Very early this morning we had a brief thunderstorm and some much-needed rain. Just after I went out to feed the birds, this baby Pine Siskin came in to the feeder for his breakfast looking wet, disheveled and forlorn. The sunflower seeds cheered him up. I think it was his first rain.
Montana Outdoors 
so interesting to consider a birds “first rain”. so cute all the same.
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Comment by Tammie — August 29, 2011 @ 6:44 pm
He was so tiny, and we haven’t had rain in over a month. He could fly though.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:34 pm
Oh, poor little wet fluffy guy. Good thing he had a place of refuge and nourishment to land in. They do look pathetic when they’re all disheveled.
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Comment by Candace — August 29, 2011 @ 6:45 pm
I place the sunflower seeds on top of our woodpile, but under its shelter, so those who feed there are sheltered. When I first saw him he looked very wet, but improved after flitting around the seeds.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:36 pm
Wonderful! A baby bird’s first rain. I love it. Great photos!
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Comment by Teresa Evangeline — August 29, 2011 @ 6:46 pm
One endearing characteristics of the Siskins is that they are very tame. I used my macro lens.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
Oh, he is so cute in a pathetic disheveled, kind of way. 🙂
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Comment by kateri — August 29, 2011 @ 6:56 pm
Yes, I don’t think he has attained control of his feathered condition yet and the rain certainly didn’t help.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
I feel sorry for the poor little thing. He does look a little better in the second photo though.
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Comment by Ratty — August 29, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
I felt sorry for him too, but the food was what he needed. It wasn’t a very cold day.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
The detail on those feathers is incredible. Sweet photos!!
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Comment by kcjewel — August 29, 2011 @ 8:27 pm
I assume that sooner or later he will get control of those feathers, hopefully before it gets cold out. He let me get very close without being alarmed.
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:42 pm
Such sweet photos! Siskins are one of my favorite birds. It’s been awhile but I sure do enjoy your blog Terry! Maureen
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Comment by Maureen — August 29, 2011 @ 8:47 pm
I enjoy them too, and we have some here most of the year. I have to be careful to not step on them sometimes.
It’s good to hear from you, Maureen!
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Comment by montucky — August 29, 2011 @ 9:44 pm
Aww, such a cute little thing.
Nice detail in the feathers.
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Comment by thedailyclick — August 30, 2011 @ 6:25 am
I fell in love with him upon first sight and luckily he waited for me to go get my camera.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:38 pm
Marvelous images! Superb detail and light. Most birds do look quite disheveled when wet. (Thanks for pointing me in the right direction on the flower ID. My unknown bunchberry look-alike is its cousin: Swedish Cornel (Cornus suecica). Google search helped me find it using Cornus canadensis Sweden as the search terms!)
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Comment by Victoria — August 30, 2011 @ 6:31 am
I’m glad to see the ID of the flower and to know that ours has a relative in Sweden!
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
Rats… I goofed on the HTML on my above comment… “Sweden as the search terms!)” was not supposed to be italic and “Cornus canadensis Sweden” was supposed to be underlined (to indicate that those were the search terms). Ah well… you will know what I mean, I’m guessing!
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Comment by Victoria — August 30, 2011 @ 6:33 am
I do.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:39 pm
I guess a blow-dryer won’t help.
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Comment by knightofswords — August 30, 2011 @ 8:49 am
Probably not, but you never know: he might just have sat still for that.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:40 pm
Oh my…so sweet!
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Comment by Roberta — August 30, 2011 @ 10:25 am
They are very sweet little birds, and this one was especially.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:41 pm
Good thing you had some nibbles for the little guy! What a cutie!
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Comment by Barbara — August 30, 2011 @ 10:59 am
I keep seeds out for the birds all year, but more in the winter months when they need them the most.
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:42 pm
cute; we would love some rain here too. we got some on friday and it seemed like everyone was throwing a party!
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Comment by silken — August 30, 2011 @ 5:14 pm
I love rain all of the time except the freezing rains we get sometimes in early winter, and I dislike those only because they create very difficult driving conditions. We are hoping for rain tomorrow and I have adjusted my hiking destination accordingly. It will be wonderful!
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Comment by montucky — August 30, 2011 @ 9:43 pm
How cute. Very lovely photos,
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Comment by sartenada — September 3, 2011 @ 2:28 am
He certainly was a cute little fellow.
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Comment by montucky — September 3, 2011 @ 8:24 am
How precious and what excellent captures! How in the world did you get such crisp, detailed close-up shots when it appears it is dark out? And the birdie didn’t fly away. I like bird photos like these. 🙂
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Comment by Anna — September 3, 2011 @ 10:27 am
It was dark, but the little guy was so friendly I was able to use my close-up lens and on-camera flash.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 9:24 pm
That’s a lovely portrait, disheveled or not.
This is an interesting time of year, with all the young birds flocking around with their confusing plumage. We enjoyed swarms of young Mountain Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers this weekend.
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Comment by Kim — September 5, 2011 @ 8:35 pm
It really is interesting. I think the bluebirds have already left around here, but we are flooded with robins.
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Comment by montucky — September 5, 2011 @ 9:26 pm
Oh, my! How I’m laughing at this one. I so miss the birds. As our drought has gone on and on, they’ve slowing disappeared. Those that remain can look pretty ragged, and poorly nourished. Nice to see the new life in your part of the world!
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Comment by shoreacres — September 6, 2011 @ 7:20 am
It has been very dry here too for several months now. I keep out both food and plenty of water for the birds and am rewarded by being able to watch their coming and goings. Lately, baths have been very popular.
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Comment by montucky — September 6, 2011 @ 6:58 pm
Awww Good thing you was there to take care of the lil one! =)
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Comment by Tricia — September 15, 2011 @ 9:47 am
We keep food out for the birds, and fresh water for their drinking and bathing and we feel we are richly rewarded for our effort. They are so much fun to observe!
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Comment by montucky — September 15, 2011 @ 11:14 pm