Introduction

I came so close to not noticing the first Common Redpolls I ever saw at Franklin Lake in West Long Branch on February 18, 2013. I was looking into the sun and these two small birds looked like a couple of sparrows. Fortunately, I got myself into a better angle and saw that these were birds I'd never seen before.

First Encounter

As usual, I'd walked clockwise around Franklin Lake. I was heading back to my car along the northern side of the lake in the park next to Lakeview Ave. It was midafternoon so looking at the trees along the edge of the lake meant looking almost into the sun. I saw the two small birds, and was able to get these photographs:

Subsequent Sightings

Two weeks later, I was back at the lake and there they were again. I'd not seen them on another visit in between. They were in the same set of trees as before but they were further west. Again I was able to get good pictures:

I've made many more visits to Franklin Lake since and I always make a point of looking at those trees, but so far there's been no sign. I've seen it suggested that these winter visitors tend to come every other year, so I'm hoping for better luck this winter.

Meanwhile, here are other shots I took of these birds on the two occasions that I saw them: