American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), male, family Fringillidae, order Passeriformes, Eastern US

The Eurasian Siskin (Spinus spinus) seems rather elusive in Karuizawa. How my heart leapt when a flock of these exceptionally small silhouettes swooped onto the tree right before me beneath the cold sky, and I caught sight of their lemon-yellow forms through my binoculars. They flew off somewhere almost immediately, and this brief moment was my only encounter with them this winter.

軽井沢では出会う機会のあまり多くない印象のマヒワ。 寒空の下、ひときわ小さなシルエットの鳥の群れが、わーっと眼の前の木に飛んできて、双眼鏡でレモンイエローの姿を捉えたときの心躍ることよ。 すぐにどこかへ飛んでいってしまい、この冬出会えたのは、この一瞬だけ。