Shades of the North

After what seemed like an endless ten days of feeling ill, I had the great pleasure to rejoin the birder group on our travel down back roads in search of the elusive. Today was a remarkable one for me for I learned about pine siskins. I am quite sure I may have known about them before but any trace of that knowledge was in deep hiding.

Every couple of years, these beautiful little birds make unpredictable flights called irruptions into southern and eastern North America. Cornell University ornithology site informs me that, “Though they’re erratic, these movements may not be entirely random. Banding data suggest that some birds may fly west-east across the continent while others move north-south. 

I always feel thrilled to see ravens here because, in part, they remind me of my time in Fort William now Thunder Bay. Those years of discovery, in a part of Ontario unfamiliar to me, left indelible impressions for which I continue to be grateful.

I send to you today lovely old roads, a raven, a painted turtle, monkshood, and siskins.

The Raven in memory of Gary Ironside.

Monkshood

Pine Siskin