I was standing in my breakfast room, taking a picture of this red bellied woodpecker….

….when this guy showed up. He’s a male evening grosbeak.

According to my Michigan bird book they aren’t supposed to be around here. They live in the northern lower peninsula and the UP of Michigan. But last winter at one of our local bird seed shops there was talk that people around here had seen them.

I’ve only seen one, last winter, just one, and just one visit. But today our initial visitor came back later in the day along with some of his friends!

First I saw two of them on the railing. And then I realized there were three, then four males, on the railing, in the trees…

…and on the feeder. Plus one of the birds on the feeder was a female! (over on the left above)

It was so cool. I’m thrilled that I got to see them, and even more thrilled that I got some shots.

I’ve been smiling all day.