Evening Grosbeak

We were delighted to see this male Evening Grosbeak and his mate yesterday, when we called in at the Handfield's property, west of Millarville. They were sitting in a tree of tangled branches but also flew down to the feeder. I prefer a natural setting to a feeder, but I think my better shots of the female were taken when she was at the feeder. And now I need to go and get myself ready to go with a friend north west of the city to the Water Valley area. This is where Sandhill Cranes have been reported recently, as well as Great Gray Owls and even a Barred Owl (or was it a Boreal???) Keeping my fingers crossed for the Cranes in particular ... but you know how it works, LOL.

"The Evening Grosbeak is 18.5 cm long. The adult has a short black tail, black wings and a large pale bill. The adult male has a bright yellow forehead and body; its head is brown and there is a large white patch in the wing. The adult female is mainly olive-brown, greyer on the underparts and with white patches in the wings."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evening_Grosbeak