Alpine birds

Avian life in Avon has been minimal.  Black-billed Magpies are seen everyday.  Sometimes I see a flock of House Sparrows or hear a Mountain Chickadee.  During my recent days off, I drove to Golden, on the western edge of metro Denver.  There were many reports of Rosy-finches coming to feeders in a residential area.
      Gray-crowned, and Brown-capped Rosy-finches are the 2 species in this flock.

     Rosy-finches are northern forest birds, often living above timberline in the high mountains.  In the winter they descend to lower elevations seeking food and shelter.  A set of feeders or conifers with many cones can be very attractive to a hungry flock of Rosy-finches.  This area of western Denver has hosted Rosy-finches in previous winters.  In 2015 all the friends and relatives came in one big flock, easily 50 - 60 birds, descending on the feeders at one home.  It was an amazing sight to watch these gregarious pink and brown birds fill up each platform feeder and spill out onto the ground.  All busy eating without fighting.

     Other birds came too:  Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Siskins, American Goldfinches, Cassin's Finches, House Finches, a variety of Juncos, a Downy Woodpecker, a Flicker, and Sparrows.  Song, a White-throated, White-crowneds, and an American Tree Sparrow.  A protected platform feeder was provided on the front porch to allow the sparrows to eat in peace, away from the flocks of Rosy-finches.  Later in the morning a small group of Red-wing Blackbirds to investigate the seeds.

 The Tree Sparrows are so pretty I could not resist photographing them too.  They move fast, no perfect pictures.