JB
Honorary Moderator Emeritus
- Joined
- Mar 25, 2001
- Messages
- 45,907
Trees are bare. It is cool (40*) and wet today.<br /><br />My winter residents are busy.<br /><br />A large flock of robins. They are attracted by the many acres of mown grass, not very common out here in the stix. About 50 per acre this morning.<br /><br />The persimmons have peaked and started to dry out, so the deer and coyotes who visit so often in the Fall are not in evidence.<br /><br />There is a huge flock of goldfinches that stay every winter, attracted by the large feeders on the back porch. There are a lot of purple finches, titmouses (titmice?), various species of sparrows and about a dozen cardinals that show up daily to fight with the goldfinches over sunflower seeds. Nothing like the wars that hummingbirds have over the feeders in summer, though.<br /><br />There is a mystery animal that scarfs up the deer corn I put out each night. Early one morning I got a glimpse of him in the pre-dawn gloom. Big animal. . .much bigger than the does that I see often. Leaves a track that looks like a small cow. I couldn't see well enough to detect antlers, but I suspect it is an old and very smart buck.<br /><br />Had some wood ducks on the little pond yesterday. If there is a more beautiful American bird than a woody drake I have yet to see one. Both ring necked and golden pheasants are gorgeous, but not native.<br /><br />Even on a cold, wet January day this place is wonderland.