I am linking up with Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes
I love the Pine Siskins and it seems like lately they are coming in large groups. On this day below I counted 20 Pine Siskins on my feeders and deck railing. The Pine Siskins were missing from my yard last year so this means we are in an irruption year. An irruptive year is where you will see birds that do not normally winter in your area. Some of these birds are the Pine Siskins, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll and the Evening Grosbeak. Another bird that will also shift from its wintering ground is the Red breasted Nuthatch. I am seeing the Red-Breasted Nuthatches on my feeders and many are in the woods around my house.
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The Pine Siskins are brown on their upperparts and pale underparts with heavy streaking. They have short forked tails and a real tell-tale sign is the yellow streak on their wings and tails. You can see the yellow streaks in my photo above. They are similar in color to the house finches.
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They say irruptions are due to a lack of food in their normal winter grounds. I am happy to help provide food for these pretty birds and I would love to see an Evening Grosbeak or Common Redpoll at my feeder.
A few years ago during one irruptive year I counted as many as 100 or more Pine Siskins on my deck and feeders. I was joking in a previous post that one Pine Siskin was sent as a scout well a few days later the scouts friends all arrived. I am not seeing 100 but above I at least 20 in the photo. It is hard trying to capture them all in one photo.
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First Pine Siskin arrived 10/15/12
You can look for the irruptive species in your area and I read that there is an Irruptive bird survey on the Cornell Website. They would like to know what irruptive birds you are seeing, when did the irruption start and how long will it last also they would like to know you location. This looks like the start of a fantastic winter for seeing great birds in my yard and around the state of Maryland.
To see more beautiful and wonderful photos please visit: Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
I love the Pine Siskins and it seems like lately they are coming in large groups. On this day below I counted 20 Pine Siskins on my feeders and deck railing. The Pine Siskins were missing from my yard last year so this means we are in an irruption year. An irruptive year is where you will see birds that do not normally winter in your area. Some of these birds are the Pine Siskins, Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Purple Finch, Common Redpoll and the Evening Grosbeak. Another bird that will also shift from its wintering ground is the Red breasted Nuthatch. I am seeing the Red-Breasted Nuthatches on my feeders and many are in the woods around my house.
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They say irruptions are due to a lack of food in their normal winter grounds. I am happy to help provide food for these pretty birds and I would love to see an Evening Grosbeak or Common Redpoll at my feeder.
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| Pine Siskins on 10/20/12 |
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First Pine Siskin arrived 10/15/12
You can look for the irruptive species in your area and I read that there is an Irruptive bird survey on the Cornell Website. They would like to know what irruptive birds you are seeing, when did the irruption start and how long will it last also they would like to know you location. This looks like the start of a fantastic winter for seeing great birds in my yard and around the state of Maryland.
To see more beautiful and wonderful photos please visit: Stewart's Wild Bird Wednesday and Nature Notes.
Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday and thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes.
43 comments:
two winters ago, we had bunches of pine siskins here, too. last year, none. so i guess you're warning me to stock up on nijer seed! :)
Those little birdies are so adorable and what a great capture! :D
São lindos e ótimo amiguinhos...beijos,chica
Great photos. I am always very pleased when I have a flock of birds come through my yard.
Lovely to see these "gardenbirds".
A perfect WBW post!
Hallo Eileen,i haven't see them here!The Pine Siskin looks so beautiful!Nice to come back again!Wonderful shots!Wish you a lovely day!
Dimi..
Lots of action at your feeders, Eileen. What a sight :) Great shots, I always enjoy your photo's!
Must be your lucky year! How nice!
:)
I thought it was the same ones we have but it is not. But the same family I guess. I like them.
Such beautiful birds!! I hope I see some this year.... I didn't see any last year.
Hi Eileen; beautiful little birds, very sparrow-like and I love the yellow splash on their wings
so sweet Eileen!
I always have trouble telling the pine siskins and finches apart. I'll have to remember what you said in this post as it's useful for telling the difference between the two.
Wow, you get a lot of siskins! We've never had any here. Love your photos!
That is exciting. Enjoy them while there there. We have a warbler invasion going on here....lots of new birds around our area....like a Bobolink! Keep snapping those pics. They are such beautiful birds:)
I will have to get out the binocs and take a closer look at the thistle feeders..I have 5 of them up in anticipation...I thought that having the diversion of Nature Notes would be good for me this week Eileen.....and it has been good..Michelle
What beautiful birds! The Red Crossbill is exceptionally pretty. I wonder are the birds visiting this time of year means your fall/winter is warmer than previously.
Hi Eileen, Wow! Lovely lively little birds! I have seen a few Pine Siskins at the lake house but not here in the yard when I now live. Have a wonderful Wed. tomorrow!
Darling birds... I learned a little more about birding -- irruptive is a new term for me. Why is there not enough food in their usual place?
Great shots of the Pine Siskins Eileen! I wish you many irruptive species this winter!
Was für eine lustige Familie...
Lieben Gruß aus fernem Land
CL
Exciting to have the Pine Siskins come in! They are rare to see here in Fairbanks, but we do see lots of the Common Redpoll. I chuckled about your comment on the scouts showing up at your feeders and then their friends showing up a few days later. I was just saying the same thing to my husband earlier today about the Redpolls, and then this afternoon a couple popped up at my feeders. We'll see if the crowd shows up in the next few days.
What splendid little finches - I think your scout idea may have more to it that you think. Birds that roost together (and I have no idea of these do) seem to share information about food sources - so see one can lead to seeing lots.
Cheers and thanks for linking to WBW
Stewart M - Australia
Superb Pine Siskins, cheers Eileen.
Great shots Eileen, they are fun birds to watch.
cute little birds, so sweet and beauty
This must be an exciting time for you. I learnt a new word "Irruption"
They look like sparrows.
But I think they are more beautiful.
We have Pine Siskins here too, and House Finches, Nuthatches, Chickadees and Collared Doves, oh and lots of Sparrows.
How interesting. We had an over abundance of pine siskins here two years ago but I saw one last year. So far, I haven't seen any this year either - but it's still early.
he told two friends, and he told two friends.....
don't cha love it!!
oh you're so lucky to have them visiting your yard. they're so cute and so many. great set :) wishing you a lovely Wednesday. xxo
Hi Eileen, how lovely to have all these pretty finches visiting, they look very similar to our Siskins. We have the same thing here sometimes. Two or three years ago we had a huge influx (as we call it ) of Bohemian Waxwings... I think I was the only person in the country not to see one :-(
The photos showing the Autumn colours on your previous post are really beautiful! I also enjoyed seeing your gorgeous Goldie Girl looking lovely among the leaves :-)
So good to have so many birds in ur neighbourhood. Isn't it? :)
I love watching birds too even if they make a mess on the driveway!
Beautiful photos!
Looks like you'll have to lay in masses of seed to keep this lot fed! Because once they've found a food source, they'll all bring a friend next time!!
Tis sad to see our insect-feeding birds going south. Happy to visit birds on blogs, though!!!!
Dearest Eileen,
Oh, in an irruption year! 100 birds must be too many but for me really wonderful nature you are surrounded(^_^)v
Lovely pictures of Pine Siskins enjoying relaxing time♡♡♡
PS> Thank you very much for your lovely comments. My husband doesn't cook at all, just making soba and boiling them p;) Typical Japanese man. Great and happy for you (plus a bit envious, haha) to have a husband who likes cooking♪
Sending you lots of love and hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*
I love those Pine Siskin pictures Eileen and how nice to have dozens on your feeders. The Pine Siskin is much like our European Siskin, your more subtle shades of grey and green than our. Our irruptive species so far this winter is the Coal Tit.
Calling all birds . . . the feed is on at Eileen's!
Great to see them in such numbers at your feeder Eileen.
Cool photos! This is the first year I have seen pine siskins at our feeders. They usually swarm the feeders and chase away the finches, but amusing to watch.
Very cool! I got my first bird feeder recently and am sad because no birds have come! I think I need to switch up my seed. What works best for you?
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