-
White-throated Sparrow In The Snow
December 9, 2025 A White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) trying to stay warm in the garden. Yesterday 4 inches of snow fell on my cabin. More than I had expected, and now, 7 inches of snow in less than a week. Hmmm. What kind of winter are we going to have? Could be fun! _______________________ If…
-
Juvenile, Female, And Male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
December 8, 2025 Three slightly different looks of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius). This one, a juvenile, looking very speckled. They have this look until their first major molt by early spring. A female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Notice that she has a brilliant red cap but her throat is white. And the male sitting at the…
-
Noisy Little One
December 7, 2025 A fiesty little one. Noisy too. Chattering away, particularly if you’re in a spot where it would rather you not be. A year round resident that makes a nest in various funny spots. Spots like a basket, a graniteware coffee pot, and when they can’t find anything else they’ll actually build a…
-
Emerald Ash Borer
December 6, 2025 Emerald Ash Borers (Agrilus planipennis) seem to be everywhere destroying our Ash trees (Fraxinus). These EABorers were first detected in 2002 in Southeast Michigan. Since then, they have been found in over 30 states in the US and in 5 Canadian provinces. Notice the lighter sections of bark, indicating injury. This is…
-
Holding A Nut With Its Feet
December 5, 2025 A Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) working on a nut, holding it with its feet as the nut is hammered with its beak. I’m pleased to say that snow did happen overnight. Three inches of the beautiful white stuff! _______________________ If you would like to receive my daily blog posts by email, sign…
-
Winterizing For The Birds
December 4, 2025 At the birdbath, three, but many more are around eating the berries. A Robin (Turdus migratorius), and two Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum), enjoying water in liquid form during some mighty cold weather. Today I decided I’d better get out in the cold to winterize the birdbath. Remove the dripper and empty the…
-
Bluebirds Checking Out A Roosting Spot
December 3, 2025 This morning there were several Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) near the vegetable garden, checking out one of the birdhouses as a spot for roosting during the winter. A surprising number of Bluebirds will roost together in one birdhouse. Six or eight are commonly seen keeping each other warm. There are times, even…
-
Eastern Hemlock
December 1, 2025 Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). A tree that has a long life, some living 500 years and beyond. The oldest known Eastern Hemlock which is at least 554 years old, is in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. However the North American Eastern Hemlock in much of its range is endangered by infestation by the invasive Hemlock…