Evening Grosbeak -life list bird

Evening Grosbeaks are not seen in this part of Virginia generally but due to the bird “irruption” of 2020/21 thousands have come further south in search of food.  My friend Michele went with me to Pony Pasture to search them out and wouldn’t you know after almost 3 hours or so of hiking throughout the park searching, as we were headed down the path to our cars we found them.  I thought I only had a picture of the female but then when I looked closer on the computer I found I had both male and females.  They are really pretty in person and its to bad they don’t spend their winters here more often.

Pony Pasture Park, Richmond VA USA

Olympus OMD-EM1X with 100-400mm + MC-14

Purple Finch

Funny story about the Female Purple Finch in the first photo. I thought I had taken a “lifer” shot when we came upon her at Pony Pasture.  A fellow bird photographer we met that day & now friend Megan pointed her out to me and explained in detail how to know it was a Purple Finch and not a House Finch.  That night while looking through photos I had taken the day before I found a few that matched her female description (second and third) and male description (fourth photo) and so after texting screen shots to her it was confirmed that I had actual gotten my life shot of the Purple Finch the day before, and I know I would not have thought to think it wasn’t a house finch without Megan’s help so thanks Megan!

Purple Finch are another bird not seen in this part of Virginia very often but due to the bird “irruption” of 2020/21 flocks have come further south in search of food. Since the first sighting of the pair in our yard I have seen them and a few more several times with hopes of getting a few more shots.