A Favorite Tree Bark

January 20, 2025

Out in the snow this morning enjoying the scenery of the season, the woods carpeted with white everywhere. It’s been this way for two weeks now, with nine inches of snow falling along with the temperatures plummeting during the two weeks, going well below what is normal for this wintery time of year. And then three inches of fluffy snow to fall upon the totally frozen styrofoam like snow, within just the past couple of days.

During my adventure into the snow I came upon one of my very favorite tree barks, Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis). A tree with a most unusual bark. I guess that is what appeals to me. So many tree barks look similar to each other but this one, I know what it is immediately with no hesitation. Randomly bumpy, with ridges that make me think of a topographic map.

And that’s in winter. Spring, summer and autumn there are so many other wonderful things to love as well, more than just the bark.

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Red Against New White Snow

January 19, 2025

A count of eight Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) while more snow was coating everything today. Crimson dots looking for hulled sunflower seeds as things became more and more covered with white.

Perhaps two inches of snow had accumulated by this evening. Winter carries on.

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A Regular At The Suet

January 18, 2025

A regular my the suet feeders. A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus). Found in eastern United States year round. It’s about the same size as a Robin, 9 to 10.5 inches long, with a wingspan of 13–16.5 inches.

Its name comes from a subtle, not very often seen reddish patch on its belly.

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The Solitary Towhee

January 17, 2025

Picture taken January 11, 2025

The Eastern Towhee’s (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) native range is eastern North America, from southeastern Canada south to Florida and west to eastern Texas.

A solitary bird that has been out looking for seeds to eat with the many birds that are showing up in my garden these snowy days. Just one though, with no Towhee buddies.

There is a white-eyed phase of the Eastern Towhee which can be found in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and South and North Carolina and a small bit of southern Virginia along the Atlantic coast.

What a shock that would be to see. Their dark red eyes are such a distinctive feature.

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Cardinals Gathering

January 16, 2025

A Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) yesterday, about to join in with friends enjoying the hulled sunflower seeds I’ve put out.

During the winter they’re gregarious birds. Both yesterday and today there were six Cardinals gathering the seeds along with many other species.

They’re birds that don’t migrate. Staying put in southeastern Canada, the eastern US from Maine to Minnesota to Texas, New Mexico, southern Arizona and southern California, south to Mexico, further to Belize and Guatemala.

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One Robin In The Cold

January 15, 2025

One Robin (Turdus migratorius) at the birdbath getting a drink this afternoon as the temperature is beginning to fall from the day’s high of 30º. It’s been mighty cold the past many days. Snow that fell more than a week ago still covers the ground as if it just fell, though by now it is rock-hard.

No other Robins are with this one. No Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) with it either. They often move about in groups eating berries.

The Robin certainly not a sign of spring. We’ve got lots more winter to come. Good thing. I’m certainly not ready for spring yet!

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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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