Common Redpoll on the wire

In the early afternoon on 31 January 2016, I decided to go for a drive east of the city. The weather was getting sunny and I needed to get out for a while. Recently, I have had to replace several kitchen appliances and can't believe the hassle this has created. I automatically expect something new to work perfectly and forget that this isn't necessarily going to happen.

It started when I replaced my dead kettle just before Christmas. Had to return the new one later, as the power lever wasn't working. When I later Googled this brand, I found so many reviews complaining about the very same problem. I had carefully bought a 'good' quality one, thinking it would last for a few years. Next came a toaster - so far, it is working fine. After that, I decided I had better replace my microwave that was making a loud, very unhealthy noise. Well, I couldn't find a store that delivers! I did find a microwave that I liked, but gave up, as there was no way I could even lift it. Giving up, I started walking away, when I suddenly decided to look at dishwashers - I've been without a working machine for about 12 of the last 18 years and had been meaning to treat myself to one for the last few years, to give my painful hands and back a break from standing at the kitchen sink. The guy I dealt with said that the microwave could be delivered at the same time, which sounded like the perfect solution. However, that didn't happen and the store guy very kindly delivered it himself to my home! I was so grateful! Oh, and my dishwasher that was delivered ended up sitting in the middle of my small kitchen, having to wait a few days to be installed. Apparently, the pipes in the basement are "unusual" and needed other parts and tools - the guy said that, in all the years he has been working, he's never come across pipes like mine, ha.

A large flock of these gorgeous little Common Redpolls took my mind off the shoddy quality of new gadgets : ) I don't particularly like taking bird-on-wire shots, but better than nothing. Usually when I see Redpolls, they are females, like this little one.

"As energetic as their electric zapping call notes would suggest, Common Redpolls are active foragers that travel in busy flocks. Look for them feeding on catkins in birch trees or visiting feeders in winter. These small finches of the arctic tundra and boreal forest migrate erratically, and they occasionally show up in large numbers as far south as the central U.S. During such irruption years, redpolls often congregate at bird feeders (particularly thistle or nyjer seed), allowing delightfully close looks."

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Redpoll/id

I also checked on the Short-eared Owls when I was driving out east. Could only find a distant one, tucked away in the trees. Bumped into a friend out there, who said he had just been to see a Northern Hawk Owl because he had more or less given up on the Short-eared Owls. Said the last few times he had been there, the owls weren't around much. I'm hoping that the number of cars and birders/photographers didn't push the owls to move on.