In response to my recent complaint about not seeing red-breasted nuthatches, Gerry Sibell said he has had four of them all fall in his backyard. “They absolutely love the Butter Bark that I buy at Wild Birds Unlimited in Duluth,” Gerry writes.
He has had two white-breasted nuthatches this fall as well. Here’s one of them:

And here’s one of the red-breasted nuthatches:

Gerry said the red-breasted nuthatches typically will stay all winter, while the white-breasted nuthatches tend to come and go.
He adds: “I haven’t seen any pine siskins or redpolls yet. They are always a treat to see, but they sure do break my budget for bird feed with how they go through the thistle!”
Agreed. On the winters when I get redpolls, they usually don’t show up until January or February. But once they come, I can’t keep up with them.
Thanks for the wonderful pictures, Gerry.

Your bird pictures and stories welcome at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.

Earlier this week, a flock of pine siskins invaded Lyle Anderson’s feeders on Park Point for about two hours, then left as suddenly as they arrived. For those two hours, “they were all over — on the feeders, on the ground and in the trees,” Lyle writes.
Fortunately, he got a couple of pictures:


As I look at these pictures, I realize the finches I had on my thistle feeders for a couple of mornings this week probably also were siskins. It was still pretty dark when they came by, and I didn’t get a real good look.
Lyle also has had some nuthatches, and got a picture of this one:

I’ve seen several white-breasted nuthatches like this one, but I haven’t yet seen a red-breasted nuthatch so far this fall/winter season. Has anyone?

Your bird stories and pictures euphorically welcomed at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.

Joan Duff of Duluth is beginning her third winter in the Northland after many years in central Florida.
She has enjoyed watching birds in both places, she writes, including this cardinal with a fixation on … itself:

“One cardinal — who was hatched and raised in the busy area near my open carport — fell in love with my red car … or rather his reflection in the driver’s mirror of my red car,” Joan writes. “It would sit and look at itself, slobber regurgitated food all over the door (required frequent cleaning before an errand drive) and would bring bits of grass to offer its ‘beloved’ — I often found a grass-shred collection scattered by the side of the car. It obviously resented me taking the car out anywhere and would be waiting patiently for its return.”
In this photo, the cardinal is glaring at Joan, daring her to take its “beloved” away.
Your bird stories and pictures gratefully received at: jlundy@duluthnews.com.