Feb 22, 2011 12-1pm sunny 34` Bold Point, East providence, RI

I spotted the Redpolls almost instantly. They were flitting about on the other side of the weedy, industrial field which overlooks the tip of Narragansett Bay then they landed and I lost sight of them. I noted down the regular birds as we walked towards them: a Mockingbird there, some Mallards and Canada Geese over there, Red-breasted Mergansers, Greater Scaup, Hooded Mergansers, American Wigeons, a Gadwall and some Mute Swans on the water and the general assortment of gulls.

There they were again; chittering madly, reminding me of the twittering of Budgies which are commonly reported in display boxes at PetCo. Streaked backs, red caps and black chins, the males had a pinkish tinge on their pale slightly streaked breasts. They were unmistakably Common Redpolls! We followed them back and forth, photographing wildly. They were incredibly active barely staying thirty seconds on any one perch. sometimes they would land only ten feet from us though they preferred to keep their distance. They were presumably feeding off of the seeds of the bushes and Goldenrod. Though I have been searching for Common Redpolls for years today was the first day I have ever had any luck!

Hopefully we will see them here more often as they are known to occur at Bold Point. I am though, unaware at the moment how just how frequently they are seen.