Muddy, that is interesting about the birds!!

I have a dang squirrel eating my woodshed. No joke. I've scared him off several times, but every morning there are more chunks of my woodshed gone.

Maybe it's trying to get inside so it can stay warm?

It's snowing - yuk, I thought this was supposed to start on Friday - so I'm starting to get ready for "snow feeding": patio table and lounge chair are covered with boards to keep the areas underneath dry for ground feeders. Birdbaths are full, hanging feeders are topped off. Now to make a nice suet-peanut butter-mealworm mix...

You are so good to your feathered visitors, Muddy!

Snowing here, too...

So I noticed that the birds at the feeders were quite skittish this morning and I was wondering if a Hawk might be around. A bit later I looked out and there it was on top of the feeder. This was the best I could get shooting thru the window, when I tried to sneak the door open to get a better shot it sailed off into the woods.


So while I was watching it hopped down off it's perch to chase a squirrel that scurried into the holly hedge. Then a hole group of them ran up the telephone pole and sent tail signals. Boy it was funny to watch.

That's a great hawk photo, Holly! It looks like it might be a young Cooper's.

I love taking care of my birds! I'm looking forward to a good bird-watching day tomorrow.

Snow on the deck was at least up to my knees, but I was able to push the door open enough to squeeze through. I brought out a folding table and a large piece of foam to block the wind and set the table over top of the outdoor coffee table where I normally put the sunflower seeds. First, of course, was making a path to said coffee table. So far the arrangement seems to be working, and multiple varieties of birds have visited. The 2 suet feeders have had visitors as well.

Yesterday before things really got started, the red bellied woodpecker was out there. I think it is the same one that we had last year, as it takes a seed from the table and then goes to the exact same spot each time on the deck rail to work it open. There is a shallow knot hole that it uses to keep the seed in place while pecking on it. Clever bird.

You all are taking such good care of your birds in this weather! I need to get some food for them and put it out...

We topped off the feeders yesterday. Birds are hitting it pretty hard. Hope they don't empty them before we have a path out there. No one here is in a big hurry to dig out.

That's a neat observation about that red bellied WP, Pat.

When I was watching the WP when the weather was better and the deck was free of snow, I was curious as to why it seemed to use the same spot each time and walked over to look.

The improvised seed cover is still keeping the snow off, but a goodly portion of my path has filled in again. It would have been smart to put the seed at the same end of the deck as the door.

We have drifts more than 5 feet high at some corners of the house.

I just heard a snow report of 31 inches for Frederick! I think you guys are getting worse than me- although the snow has recommenced here.

My snow and cold weather was last month. Nothing like your blizzard at my elevation.

However, things are still interesting out there. I went up to the top of the slope to check the deer fence. It was kind of muddy, not sloppy muddy and the deer fence was fine. What really surprised me was that I saw cougar tracks on my side of the fence ! At least s/he was headed OUT !

whoa!! that kind of deer control, a bit scary, and a bit awesome.

Cougar!!

Wow

Yes.

It is usually the younger male cats that come to town as they have been kicked out to find their own territory by a dominant male and are inefficient hunters and town deer are easy prey. Or it is the very old cougars which have been displaced by a younger male cat.

This is the first time, I have seen signs of a big cat on my property. I do have friends who live further out of town that have had cat and bear problems.

btw ... town is really a wide spot on the road.

Since the fence seems solid, I am not going up there in the evenings again for a while.

Wow, a cougar! Sounds like a good idea to stay away from that spot for a while. One way to keep the deer population down, that's for sure.

Wow, wouldn't want to come face to face with a cougar!!!

They sure are dangerous to have wondering around in your yard. Keep a good eye out.
I think we have about 30 inches and there is no letting up. Hard to tell as there is a good bit of drifting but out in the middle of the yard where there isn't much drift the 32 in table is almost covered.

Wow. A load.