Huerfano County Update: African Collared-Dove, Common Redpoll

[Polly Neldner]

Hello All,

Due to our trip to Madagascar we did not put out feeders until the middle of November. We, therefore, were not expecting to see anything unusual. The cold snap and fresh snow of the past few days did finally bring around numerous Dark-eyed Juncos, American Goldfinch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Song Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, Spotted Towhee...all the usual suspects and a pair of Cassin's Finch.

This morning we awoke to a couple of surprises:

In a flock of around 15 Eurasian Collared-Dove was one lone African Collared-Dove, yard bird # 163!

Mixed in with all the smaller birds was a lone Common Redpoll!

The only other Common Redpoll we have seen in Huerfano County visited our yard over 3 years ago!

Paul and Polly Wren Neldner

La Veta, CO