At home and Oak Openings walk - I saw the White-throated Sparrow again today in the backyard. That makes four days in a row that he's been around. I continue to scatter millet and some cracked corn in the driveway. It snowed an inch yesterday evening, and that covered the food. The Juncos dig through the snow, using the same kicking or scratching motion the White-throated Sparrows and other sparrows use. The old world bird, the House Sparrow, does not do this kicking motion. The suet is still busy with woodpeckers: Hairy, Downey, Red-bellied, and N. Flicker.

I went to Oak Openings this morning, That's the first time I've been there, since the Christmas bird count on December 29. I didn't bird, just walked around. I parked at Mallard Lake and visited the Windows on Wildlife building first. That's a great spot. I could have sat there for hours, relaxed, munched on some food, read a book, and watched the birds. They have big windows providing a look at several different kinds of bird feeders. The usual wintertime backyard birds were there in good numbers. I didn't see anything rare or unusual at the feeders, No winter finches from up north.

I then walked on some trails through the woods for about two hours. I didn't take my binoculars. I just wanted to walk through the snow, which was eight inches deep. It makes for a good workout as my calves were getting blasted. Snowshoes, it would have been a good time to try them. The bushes and small trees were covered in snow. It's rare for us to have this much snow on the ground, so I figured I better get out and enjoy it. The snowy scenes made for good pictures. I walked on some nice trails. Didn't run into anyone else. Cardinals and Titmice sang.