Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Simply Stunning Bird! Spring Male REDPOLL!

Christmas came early today wearing a suit of red!
A flash of shocking red and white suddenly appeared outside my window this morning and it wasn't Santa! The four none birder day trippers I was serving tea all startled with amazement! I have been seeing Redpolls at my feeders and in my garden for years now and all others pale to this one... even the Arctics. It fed most of the day on the ground below the niger seed feeder just outside my window. So close to the house I had a hard time seeing it or taking photos through the glass at a angle. Like a sunset none of these photos do the bird justice.

on the ground below the window
 
I had to go outside to see it better and of course then it pops up in front of my window again... darn it! I did get this sort of cool shot. I love the Shadows in this photo, plus you can see the back of my computer where I work and watch birds at the same time.

A few Days ago I was thrilled by this!
but this new Redpoll is now raining on his parade, in the sunshine to boot!

It hung around all day ever when I cut the lawn
My book shows this Redpoll is a Spring male of the northern race Carduelis  flammea (N Fenno-Scandia)

It is mixed into a group of Twite with 2 other Redpolls a Siskin. They all feed fairly peacefully with occasional visit from Brambling, Chaffinch and House Sparrows.

Waiting for me to go back in side the house and stop doing yard work or playing football with Henry.

Fair Isle Wren - Fair Isle's only indigenous subspecies
 Wrens are almost impossible to photograph well, but I lucked out today as he was displaying for his mate and he didn't worry about me. That isn't saying that it held still for long...


I have been trying to get a good photo of this colour ringed Twite for weeks now...

I thought my luck had changed and this Twite was not as flighty as it has been, but then I noticed a second colour ringed Twite at the feeder at the same time with the same colour combo so it is probably the new bolder bird? The Twite is comically stretched out clearly showing the rings in this photo.


I can even see a few #'s  9 5 8 1 4  if that helps anyone?
 
The Redpoll in the warm evening light.


More photos added from the next day.
as it is still here and I can't help but take photos of it!
















The Three Little Redpolls


This one is browner with a brick red head


This one is whiter with a dark red head



 and this one is cherry!

5 comments:

  1. Tommy as you know one of my favourite words is 'STUNNING' and I probably use it to much! However in this case I think I'm going to have to use it again and amend your blog post title a little

    'SIMPLY STUNNING BIRD'

    AND A CRACKING SET OF PHOTOS!....I LOVE NATURAL SELECTION

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  2. Thanks Jack! changed the title for you... I must use the word "STUNNING" more often now after knowing you. Still I feel I don't have a photo that does this bird justice.

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  3. Hi Tommy, I love the Redpoll pics - yes, the male is a stunner. How's things? Family ok? cheers, Paul

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  4. Hi Paul, I've been wanting to talk to you since last October when I used your trick of using a branch to feeding fruit to Waxwings. lost your contact info... please email me! I need to talk to you!

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  5. Hi Tommy - would be great to chat. My email address is paul(at)abvalve.co.uk

    Look forward to hearing from you !

    cheers, Paul

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