Grey: In Canada, the spelling should be Grey-crowned Rosy Finch. It is named for the colour, grey, not a person named Gray.
This was an unusual observation: A flock of about six dozen Gray-crowned Rosy Finches flew around Kokanee Creek Provincial Park. Ebird.org records no earlier observations of these birds at the Park and says that the last time they were observed anywhere along the West Arm of Kootenay Lake was four years ago in Nelson.
Gray-crowned Rosy Finches summer to our north and winter to our south, but they are rarely seen passing through the area around the Lake. It was fun to see them in the Park two days ago.
This is a portion of the flock of Gray-crowned Rosy Finches.
The birds did not alight, so the only pictures managed were of them flying.
These finches have a delightful flying style called flap-bounding flight. (See, flap-bounding redpolls.) Here three birds are bounding, that is, they are coasting with folded wings.
Great sighting! Send a few to my neighbourhood please.
Carlo, I will mention your name the next time I chat with them.
What a wonderful capture, Alistair! So providential of you and them meeting at the Park! Thanks for sharing
Excellent pictures Alistair
Thank you again. The only other birds I have seen in flight with wings folded back are the Gannets as they dive into the North Sea.