This winter has brought a few sighting of winter finches. Barbara Mansell, Art Jones and Rodney Johnson reported Common Redpolls at their feeders during January. Rodney also had Pine Siskins come to his feeders - see January Records for dates. The winter finches seem to be found in the mid to northern parts of the county. The rest of us keep hoping for a sighting of a winter finch in our yard – like Siskins, Redpolls, Crossbills, Pine Grosbeak or Evening Grosbeaks.

On February 1 Chet was up to Thompson Pond at dusk and saw a Yellow-headed Blackbird with hundreds of Redwings as they came in to roost in the phragmities. Some members went to find this bird but did not see it again. It was like looking for a needle in a hay stack. Thanks Chet for telling us about your find.

An out-of-state sighting was a report of 2 Pink-footed Geese at Enright, CT for about 2 weeks. On Monday, February 6th Allan and I drove up to see them. We arrived about 11:30am and had good views of the geese floating in the Connecticut River with our scope. They were across from the boat launch with hundreds of Canada Geese. I thought of Mary Key and what she would say. So, I put it on our hotline even though it was a drive of 2 ½ hours away. Pink-footed Geese nest on Greenland and winter in England. There have been some that winter occasionally in New England.

Winter is not over yet even though the winter temperatures keep changing from warmer to colder days like a roller coaster. So, keep you feeders filled and your eyes open for that unusual species. Call or Barbara Butler, Carena Pooth, or me with your sightings and good birding.