There are days when I persuade myself to go out for a walk when I wonder what on earth I was thinking when I get out there. When the wind literally stings tears from your eyes, you begin to question just how essential this experience was. Still, the birds and animals don’t get a choice. They have to hunt for food regardless of the weather and in fact may need even more calories to keep warm. So I did see many of the usual winter suspects on my ramble through the woods.
More Songbirds on the Sumac
I wrote an article recently about birds that eat Staghorn Sumac drupes. I saw more than seven American Robins on the Sumac today and several European Starlings.
Seed-Eaters Enjoy the Feeders
Birds that can eat the sunflower seeds, millet and cracked corn provided on the feeders were busy loading up.
Two American Tree Sparrows took turns at the tray.
This male Cardinal never went far from his lady.
She preferred the seeds on the logs to the ones on the tray feeder.
A Mourning Dove gave me the baby-blue eye.
A Junco loaded up on small seeds.
This Blue Jay took about a dozen sunflower seeds away in one trip before moving off to keep an eye on me.
Predators Soar In the Icy Wind
And over all the others was soaring a Red Tailed Hawk. It actually used the strong wind to stay still in mid-air for several seconds before continuing its long sweep out over the marsh.
I saw enough to make me willing to brave it all again another day. In the meantime, though, a cup of peppermint tea and a mohair blanket were my next welcome sights.
Related Reading
- What Winter Sparrow Has a Two-toned Bill?
- Do Birds Eat Staghorn Sumac Seeds?
- Why Are All These Creatures Supposedly Sad?
Join In
Do you have a favourite winter walk? Have you seen any winter visitors recently? Please share your sighting with a comment.