Redpolls at Hope

[murraybrown]

Hope Airport had large numbers of Common Redpolls today. At the West end near the most westerly wind sock, were hundreds of birds. As Chris McDonald and I learned a couple of weeks ago, it is almost impossible to get a fix on the numbers, but I estimated at one time I was looking at around 250 birds. Unlike my last couple of visits, this time there were about 10-15% Pine Siskins mixed in with them.

I had the opportunity to get very close by hunkering down in the forest for over an hour. Once they became used to me they came very close. I was surprised to see that they fed mostly on the ground right in the thick brush. Some fed like wrens, others were flipping leaves like a thrush would do, and others were crawling up the trunks of the larger trees much like a Creeper. Then there were the ones that worked the tips of the branches like Kinglets. All in all I realized that these are very adaptable and capable little opportunists.

I learned a lot about a bird that I have had very little experience with over the years, always thinking of them as tree-toppers.

I also had the opportunity to really see the incredible array of colour forms. From very dark right through to nearly white.

Lots of fun!

[martin]

Sounds like a great day, it's amazing how much we miss until you stop and really start looking or watching.

Thanks for the report, hope they hang around a few more days.

[Chris]

Wow, Murray 250 birds is an excellent amount for this time of year! They sure do love that area.

Great field observations as well. Redpolls are entertaining, high energy birds. I guess they have to be very adaptable due to the potential hostile weathey they an encounter.

[Gord]

Murray, must have been quite the experience! I had a similar one too and like you, learned a lot more about them in how they look and their behaviour. I think Chris is probably on to something re: their hostile environment they typically live in and that they're fairly adaptable.

Martin, sounds like you're planning a visit. Weather sounds almost promising for the weekend so hope the sun shows as well as the birds.

[trudi]

we went to hope on Monday in search of these cute little fellows ...we were not disappointed although the weather was dreadful to say the least we found them on the right hand side as you cross the tracks and followed them along the south east treeline at one time we thought about 50 all mixed with the pine siskins but as they moved along the numbers increased,

very pretty bird ..no good pictures

[martin]

Mar 13, 2012 22:36:00 GMT -8 Gord said:

Murray, must have been quite the experience! I had a similar one too and like you, learned a lot more about them in how they look and their behaviour. I think Chris is probably on to something re: their hostile environment they typically live in and that they're fairly adaptable.

Martin, sounds like you're planning a visit. Weather sounds almost promising for the weekend so hope the sun shows as well as the birds.

Yes hoping to get out there this weekend, the renos may have to suffer. ;D

[kestrel]

Nice report Murray.

[deb&tony]

Murray, I really enjoyed reading about your observations. Taking the time to study individual bird behaviour just makes you appreciate them all the more.

Thanks!

Deb

"You only need sit still long enough in some attractive spot in the woods that all its inhabitants may exhibit themselves to you by turns."
[/color]Henry David Thoreau

[murraybrown]

Wow Deb, that quote by Thoreau is very apropos. Thanks for including it.

[Wetlander]

Great report Murray! And Deb, great Thoreau quote!

[gary]

Nice report there Murray..
Any photos?

[murraybrown]

Gary, I was on a fishing trip and am always reluctant to carry my camera gear in the car for fear of having it broken into. So unfortunately no pictures.