeder. As you can see there are scattered seeds in the snow. I guess birds try to keep fat to keep warm. They have needed it this winter but it has warmed up somewhat today.

Squirrel on Chinese New Year

In spite of the almost minus forty wind chill readings, my squirrel is out in the bright sunshine searching for unopened sunflower seeds at the base of the feeder. I wonder how he manages to keep from freezing but so far he looks to be in good health.

A few more redpolls

There are a few redpolls visiting the feeder these days. The only other birds are house sparrows and black capped chickadees. There have been no woodpeckers or nuthatches or other common winter birds lately.

Ravens, snow buntings, pigeons, and wild turkeys

We drove to Winnipeg and back yesterday. There were a few more birds than during the cold spell which has now broken. We saw over half a dozen flocks of snow buntings as well as several ravens. Beside the highway just east of Portgage we saw two wild turkeys. In Winnipeg itself we saw several flocks of pigeons among the many that inhabit certain areas of the city.

Snow buntings in the cold..

On the way to shopping at the next town we finally saw some birds even though the wind chills are in the minus forties. We saw one large flock of snow buntings and another smaller one on the way home. There were no other birds to be seen. At the feeder though there are still a few house sparrows and chickadees. The squirrel is also still moving about in this frigid weather.

A few chickadees brave the cold.

No new birds at the feeder these very cold days but there are still a few black capped chickadees visiting regulars. The squirrel is also visiting regularly undeterred by the high windchills apparently. I wonder where he goes of evenings to sleep.

Redpolls and a few chickadees appear.

These are three red polls at the feeder. One is hiding but the other two are out in the open but a bit fuzzy. You can seen the pinkish breast of the one facing the camera. A few chickadees came today as well.

The winter doldrums!

There are few birds at the feeder these days. In fact for the last few days I have seen nothing but house sparrows and few of them. We drove out in the country to the next town to shop and saw not a single bird not even a solitary raven. The birds must be waiting for a warmer spell!

Return of the house sparrows.

There was snow and blowing snow last night. Nothing came to the feeder but I cleaned it off a little this afternoon and a flock of sparrows visited. Here are a few a bit blurry as I had to use the zoom feature and I am none too steady. For some reason the snow in the background looks more like blue sky!

Flocks of snow buntings

This is actually a snow bunting in Norway a bit distant from here but the same bird as the ones we saw yesterday when we drove to Brandon and back. We saw two large flocks, one on the way and one on the way back. These were the only birds we saw. Usually there are quite a few ravens to be seen and often a few pigeons even in the winter.