Hunkered down

A winter storm came through yesterday. The snow fell first like powdered sugar, then like corn flakes, then back to powdered sugar. Maybe six inches all told? It's hard to tell today, as the temps rose far enough to cause some melting. Today it is also extremely windy. A good day to stay inside.

Let it snow!

And watch birds. These pix are from yesterday. Between the window and the falling snow, they are not the best. They are symbolic of how my feathered friends may ignore my offerings when the weather is fair, but not so much when it turns for the worse.

Nuthatch

Junco

Downy woodpecker

Bluebirds

Mr. and Ms. Cardinal

(Sometimes I think about getting a "real" camera instead of using my phone.)

Before the snowfall, I did manage to get the gutters cleared. A bit of yard cleanup occurred as well, on what I considered a perfect wintery day - cold and overcast, but not breezy. So many people complain about this kind of weather - why don't they just move? - but I love the changing and challenging seasons.

Power up

I was lying on the couch when I heard something beep, something chime, and something roar. Since I had a cat in my lap, I didn't want to get up to check on the noises. It turns out there was a brief power outage. It lasted less than a minute, but the whole house generator I had installed this past summer kicked in like it is supposed to. (That was the roar; the other noises were devices coming back online.) So at least it works.

The weather has been barely tolerable for dog walking, which means it brings the backyard birds. These photos aren't very good, but they document some of the most recent visitors.

Junco

Robin

House finch

Nuthatch

The appearance of this guy was a bit confusing at first, as I thought it was my cat Finn... but wasn't Finn inside? Yes, he was. I think this feline belongs to some new neighbors that live about a block away. Finn isn't very interested in birds, but this one was in stalking mode.

Not Finn

I'm still working on my outdoor xmas decor. The flamingo chorus is up, with a solar-powered spotlight this year. The fall wreath on the front porch is now an evergreen one (plastic - it will outlast us all). All that is left is a net of lights for the trellis.

The dearth of birds

I shouldn't say there is a dearth of birds, but most of those at the feeders are sparrows, sparrows, and more sparrows. And they eat almost everything: sunflower seeds, peanut splits, niger, even the suet which is designated by the label as for woodpeckers. It's like a feeding frenzy out there.

The only thing they leave alone are the whole peanuts, which the blue jays ravage. After years of corvid shortage caused by the West Nile virus, I am happy to see the jays. Sparrows, not so much.

The only winter birds I have seen so far are a few juncos. No titmice, no chickadees, no nothing. Did they decide not to come this far south? Maybe that means the winter will be mild. Or did they pass by and just keep on going? Is that what happened to the finches? What do they know that we don't?

Before I retired, I worked from home as much as I could get away with. I'd sit in the West Wing and rest my eyes by gazing out the windows. Consequently, I was more aware of what species were visiting. I no longer spend as much time in that room, but when I do, I rarely see something like this guy.

Even when the feeders are birdless, I enjoy the big bluestem behind them. It is especially pretty this year.

What's outside your windows these days?