Chirps and Cheeps

A eurasian bird, a stunning male Brambling, has been frequenting the feeders of some folks in Medina County, Ohio.  Six of us decided to take the drive down with hopes of adding this bird to our life lists.

The bird did not disappoint!  Shortly after we arrived, the Brambling was seen foraging under one of the feeders along with quite a nice array of other species. This black, white, and orange beauty seemed oblivious to the stir he's been causing as he casually fed under the feeders.  He disappeared a time or two but returned each time - sometimes to the lilac bush and other times to feed on the ground. At one point, he even came up onto the lawn fairly close and right across from us giving us all amazing views.

The Brambling is a common finch in Europe and Asia. It often strays across the Bering Sea into Alaska and sometimes, in autumn, will continue into the lower United States. This particular Brambling was only Ohio's second record.

Our group took care not to walk on the homeowner's lawn, however we were dismayed to see that not everyone was adhering to that request.  Hopefully, no harm was done and the homeowner is still allowing people to view from the road.

Other interesting birds at this active feeder were: Rusty Blackbird, Purple Finch, White-throated Sparrow, a couple of Fox Sparrows, and a leucistic Dark-eyed Junco. What a treat and what a joyful ride home!