Jardin Botanique, February 3, 2013

Common Redpolls Acanthis flammea

The 'Big Owe' looms over the Botanical Gardens

female Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens

male Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

Eastern Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis - albinistic?

Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) Junco hyemalis

male House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta Canadensis

  It was about -15 °C and sunny today – cold enough to freeze immobile toes and fingers after 20 minutes, and exposed noses after 40. Dan and I made a run out to the Botanical Gardens in Montreal’s east end near the ‘Big O’. It’s a great spot full of wide open fields fringed with a good mix of vegetation. Although quiet at first, we encountered some frenzied bird activity at a feeder station with a nearby gazebo that doubled as a blind. 

  The Common Redpoll was the most abundant bird of the day - a species which has been having a big winter in North America. Their flight call reminds me of Eurasian Bullfinch with a bit of Eurasian Siskin thrown in. One male was noticeably lighter than the others, and as it flitted from feeder to feeder we strained for a good ten minutes to pick out the small details that could help identify it as a (much less frequent) Hoary Redpoll. Both lacking experience with redpolls, we came away thoroughly perplexed, and perhaps 60% confident that the light individual was a Hoary Redpoll. After later studying a few blurry pictures I managed to snap and consulting several field guides and internet pics, we are still a bit baffled. I think this will get its own blog post. 

  In spite of the fresh seasonal weather, it was a treat to get some good close views of species I need to re-acquaint myself with, like Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, and House Finch. I was surprised we didn't encounter any raptors, given the amount of bite-sized sky meat around. We have plans to get out again later this week to check out some promising Montreal spots. I wonder what the local situation is with ‘common but irregular’ Bohemian Waxwings this year?

What we saw:

Downy Woodpecker – 2

American Crow – 10

Black-capped Chickadee – 7

White-breasted Nuthatch – 1

Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1

European Starling – 20+

Northern Cardinal – 2

Dark-eyed Junco – 20+

Common Redpoll - 30+

Hoary Redpoll - ??

House Finch – 2