Redpolls

What goes around comes around. In early 2013 common redpolls ganged up in the yard for a couple
of months. In all they went through 11 40-pound bags of sunflower seeds. They were recorded in large numbers at least from Homer to Talkeetna. Since then they have been few and far between, at least until yesterday. I looked out the window and there must have been a couple of dozen of them spread among four feeders in the yard. I had to make a hasty trip to the store for more seed. They are back again today so this may be another irruption that lands them in southern Alaska. They are fun to have around, if a bit expensive. And it's good to see them among the Pine grosbeaks, nuthatches and chickadees who've been here all winter. More to come.

Here's the story of the 2013 invasion.