Hard to find words.
Superlatives.oft repeated end up sounding empty. Trying to write this post I had to run out for the second night running to witness sky-filling aurora. Alongside hilarity filled company, there was Alaskan Husky driven sleds across the Taiga, a snowmobile ride, reindeer soup and shed loads of good birds. So in order to get this finished I’ll let the photos do the talking. Tormod A. has done a wonderful post also all about today with mostly different photos HERE.
Taken outside the digs just now:
Redpolls headlined:
Adult male ‘Meany Redpoll’ taken today by Alonza Garbett.
Siberian Jay gave lovely if brief views and was new bird for many
Pine Grosbeaks in good numbers showed for most of the day. The calls/ song are just lovely.
Some of the gang getting ready for the dogs and sleds. The Alaskan Huskies are beautiful very friendly and solid muscle.
‘Silver’ Willow Tit. Gorgeous and raised some questions for us!
Alonza in some of the snowy conditions today
Lots of redpolls included great looks at a variety of plumages of Arctic and Mealy Redpolls. The lower one here is a ‘holboelli’ type.
Adult male Arctic Redpoll. Lots of views of several of these.
Don’t know redpoll. 2 birds foxed me. This was one of them…
male Norther Bullfinch. Heard these ‘trumpeting’ today. 2 Parrot Crossbills were also seen.
Siberian Tit. 3 different individuals seen
en route home Ian and Sven in strange attire! Bedtime now.
candidate for islandica above
I’d say a pretty good candidate for islandica……unless size was very small, but islandica, flammea and exilipes can overlap a decent amount. Plumage wise though, this bird fits islandica pretty well IMO…..but then again redpolls come with cautionary tales……lol
Different computer monitor making bird in question look a bit frostier today…..tough to tell, but bill doesn’t look like an Arctic and plumage wise not much like a Mealy or even a perfect for exilipes…….suggestive of Islandica.
Birds we know here as well, but I never see in real life. you made beautifull photos of them.