"The Winter Redpoll"

[jonny_redhorse]

Just a strikingly beautiful little bird!...the redpoll!.....hundreds were on the roads this morning .....I just never seem to tire of seeing them...these are from the "bog" this morning...

[finnbay]

First is my fave, jonney. Very nice!

[Steve Foss]

Jonny, great light on those first two! They are my faves. I like the second one a bit better because of the wind-ruffled feathers and because of the way the bird and perch work so well together.

[Birdsong]

Hundreds??? Lucky you! Could you send some of them a little farther south? I have only had one in my yard so far this winter, and he didn't stay more than a day. I really like the second, but there is something about the color in the background of the last one that works for me.

[JayinMN]

That redpoll looks awful familiar. Where did ya find it? I sat about an hour longer and decided driving was more comfortable.

[Steve Foss]

Sure looks like ribs2 to me.

[jonny_redhorse]

lol!...that redpoll should be on the cover of Time magazine!....probably took a hundred captures of the little guy!.....Jay showed up at the site and also snapped a few.......amazing how tame and "trusting" they can get!....they know the difference between a human and a weasel for sure

[Dbl]

Nice shots Jonny! Very well done.

[Jim Almquist]

Good looking shots Jonny. I wish that they would have been a little more cooperative today but I am sure the snow changed things. I did see a covey of sharptails in the trees feeding by Stickney and Arkola. Went down Blue Spruce road and saw a nice buck but no birds but the snow was a little heavy by then.

[Dotch]

Thanks jonny! Beautiful little birds. Saw them here many moons ago, back in the 80's methinks.

[jonny_redhorse]

Thanks all!....just a great time being out with the cameras.....what a great way to spend a morning with a fresh hot cup of coffee! ....I did manage to make a "quick" run down the Zim Road for an hour or so and south onto the Mcdavitt road in search of the great gray spotted earlier....nothing! ....while down there ,I met 2 guys "David Alexander and Frank Nicoletti" who are taking"Wintering" studies of great grays,northern hawk owls and boreals for capturing ,banding.and other data in conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife Service ...we had a good conversation and I"steered em" north to find that great gray north of Hibbing that I spotted Friday afternoon....Hope they found it ...they cover an area up to Roseau and they said they are always on the road doing the "owl search"....They were really interested in the northern hawkowls and how many have been seen in the area.....Good to know that they are taking care of these unique birds!

[jonny_redhorse]

Wow Jim!...Sharpies!....that area there has been known to harbor a few through the past years....actually that whole area has a few and can be spotted occasionally .....what? no pics! .......I'm also amazed that you stated there wasn't any birds down at the Blue Spruce Station.....guess they got their bellies full

[buzzsaw]

#2 is rock star status, Jonny! Good work or should I say play?

[Jim Almquist]

Wow Jim!...Sharpies!....that area there has been known to harbor a few through the past years....actually that whole area has a few and can be spotted occasionally .....what? no pics! .......I'm also amazed that you stated there wasn't any birds down at the Blue Spruce Station.....guess they got their bellies full

They were very spooky and as soon as I rolled down the window they took off but the shots would have stunk because the snow was a little to heavy.

[jonny_redhorse]

I hear ya Jim!...they are spooky for sure!....have run into the sharpies many times down in that same area and had em flush!.....When the sharpies start doing the "lek thing" in March,we'll get together for a couple of "shoots" in the fields down near Meadowlands...they will be doing "the dance" for a good month or so and they start a lot earlier then a lot of people realize....Last year I watched em dancing in a blinding snow squall and they never even seemed bothered...tough birds for sure!

[Jim Almquist]

I forgot to mention that I put more seed at ribs 1 & 2 but I am sure that they are covered by snow.