January 15, 2007
Finch feeding frenzy
After watching Al Gore's thought-provoking docufilm on global warming, Sunday morning on the Orsay campus felt more like March than mid-January, with woodpeckers drumming and even some blossom on the trees. The bright, sunny conditions also allowed me to put the new camera through its paces. A berry-laden tree was attracting much attention from a mixed group of Bullfinch (Bouvreuil pivoine), Chaffinch (Pinson des arbres), Greenfinch (Verdier) and Goldfinch (Chardonneret elegant). I managed a few shots of Bullfinches and Greenfinches gorging themselves. The different feeding styles of the two species was very apparent - the Bullfinches would typically crush a whole berry between their powerful mandibles...
... while the Greenfinches used their sharper bills to peck their way in.
Blackbirds (Merle noir) and Redwings (Grive mauvis) were making short work of the ivy berries.
Last year's young Moorhens (Poule d'eau) are in a plumage somewhat reminiscent of their crake cousins.
