Seeing What's Not There - Day 20

Silhouettes in Black and White  

Silhouettes and Shadows of a Flock of Redpolls

-  are emphasized in a grayscale image       

The birds that stayed for the winter are joined by more coming for the breeding season. The trees have been busy with birds flying in waves through the trees, calling for territory and mates, and stripping the ground of any remaining seeds. 

Take It To The Streets - Day 15

Redpolls Feeding in the Snowfall  

Overwintering Redpolls Feed in Birch Trees  

- they travel in flocks to stay warm and look for food  

The overnight heavy accumulation of snow does not stop these redpolls from feeding off the last few seeds left on these birch trees. A flock of twenty or thirty birds goes through our part of town every day, looking for seeds in feeders and  in any trees that have food left. 

    

Birches and their Neighbors - Day 29

Red-polls and Catkins 

Acrobatics in the Branches   

- and it's all out in the open   

In the winter, without the leaves in the way, you can see a lot of what goes on in the branches of trees.
All day today, a flock of red-polls has been making its way through these trees - fifteen or twenty tiny acrobats perching right-side up and hanging up-side down and pecking out seeds and insects as they go.
Spend some time to watch it now, because in another few months, all this activity and entertainment will be hidden from view by spring greenery.

Birches and their Neighbors - Day 22

Look Up! Red-polls Overhead

Red-polls Feeding on Birch Catkins  

- and a shower of nutlets 

I'm standing still taking photos of catkins in the early morning golden light, and I hear a whistling whoosh, and then I get a shower of something - and I look up.
It's a flock of about a dozen red-polls in the trees above me, digging into the birch seeds, and making quick work of the job.
So, picture your head cranked way back as you look a this photo, and marvel at these tiny birds - these two could spread out quite comfortably on the palm of my hand - who have to find, and are able to find, vast quantities of food to keep themselves going throughout the winter.