One does not get to see Snow Buntings every year. Indeed, when you do see them around the Lake, it is likely to be for a short time in the fall. Even then, they are seen from a distance.
Snow Buntings breed in the high Arctic and seem to spend the winter well to the south of us. That they pass through our region now and then is a delight. The last time I saw them was four years ago. Curiously at that time, they were within metres of where they appeared in the last two days.
Snow Buntings forage on the surface for grass and seeds.
They do not forage alone, but in groups.
They foray in flocks of a dozen or more and frequently fly to check adjacent locations.
Not only do they forage in groups, they fly in groups.
Here they go again. We may see them again in a few years.
Thanks for views of these elegant small birds, not often seen by me!
Beautiful photos of a species that’s hard to photograph.
Woody — hard to photograph — you have that right. Their foraging technique enables them to see you approaching from a long way off.
Just beautiful! As close as I will get. Thank you so much.
Alistair, this posting brought me much pleasure, even joy. Thanks so much for all you do.
Thanks for the pictures of a bird that I have never seen! They are so pretty!
Lovely pictures! I see them frequently just north east of Calgary, but they never stay still long enough for a decent picture!
What gorgeous little birds, Alistair. I have never seen these before, thank you for sharing these beautiful shots.
I echo Trevor Goward: These photos brought me “pleasure, even joy”, with memories of these magical little Snow Buntings. A luxury hotel and glitzy condos now stand where the old “Seaplane Base” was located along the waterfront in Kelowna long ago. That was where I could count on seeing the buntings near the end of October, or the first days of November.
And just as with your buntings, Alistair, the delightful bit (gives me shivers) is that I saw my buntings within metres of the same place, almost every year.