Meet the newcomers! I don't think I've ever seen these little guys before. They arrived in May and are quite noticeable because they do everything together in a flock of 10 to 15 birds, which is unusual in the spring. And they really love our fountain! They were difficult to identify because they look like small sparrows but don't act like sparrows. I finally noticed a touch of yellow under the wing on some of them and found them in my bird book. According to the Audubon site: "Although it is patterned like a sparrow, its shape, actions, and callnotes all reveal that this bird is really a goldfinch in disguise. After nesting in the conifer woods, Pine Siskins move out into semi-open country, where they roam in twittering flocks." 06/14/21
You may think this is a badly done composite, but no. Just some cropping and sharpening going on here ... these 2 chipmunks were having a ball, racing across the yard and leapfrogging over each other at top speed. It really was a blast to watch. 06/13/21
If you remember my previous shot of the Baltimore Oriole - this is the other half of that story. These two were having quite the singing match, probably trying to charm a lovely lady hiding in the trees somewhere. 06/12/21
