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!