Subject: Redpolls on Foster Island
Date: Jan 3 15:56:55 2002
From: Wendy & Alan Roedell - wroedell at mindspring.com


I found no Redpolls on Marsh Island at 10:30 this morning so I continued on to Foster Island. I saw a lot of movement in some tall Birch trees at the west side, just where the path ends and a look through the binocs confirmed that there were Redpolls up there. I set up my scope and watched them for over an hour in excellent light. They really go to work on those catkins. The bird that I watched the longest matched the description of the Hoary given by Gene Hunn on Dec. 29th. They were still there when I pried myself away to go to an appointment. Halfway across Marsh Island I found two more Redpolls just above eye level in a small Birch. I had to back up in order to get them in focus (my Nikons will not focus closer than 15 feet.) I watched them for another 10 minutes. They were still feeding when I left. I was late for my appointment but I didn't care.
Good birding, Alan Roedell