Snow Bunting

I finally figured out the species of the little winter birds that flutter about in huge flocks: Snow Bunting. 

 

One bird was trapped in my shop so I was able to get a closer look. It was a male as pictured above - very crisp black and white.  The males fly to the Arctic where they select and then defend a breeding spot.  The females follow three to six weeks later. The plumage of the Snow Bunting changes when they are breeding. Non-breeding males and females have more grey and brown feathers among the black and white feathers, and apparently the change in colour isn't from growing new feathers but from wearing down the coloured feathers by rubbing in the snow to reveal the crisp white and black plumage underneath (especially the males). Appropriately, a flock of Snow Buntings is often called a drift.

Brie and Remy have enjoyed watching these birds from the window as they land in the driveway for short spurts of time. 

   

Brie has run outside a few times when Teaka and I come back from our morning walk.  But it is dark at that time and we still have night temperatures well below freezing and lots of snow so she does not stay out long nor wanders very far away.  Remy has not had the courage to step out yet. This is March 30th:

Both Brie and Remy have also been busy working on their fly catching skills, see video for that.