Hardly Any Squirrels

January 14, 2025

After more than a week with an abundance of snow on the ground thanks to frigid temperatures, with many, many birds enjoying what I’ve put out for them, I have to stop and think at least for a very brief moment, “Where are the squirrels?”

Eastern Gray Squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) stash away many nuts in autumn, in anticipation of winter. Acorns, beechnuts, butternuts, hickory nuts and more put away for extremely cold days. Eating extras as the days go by to add a layer of fat to help protect against the cold.

When the cold weather arrives the squirrels will spend very cold days in their dens – a tree cavity or a nest made of leaves high up in a tree. Several squirrels may share a den for warmth in those cold months. Only venturing out to their stash when hunger strikes.

So that’s where the squirrels are. They staying home all snug and warm. Mighty smart.

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One Of Many

January 13, 2025

A Northern Flicker (yellow shafted phase)(Colaptes auratus). One of an incredible number of birds that have been around for the peanuts, hulled sunflower seeds, and suet during this weeklong snow event. My count of species that have been in attendance is now at eighteen.

Flickers are mainly insect eaters, but during the winter they will also eat small fruits and seeds. When there is no snow on the ground they’ll eat ants and their larvae that they find underground as they pound at the soil, much like other woodpeckers go after insects in trees.

Such fun to have this snow lasting so long.

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Patiently Waiting

January 12, 2025

Patiently waiting for spring. Buds of Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) covered with icy snow.

Flowering Dogwood flowers are actually not what you think. What are thought to be petals are not petals at all, but are bracts. The flowers are yellow, very small, clustered at the center, surrounded by the bracts.

In late summer into autumn, buds are formed for the following spring’s flowers. That’s what you’re seeing in this photo, buds that were formed perhaps five months ago.

Patiently waiting for spring.

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Warm Colors Of Sunrise

January 11, 2025

The ideal time to see newly fallen snow. Sunrise. Snow presents the landscape as a black and white drawing. Sunrise adds brush strokes, painting it with soft warm colors.

Adding colors like no others, any time of day. Subtle glows, there but for a few quick moments.

My favorite time to see newly fallen snow.

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Seventeen Species And Counting

A female Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) at the old garden gate, watching all the action.

Five days with nine inches of snow on the ground. Temperatures so cold that there is no melting. And now as I sit here writing this post there is another snow event happening.

During these snowy days I’ve upped the amount of things I’m putting out for the birds. For the past several months I’ve only had one suet feeder out on a post. Nothing more. But the morning of the first snowfall I put out a second feeder with suet in it, and I scattered hulled sunflower seeds and whole peanuts.

What a change in my bird community. I’ve counted 17 bird species. No unusual species. It’s just unusual to see them all at once, nearly all the time.

Pure pleasure for me.

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An Independent Sort

All sorts of hubbub going on with many birds gathering around, going to the suet feeders and the hulled sunflower seeds. The snow triggered a panic it seemed. Not this Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) though. Dressed in its winter outfit the little critter was calmly going from seedhead to seedhead of Gray-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) enjoying the seeds left in the garden just for an adventuresome bird.

I knew that someone would appreciate those seedheads.

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Bluebirds At Noon Today

Many Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) gathered at the birdbath today.

They live here in Virginia all year. During the summer they eat insects and there is plenty for them to eat here in the winter too, including the fruit of Eastern Red Cedar, Bayberry, Flowering Dogwood, Hawthorn, Holly, Mistletoe, Pokeberry, Serviceberry, Sumac, Winterberry, Wild Grape, Hackberry, Poison Ivy and Multiflora Rose, to name just a few of the berries and fruit they’ll eat.

They’re a delight to see no matter what the season. I’m so glad they enjoy my birdbaths.

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A Ristra And Snow

Next to the front door of my cabin, a ristra.

Ristras are seen in New Mexico and southern Arizona. Strings of chiles hanging out to dry, for cooking and eating. Or simply to be used as a decoration. That’s the case here. A beautiful decoration representing a favorite part of this country, said to bring good health and good luck.

Very special to me.

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Overnight Snow

Pure pleasure to wake up this morning to have 7.5 inches of snow and sleet covering everything as if someone had poured Marshmallow Fluff over the entire landscape.

It was a busy day for the birds. I put out an extra suet feeder and loads of hulled sunflower seeds. Surely it was because of the extreme cold, word spread quickly and there seemed to be a party atmosphere.

One of the birds that came mid-afternoon was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) that enjoyed the warmish water of the birdbath. I was pleased to see it since they are not regulars at bird feeders. It is said they sometimes come for suet but I don’t recall ever seeing one at my suet.

So glad it liked the birdbath.

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Not The Usual Pose

An Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) enjoying the warmth of a birdbath. I captured this shot yesterday. The birdbath is definitely not the usual place that I see Phoebes.

This picture is from back in November and illustrates how I usually see Phoebes. Sitting on a bare branch, or the top of a post, just waiting for an insect to fly by. An insect that would become some of the Phoebe’s sustenance for the day.

There certainly weren’t any insects flying around yesterday. The high temperature for the day was 32º. During these mighty cold days Phoebes will find small fruits and berries to eat until it gets warmer and their usual meals are on the wing again.

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