I always keep an eye on my flocks of Common Redpolls that show up in hopes of finding the more rare Hoary migrant. I had some false alarms in the past, but when I saw one for the first time, I just knew it was a Hoary.
My first Hoary Redpoll, re-posted
This frosty bird caught my eye and I was lucky to snap a few photos before he disappeared into the flock of over 100 Redpolls. I failed to relocate him again. Ever since, I put my binoculars up at any Redpoll that seems frosty, but it is always just my eyes playing tricks on me due to the lighting and reflection of the snow on the ground. I figured that this was a one-time sighting for the season.
Today, however, I noticed another frosty bird that was not quite like the others. I immediately grabbed my binoculars and the flash of a white-rump flew away. It flew back into my hanging tray feeder and then flew away quickly. I set my camera up to try to get it, but the bird was just too quick. While all of the Common Redpolls would stick around, this one would grab a seed and run. It kept flying up to a pine that borders the woods and eventually made it’s way into my closer tree. I snapped a few shots so that I could prove my ID. They came out a bit out-of-focus but are usable.
My second Hoary Redpoll
Extremely frosty on the back, thin streaking, small red cap, stubby bill, white undertail coverts and a whiter rump. I determined this to be a first year Hoary due to the buffy cheeks. I had high hopes that it would stick around because, even when the Commons left, it would continue to go back and forth from the tray to the pine.
And then all of the birds hurried away and a somewhat larger bird came in, chasing what looked like my Hoary Redpoll. The Redpoll got away and the predator perched in a tree.
Sharp-shinned Hawk
It was a Sharp-shinned Hawk in transitional plumage. The Accipiters that I get usually fly away at the slightest motion from inside but this one would not budge. I even went out on my deck and it didn’t mind. The Hawk stayed perched in my tree as some of the smaller birds started to return. It made another attempt at a Chickadee, missed and flew off.
The larger flock of Redpolls, including the Hoary, have not returned since.