Rondeau Ric

 Snuggle up.

A rare visitor from  the south-central Great Plains. Seen near Blenheim, Ontario, Canada, January 12, 2024. Zonotrichia querula Unless you are ready to brave a trip to far northern Canada in the summer, you'll need to catch the Harris's Sparrow during migration or on the wintering grounds.     North America's largest sparrow (except for towhees) and the only songbird that breeds in Canada and nowhere else in the world. 

f  A dull grey day, a grey and white bird straddling the stream. Dark eyed junco, Rondeau Provincial Park, January 11,, 2025.

Nice sunny day but far too cold to be trying to get decent images. Therefore, back to the archives for this  hummingbird from Ecuador, March 2016 near Tandayapa, about 37 miles (60km)   outside of Quito   Colibri coruscans  3.5 cm (5.3 in) .  The Sparkling Violetear is “sparkling” green with conspicuous violet sides of the cheeks and ear tufts. It has a blue patch on the belly. The undertail coverts are green with feathers fringed with whitish. The tail is green and square with a dark terminal band.  The bill is black and gently decurved.

  March 19, 2016,  flame faced tanager, Ecuador. Near Quito.

 Some colour on a cold winters day. Ecuador March 16, 2016

Everyone complains about the cost of living but no one wants to give it up.