Finch day

Due to morning medical appointments I didn’t get on my usual walk until a couple of hours later than normal.

I don’t know if was because of that, or the fact it was a fairly nice day and there had probably been more ‘walkers’ than normal, but there was not one duck, goose or heron to be found.

House Finch were the most notable as there were quite a few sunning themselves in the blackberry bushes.  (5 in this picture)

here is a closer look at a male, with a female sort of hidden behind the branches..

and a female out in the open…

surprisingly, there was a Pine Siskin as well.  As I’ve mentioned quite a few times this winter, there are a lot of Pine Siskin this year.  I’ve heard that these are ‘Yukon’ birds.  Siskin are very prolific producers but apparently the northern population this past summer was phenomenal and that is what has caused such a influx of Siskin into southern climes – it would also explain the presence of Redpolls with them.

there were a few Varied Thrush around but none co-operating for pictures.  Black-capped Chickadee were busy as well as Robins, Steller’s Jay and some Red-wing Blackbirds.  Had hoped to hear/see a swallow but was out of luck, perhaps they’ve heard about the predicted snow flurries for tomorrow morning.