Winter finches on the move ... Common Redpoll | Acanthis flammea flammea | Sizerin flammé in Prince Edward County

            Combine harvesters were at work bringing in the late corn along Caughey Road on Big Island, Prince Edward County. Through the telephoto lens the jagged yellow stubble dissolved into a uniform canvas, providing a pleasing backdrop for this portrait of a Common Redpoll.

Since late summer a succession of northern birds have been streaming through the County heading south, triggered by the failure of the wild food crop in the boreal forest. It started with Red-breasted Nuthatches and Purple Finches in late August, followed by a wave of Pine Siskin in September. Evening Grosbeaks arrived and left in October, and now in November Common Redpolls are moving through.

Most of my time here is spent along the exposed shore of Lake Ontario - Prince Edward Point, Charwell Point, and Point Petre. When birds on the move arrive at the waters' edge, they struggle to reconcile two contradictory signals. One is the overwhelming urge to leave the north. The other is a deep reluctance to cross open water. First thing in the morning they swirl in flocks above the shoreline, repeatedly venturing out over the vast lake and then back to the safety of land. Somehow they are able to continue on, evidenced by myriad reports from US birdwatchers joyfully announcing the arrival of northern visitors.

Big Island, where this photo was taken, is well inland from Lake Ontario. The big flock of redpoll to which this individual belonged was relaxed, feeding calmly and methodically in the dry goldenrod along the road - a far cry from their near-frenzied behaviour as they confront the lake. Soon, maybe even tomorrow morning, the birds will arrive at the shore and face the crossing. This one looks ready for the challenge.

Taken in: Canada / Ontario / Crofton (show map)

Taken on: November 11, 2020

Tags:

PEC

Big Island

Ontario

Canada

Common Redpoll

Acanthis flammea flammea

Sizerin flammé

Bird

Finch

Wildlife

Nature

Winter

Canon

EOS

90D

600mm f/4L III « less

Sets appears in: • Prince Edward County

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Camera: Canon EOS 90D, f/5.0, 1/2500 sec, 600mm, ISO 640 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS 90D
Lens:	EF600mm f/4L IS III USM
Aperture:	f/5.0
Exposure Time:	1/2500 sec
Focal Length:	600mm
ISO:	640
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Aperture-priority AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Partial
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic 10.0 (Macintosh)
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