Nature Visitors from the Arctic (Common Redpoll?)

Visitors from the Arctic (Common Redpoll?) · 05:52 PM

A very busy day around the bird feeders today. We had a new visitor - or should I say bunch/flock of visitors.

From what I can find in our guides, it looks to be a Common Redpoll. From the description, these birds are common to the arctic tundra and rarely migrate as far south of the Central US. There were probably 30 or so of them, and helped create quite a frenzy at the thistle feeders where our normal 50 or so Goldfinches spend the day feeding.

I hope someone can help verify my identification.

lesmore49 · 01-02-2013, 06:19 PM

The one with the pinkish breast is a male, with the whitish breast...a female Red Poll, I believe. We get them at our bird feeder in southern Manitoba, Canada. Great photo's as they do move around quickly.

**baro-nite** · 01-02-2013, 06:39 PM

Agreed on the ID and sexing -- Sibley shows the winter range covering all of PA. Great shots!

stormtech · 01-02-2013, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by lesmore49

The one with the pinkish breast is a male, with the whitish breast...a female Red Poll, I believe. We get them at our bird feeder in southern Manitoba, Canada. Great photo's as they do move around quickly.

Originally posted by baro-nite

Agreed on the ID and sexing -- Sibley shows the winter range covering all of PA. Great shots!

Thanks for the confirmation as this is the first time we've seen them.

And move around quickly is right! Between my wife and I we took around 200 shot this afternoon with only 10-12 keepers. In these photos they actually sat still for almost 1 minute.

I am hoping they stick around - I plan to get some more shots of the frenzy between 30 or so of them and 50 or so finches fighting for position.

**Bob Harris** · 01-02-2013, 08:51 PM

Stan, nice captures of what must be a hardy bird to survive those temps.

lesmore49 · 01-02-2013, 09:18 PM

Originally posted by Bob Harris

Stan, nice captures of what must be a hardy bird to survive those temps.

You'd be surprised at the temps these birds live in...up here it was about -30 a few days ago and those temps in this province aren't that unusual throughout it's range up here.

tessfully · 01-03-2013, 11:40 AM

Oh yes! The Redpolls are wonderful... I am watching them right now as I type. They rule our household... never ever run out of birdseed! Beautiful shots of a very sweet bird.

**crewl1** · 01-03-2013, 11:52 AM

Great captures Stan, #2 is perfect. Are they posing on the staging sticks at the feed stations you showed us previously?

stormtech · 01-03-2013, 12:05 PM

Originally posted by crewl1

Great captures Stan, #2 is perfect. Are they posing on the staging sticks at the feed stations you showed us previously?

Thanks Larry!

Yes, they are landing on the sticks near the feeders waiting for a spot. I set up with catch-in-focus today - already uploaded 1038 images! There are hundreds of these guys here today. Also trying some video with the Q going wide showing most of the feeders in the shot - first time doing any video for me. Will update this thread with some new images and hopefully a short video once I comb through all those images.

stormtech · 01-03-2013, 04:52 PM

Just thought I would add that the guys were back today - at least 100 of them!

I setup the K-5 with catch-in-focus for a couple hours - I now have 1068 images to sort through! Once I get a handle on those images, I think I am going to start a new post about my visitors in the Wildlife section as it seems more fitting.

I also set up the Q to take some video of the frenzy - it's hard to explain without actually seeing it. During the video you will see a little snow come down once in a while - that is from the 40 or so of them that were on the roof waiting to get into the action.

I'll update this thread with a link to the new one later this coming weekend.

You Tube

**crewl1** · 01-03-2013, 04:56 PM

Whoah that is a frenzy! Wish it had sound, must be raucous!

**jpzk** · 01-03-2013, 04:58 PM

Originally posted by stormtech

A very busy day around the bird feeders today. We had a new visitor - or should I say bunch/flock of visitors.

From what I can find in our guides, it looks to be a Common Redpoll. From the description, these birds are common to the arctic tundra and rarely migrate as far south of the Central US. There were probably 30 or so of them, and helped create quite a frenzy at the thistle feeders where our normal 50 or so Goldfinches spend the day feeding.

I hope someone can help verify my identification.

Decidedly redpolls and I must assure you that they are still quite well and healthy around here too: Northeastern Québec along the St Lawrence River.

I suppose you are within the southern limits of their winter migration but I wouldn't wager on that.

Nice shots, very crisp!

My favorite is the last one: very nice composition.

JP

stormtech · 01-03-2013, 04:59 PM

Originally posted by crewl1

Whoah that is a frenzy! Wish it had sound, must be raucous!

Since I was shooting from inside I turned the sound off. But yes, it was quite the racket - and this went on from 8am to 3pm non-stop.

I think I might try it with the camera outside with the sound on next time and run it with the remote if it will signal through the glass.

**Bob Harris** · 01-03-2013, 05:08 PM

Stan, watching the video you better go up to the store and pick up some more feed.

GeoJerry · 01-03-2013, 05:24 PM

Nice shots, well edited! These really pop.

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01-02-2013, 06:19 PM	#2
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	The one with the pinkish breast is a male, with the whitish breast...a female Red Poll, I believe. We get them at our bird feeder in southern Manitoba, Canada. Great photo's as they do move around quickly.

01-02-2013, 06:39 PM	#3
baro-nite Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: North Carolina, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,295	Agreed on the ID and sexing -- Sibley shows the winter range covering all of PA. Great shots!

01-02-2013, 07:10 PM	#4
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744 Original Poster	Originally posted by lesmore49 The one with the pinkish breast is a male, with the whitish breast...a female Red Poll, I believe. We get them at our bird feeder in southern Manitoba, Canada. Great photo's as they do move around quickly. Originally posted by baro-nite Agreed on the ID and sexing -- Sibley shows the winter range covering all of PA. Great shots! Thanks for the confirmation as this is the first time we've seen them. And move around quickly is right! Between my wife and I we took around 200 shot this afternoon with only 10-12 keepers. In these photos they actually sat still for almost 1 minute. I am hoping they stick around - I plan to get some more shots of the frenzy between 30 or so of them and 50 or so finches fighting for position.

01-02-2013, 08:51 PM	#5
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Stan, nice captures of what must be a hardy bird to survive those temps.

01-02-2013, 09:18 PM	#6
lesmore49 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 12,349	Originally posted by Bob Harris Stan, nice captures of what must be a hardy bird to survive those temps. You'd be surprised at the temps these birds live in...up here it was about -30 a few days ago and those temps in this province aren't that unusual throughout it's range up here.

01-03-2013, 11:40 AM	#7
tessfully Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: S. Algonquin, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,860	Oh yes! The Redpolls are wonderful... I am watching them right now as I type. They rule our household... never ever run out of birdseed! Beautiful shots of a very sweet bird.

01-03-2013, 11:52 AM	#8
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Great captures Stan, #2 is perfect. Are they posing on the staging sticks at the feed stations you showed us previously?

01-03-2013, 12:05 PM	#9
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744 Original Poster	Originally posted by crewl1 Great captures Stan, #2 is perfect. Are they posing on the staging sticks at the feed stations you showed us previously? Thanks Larry! Yes, they are landing on the sticks near the feeders waiting for a spot. I set up with catch-in-focus today - already uploaded 1038 images! There are hundreds of these guys here today. Also trying some video with the Q going wide showing most of the feeders in the shot - first time doing any video for me. Will update this thread with some new images and hopefully a short video once I comb through all those images.

01-03-2013, 04:56 PM	#11
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Whoah that is a frenzy! Wish it had sound, must be raucous!

01-03-2013, 04:58 PM	#12
jpzk Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Québec Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,251	Originally posted by stormtech A very busy day around the bird feeders today. We had a new visitor - or should I say bunch/flock of visitors. From what I can find in our guides, it looks to be a Common Redpoll. From the description, these birds are common to the arctic tundra and rarely migrate as far south of the Central US. There were probably 30 or so of them, and helped create quite a frenzy at the thistle feeders where our normal 50 or so Goldfinches spend the day feeding. I hope someone can help verify my identification. Decidedly redpolls and I must assure you that they are still quite well and healthy around here too: Northeastern Québec along the St Lawrence River. I suppose you are within the southern limits of their winter migration but I wouldn't wager on that. Nice shots, very crisp! My favorite is the last one: very nice composition. JP

01-03-2013, 04:59 PM	#13
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744 Original Poster	Originally posted by crewl1 Whoah that is a frenzy! Wish it had sound, must be raucous! Since I was shooting from inside I turned the sound off. But yes, it was quite the racket - and this went on from 8am to 3pm non-stop. I think I might try it with the camera outside with the sound on next time and run it with the remote if it will signal through the glass.

01-03-2013, 05:08 PM	#14
Bob Harris Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Canon City, Colorado Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 18,477	Stan, watching the video you better go up to the store and pick up some more feed.

01-03-2013, 05:24 PM	#15
GeoJerry Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Santa Barbara, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,158	Nice shots, well edited! These really pop.