Each day I feel a tiny bit better, and my family insures they take me out for some “birding by car” with very short hikes. As I noted yesterday, I have been looking for my first Pine Grosbeak of the season, which means checking out pygmy crabapple trees. I struck paydirt this morning and watched one lone female. Not a single pine grosbeak was seen in Minnesota last winter. There was plenty of food north of the border, and they never came south.
Shortly thereafter I had fun watching a few flocks of Snow Buntings followed by an amazing hunting session with my favorite hawk, a Rough Legged Hawk. These hawks are only one of two raptors (other than owls) that have feathers all the way down to their talons. Thus, Rough Legged Hawks are adapted for their breeding seasons up by the Arctic Ocean. This bird let me get amazingly close. Normally Roughies spook very easily.
It was a great morning. One of my snow buntings (video link for email subscribers)
Hi Richard!
Glad you’re recovering.
Love your blog and great pics and info.
Staying at Solbakken cabin #3 for a few days.
This morning a birding life highlight
Pine tress all around loaded with cones.
1st saw red polls.
A few pine siskins.
What’s floored me is watching huge flocks of white winged crossbills devour pinecones at deck level. Fluff from debris floating down against the blue sky.
Had a red crossbill irruption 50 yrs ago or so at feeders in Faribault when I was a kid
1st time ever for the White Winged!
Are they common to see?
Crossbills, both white and red, follow the pine cones. If the bounty of cones is as great across all of northeastern Minnesota, we will seeing lots of crossbills. Unlike other songbirds, white-winged crossbills will even nest in the middle of our cold winter … assuming lots of nearby food. Crossbills are fun to watch, and I hope many will arrive in my own feeders.
So very happyto yourday health is improving and you are feeling stronger. As always, your bird pics are wonderful.
Ontario snow buntings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwGi0dp7U48
Glad to hear you are feeling stronger.
beautiful pictures and a beautiful day. so happy to hear you’re feeling better each day- and that you are able to get out there looking for the birds!