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Redpoll

 

 

The weather is turning more severe, north-westerly winds up to 25 m/s on the islands, some degrees of frost, in places slush or snow ... Yesterday Latvia had sleet, we will have it today ...

 

Of course the migrating birds that have been staying here start to move. The redpolls are numerous as passing migrants both in October and November, always in flocks with sometimes up to a thousand birds. Winterers stay here; there number varies widely with years, we meet them at the bird feeders in cold weather, always in groups.

 

Redpolls are loveable beings and not particularly shy of humans. The carmine red forehead and yellow beak are eye-catching. The back and flanks are lengthwise streaked. Males boast a pink breast. The colour of the plumage varies individually: some may even lack the species characteristic – the red forehead.