Hello everyone and Happy Saturday to you all! It is a cool morning at 19F (-7C) and, as you can see in the pics today, we have some snow. It was a quick snowstorm, lasting just Thursday night until early Friday morning. But it left us with 8 inches (20cm) of snow, and cold temperatures. Both will be staying with us now, so winter has officially begun.

Here, when the snow comes, that means winter begins. We do not follow the calendar that says winter arrives just before Christmas. That might be true in more southern areas, but not up here. The birds are busy again and the rock doves (pigeons) are also busy. I finally gave up chasing them away and they got all the seeds I had put out for the evening grosbeaks.

The grosbeaks in turn flew away and decided not to come back. This is going to be a tough winter. But at least I can feed the smaller birds and keep the seeds away from those doves. But I do like to have the grosbeaks around too. But that will not likely happen unless the neighbors give up feeding those doves. It will also mean not having the pine grosbeaks around, and they are such a nice winter visitor to have at the feeders.

There was a flock of common redpolls around, but the doves scared them away as well. I do have a plan though. It will not help to bring in the pine grosbeaks but will help for the evening grosbeaks and redpolls. There was actually a robin out here this morning. He should be gone south by now. They are not exactly a winter bird. They can survive, though, if there are enough berries around for them to eat.

Our first snow of the season and I hurt my back shoveling yesterday. I did not do much either. I was being so careful, but it happened anyway. It is going to be a long winter. I thought I was going out early enough to feed the birds this morning. But the chickadees and nuthatches were out there waiting for me again. I am sure they must show up when it is still completely dark.

Anyway, they were happy to see me, or at least, happy to see the food. They were landing steadily on the feeders while I hung them up, chirping and beeping the whole time. That is solitude. I should be able to start walking to the river again soon. I will wait a bit and let others break trail. I never like to be the first one stomping through the snow.

But I will try one day this week. It will be nice to walk back there again. That is solitude. Muffin is curled up on my lap at the moment. That too is solitude. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and God bless!

Steve and Muffin.

©2022 Steve McLeod.