Tuesday’s Tidbits. #16 Black Bear!

Good morning to all of you! It is a beautiful, sunny morning, but a bit windier than the forecast mentioned, and it is cool with a temperature of 23F (-5C) earlier. I think it may have warmed up a little now, but still below freezing. The birds are sure busy once again, just like the last 2 days. The chorus of bird songs and chirping is absolutely amazing!

So beautiful to hear that in the morning. There are a lot of birds out there now, over 200 juncos lead the way in numbers. Plus there are more than 2 dozen Evening Grosbeaks and at least 29 Purple Finches. And a large variety of other birds. The snow is nearly gone now, but another snowstorm is coming our way for Thursday. I hope it misses us. We really do not need snow right now.

One of the many juncos sitting in a small tree close to the deck.

Yesterday was not too bad though, at 43F (6C), and today should be 45F (7C). But the next few days will be cooler. Sigh. At least there is not much snow, so that is a positive note. Last evening I went out to bring the bird feeders inside for the night, so if the bear comes around he will not find any food. This was about 8pm, the sun was still shining, but the birds had gone for the night.

Another puffed out junco on the deck eating seeds I had scattered for them.

I got the feeders together and heard a robin chirping in the distance, then one answered closer to the house. I looked around and spotted him at the top of a maple tree. So I quickly went inside and grabbed my camera to get a picture. But for some reason, looking up like that, I was unable to hold the camera steady enough to get a good picture.

I am showing it in the featured image at the top today. But it was nice listening to him anyway. I brought the feeders inside and it was only a few minutes later I heard some noise on the deck. Muffin woke up and ran to the window. She then immediately turned and ran to the kitchen with her ears back.

Female Downy Woodpecker. She will not be around much longer, nesting season begins very soon.

That means a bear. So I went to look. It was a bear. A huge bear! I mean, it was a big one! Not like the other one that has been around. And this is spring, when bears are somewhat on the skinny side. Once he fattens up, by fall it will be a lot bigger. I tried to get a photo, but he did not cooperate.

That bear is hungry, it is too cold for much in the way of natural food to be found. But it is also too cold to stop feeding the birds. They do not have much in the way of natural food this time of the year either. I was going to try walking to the river today since it is supposed to be nice.

Though I did not mention him in the post, Pocket, one of my chipmunks, is back!

Now I am not so sure. But I do have my bear spray. But he is huge. Still, I cannot stay locked inside my apartment every day because of the bears. Too bad that one had to show up. Oh well. Thank you for stopping by today. Have a wonderful day everyone and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2023 Steve McLeod.