We begin with a short video of clips taken by the Stealthcam near the garden. 

In it are White-tailed deer, birds at the east feeding station, an Eastern Bluebird that flies to

the feeder and even an Eastern cottontail rabbit looking for food. This storm kept us very busy 

refilling feeders and checking on the water features. 

1-16-25 Garden in snow

A view of the garden on 1-16-25.
 

1-18-25 Hairy Woodpecker 1-18-25 Red-bellied Woodpecker

Suet feeders have been visited by Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers every day. Now, it's easy to see how the Red-bellied got its name!

1-18-25 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker immature female 1-18-25 White-breasted Nuthatch

The immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is often seen at the sap wells in the sugar maple (Acer saccharum). White-breasted Nuthatches, chickadees, and the other woodpeckers come in for sap, too. However, the sapsucker can be territorial and chases them off. Food is a precious commodity in winter.

1-18-25 Cooper's hawk immature

This young Cooper's Hawk was looking for an easy meal one day but took a rest on the railing instead.

1-18-25 Rusty Blackbird

1-19-25 Rusty Blackbird

Rusty Blackbirds have been back, foraging through the leaves even in the bubbler for any insect prey.

  1-19-25 Song Sparrow singing

You've probably noticed. Birdsong! Yes, this Song Sparrow and other birds are tuning up already for spring. As of this morning, we've gained 43 minutes of daylight since the Winter Solstice.

1-19-25 Eastern Bluebird female 1-21-25 Eastern Bluebird

1-24-25 Mourning Dove, Eastern Bluebirds and House Finch

Eastern Bluebirds have been very active at our feeders and water features! They often have trouble surviving snow cover and bitterly cold temperatures like we've had. But just a few days ago, insects were actively flying and I watched bluebirds, titmice and other species catching them for food. We'd much rather see the birds finding natural food! A Mourning Dove and House Finch joined the bluebirds at the heated bird bath.

1-20-25 Immature Red-tailed Hawk

A young Red-tailed Hawk has also been cruising through the woodland, at times just perching to rest. 

  1-21-25 Dark-eyed Junco with sand from stone

Before the storm, we had a day warm enough to reinforce the bubbler basin. The sandstone rock behind the small bubbler rock had been slowly breaking down, so we took it out and put it under the hydrangeas. The Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows have been seen taking grains of sand from it every day. Grit helps their digestion. Think of it as another form of recycling!

1-27-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler at sap well on Sugar Maple 1-22-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler   1-27-25 Yellow-rumped Warbler at the pond

This Yellow-rumped Warbler was after some of that delicious sugar maple sap and slipped in when the sapsucker was absent. It has a love of bathing and was seen in the bubbler and at the icy stream bed to drink.

1-27-25 Dark-eyed Junco foraging in leaves and snow

As the snow began to melt away, birds like this Dark-eyed Junco looked for seeds and insects.

1-26-25 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker immature female

That immature female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker stops in to drink at the bubbler after getting some suet from the feeder. 

1-29-25 Purple Finch female -1 of 2 1-29-25 Purple Finch female -1 of 2

On Wednesday, 1-29-25 two female Purple Finches were back at the west feeding station. One was seen again yesterday. 

  1-29-25 Northern Flicker bullied by European Starling 1-29-25 Northern Flicker bullied by European Starling

Now, one would think that an European Starling wouldn't have the guts to pick on a larger Northern Flicker, but it jumped right on its back to evict it from the basin! Those starlings are just plain stinkers sometimes! 

We're looking forward to a break from the cold as the rest of the ice mounds melt away. Birds are moving about now, so keep a lookout. I saw four Rock Pigeons a few days ago, heard Canada Geese fly over and we've had a Northern Mockingbird showing up at the window feeders. So, that brings our total for January to 41 species. It has been a busy month. 

Stay safe and well, it's still winter.