There Be Siskins Here!

The aching question of winter 2010-11, or at least one of two, has been answered. Reliable observers have reported irruptive Pine Siskins in our area, but through December I didn't see any at our feeders. I was on high alert given that Siskins spent much of the winter here two years ago. So it was always a possibility. In this BirdCam photo, (actually a small corner of the total image) a bird shows the distinctive Pine Siskin field marks -- small rapier bill, yellow wing bars, and prominent streaking. They also appear in several other photos taken Sunday. So they're here, and certainly prepared to go toe to toe with the House Finches for title of "Seed Glutton". Happily I have 60 pounds on hand of sunflower seed! And we are definitely monitoring events.