Finally, nailed 'em! Two or three (maybe more) Common Redpolls mixed with
Pine Siskins early yesterday (Sunday) morning (0730hrs) in my yard here in
Bellevue (Eastgate). Very flighty and noisy but sticking to the Douglas
Firs and my neighbor's Spruces that border the driveway. This is a first
for my good 'ol yard list of nearly 20 years. I suspected that some
redpolls might be around here now for the past 2-3 days judging from the
'suspicious' short rapid "chjijijit-chijijit-chijijit-chijijit" flight notes when
moving about that was decidedly different from the familiar siskins but
could never confirm because of their incredibly active/flighty nature and
aggravating habit of landing high, hidden, and inevitably lost in all dark
shadows of the conifers and could never get a glass on any of them, even the
siskins. Very frustrating! The Pine Siskins remained for the most part up in
the trees all day feeding and chattering away, singing even, but the
redpolls seemed to be present for only the first 30-45 minutes.

Richard Rowlett
Bellevue (Eastgate), WA