Ah, winter. The time to curl up by the fire with a good book and a cuppa.
But...what if you're a squirrel or a bird?
This squirrel defended its white oak burl and stayed snug. The White-throated Sparrow found a cozy spot within a small pile of branches. The Brown Creeper may have sheltered overnight on the trunk of a shag-bark hickory, under bark that fanned out from the tree. Can you find it working along the trunk of the black oak?
1-12-20 Find the White-throated Sparrow in cover
1-12-20 Find the Brown Creeper
A flock of 13 Red-winged Blackbirds have been seen a couple different days. The Yellow-rumped Warbler has been in as well, looking for food in the same places.
1-13-20 Red-winged Blackbirds
1-16-20 Yellow-rumped Warbler with larvae from leaf litter
We set up a replacement camera for the Bubbler area. The deer were sure curious about it that night!
1-16-20 Deer curious about new bubbler cam
This White-throated Sparrow was eating seed from the Cliff Goldenrod (Solidago drummondii) while the Red-bellied Woodpecker was after the bark butter. It sure is a popular protein and fat source on cold winter days for a number of species, including the Northern Cardinals.
1-17-20 White-throated Sparrow
1-17-20 Red-bellied Woodpecker
1-17-20 Northern Cardinal
1-17-20 Northern Cardinal female
We have seen this pair of Brown Creepers every day of the new year. They move so quickly, this was a lucky shot.
1-17-20 Two Brown Creepers
This composite photo shows a pair of Downy Woodpeckers with the female (on left) and a male. The male has the red patch on the back of the head.
1-18-20 Downy Woodpeckers, female left, male right
One of the Barred Owls took a dip in the pond to catch a fish, just hours before the pond iced over. It shook itself off, then moved on.
1-19-20 Barred Owl at pond
Two female Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been coming in, the first one is an adult and the second is an immature. The young one spent quite a bit of time at the sugar maple (Acer saccharum). The bird had hammered away at the bark while warming itself in the sun. It was a cold day, but apparently just warm enough for the sweet sap to run and provide some nourishment.
1-17-20 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker female
1-20-20 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, immature female
1-20-20 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Here, one of the creepers came in as the female Downy Woodpecker was getting bark butter. This image is a good size comparison.
1-20-20- Brown Creeper and Downy Woodpecker female
And, this fluffed-up creeper was caught cat-napping! Ever so brief was the nap, about a minute, but apparently just enough on a cold winter afternoon.
1-20-20 Brown Creeper taking a catnap
1-20-20 Brown Creeper awake
Stay snug!