Photo Finish Friday -- A Guest at the Feeder

Yesterday we were treated to a visit from a Gray-Crowned Rosy Finch.
He, or she, went to the water dish first. It was frozen over, but our guest pecked valiantly at the ice.

As we watched I noticed it was eating, not trying to get a drink. It was cleaning up the fallen sunflower seeds from the feeder above.

It went away for a bit, but then came back and went to the feeder. It stayed and ate, and ate, and ate. Then it flew away.

After a while it came back and ate. It did this repeatedly throughout the day. It was a calm bird, or perhaps just very hungry, as it didn't flinch when photographed.

These birds are commonly found in the mountains. I'd seen one years ago near the top of a mountain in Jasper on the Cavell Meadows hike.
I didn't expect to see one at the kitchen feeder, but I am tickled that it happened.

Go on. Click to enlarge me. I want you to.

In The Trees

A pine siskin waits in the clothes tree before going to the feeder.
An adult male goldfinch checks out his world.

A young evening grosbeak has a look around.

And a young white-throated sparrow has found some good cover.

We've been blessed with plenty of birds this year. It's down a bit from some years, but at least we can keep them fed without being run off our feet.
It's a pleasure to have them around to liven up the place and the young ones are usually okay with posing for a picture.