Pine Siskins

The air was filled with twittering calls one morning a couple of days ago. It was windy and high up in the turbulent air I saw what looked small leaves floating this way and that, until they gathered into an undulating flock and settled on a tree in the wetland next to our house: a flock of Pine Siskins.   

Pine Siskins are a nomadic species with a preference for conifer seeds. According to a report on winter finches, the spruce and hemlock crops are supposed to be excellent this year in the Northeast and since spruce seed crop up north in Yukon and Alaska has been average Pine Siskins are expected to show up in good numbers in the Northeast There have a number of recent sightings on the New England bird lists but nothing yet like the irruption in Jan 2009. 

I got a couple of photos and, hoping they would come closer, stocked my Nyeer feeder but so far have only seen Goldfinches. This morning, New Year's Day, during a walk up Black Mountain I checked the crowns of red and white pines for cones and found almost none. So, I don't expect to see more Pine Siskins this winter.

I went back into my archive to pull out some photos I had taken during the irruption in early 2009. Back then they overwhelmed my feeders and I was kind of glad when after a few weeks they disappeared. They are a gregarious but pugnacious lot vigorously defending their spot at the feeder. Because of their small beaks they have trouble opening black oil sunflower seeds but will pick up broken pieces left behind by other birds.

 The lower bird is probably a "green morph" 

I am showing this photo in its original size because it so beautifully illustrates the colors and arrangements of feathers on the back.

To enliven the dull dark days I decided to try my hand at sketching  birds from photographs that I took. These are my first efforts. It's fun and teaches me  to see the bird's body underneath the feathers. I like to draw fast;  an ultra fine gel roller seems to be the perfect tool - no second chances; it has to be right the first time. I added some color with pastels. As you can see I will need a lot of practice.

Pine Siskins

Turkey, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser

Eastern Bluebirds

 Eastern Bluebird

I wish you all a happy, healthy and productive New Year, and thanks for visiting!

P. Siskins, C. Redpolls, C. Waxwings and ...drum roll please...I am the Featured Blogger of the Week on Birdingblogs.com

Winter is the time for visitors from the north: Pine Siskin who arrive in large flocks, descending, and aggressively defending their place, on our bird feeders until they have had their fill, also Common Redpolls, though less frequently, usually foraging on the catkins on birches, and Cedar Waxwings who arrive en masse on fruit bearing trees... You know they are coming when you hear their thin, clear, trilling voices in the air as they swirl around to pick the most likely tree. They are not very shy and let you come close.

  

And now about me....

I am proud of having been picked as the Featured Blogger of the Week on Birdingblogs.com,