Hello Ontbirders,
The redpoll wave is rapidly increasing as forcast by Ron Pittaway. It is shaping
up to be one of the largest Hoary Redpoll invasions that I have personally seen.
I have had Hoarys in virtually every flock I have seen over the last 3 weeks and
we now have a minimum of 8 at our feeder today (all exilipes) along with about
60 Commons. The flock reshapes itself regularly so it is difficult to estimate
how many are really here. The 8 were all visible at one time so there are likely
many more.
Please contact me privately if you wish to come to our place to watch. It is
easiest to watch from inside since the feeders are in the back yard - do not
walk around the house as it will scare the flock away. I will fill a feeder out
front so that they are also visible from the road but I suspect they will be
easy to find at any feeders in the area.
Good birding,
Jeff
Jeff Skevington, Research Scientist
Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
K.W. Neatby Building, C.E.F., 960 Carling Ave.
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada
e-mail: jeff_skevington@yahoo.ca
alternative e-mail: jeffrey.skevington@agr.gc.ca