Backyard updates - The eight inches of snow we received last Saturday night continues to slowly melt even though today will be the first day of the week it's been above freezing. There's probably about five inches left. This is the sixth day in a row of sunshine, which is rare around here in the wintertime. I saw the White-throated Sparrow again on Wednesday, marking the fifth day in a row I've seen that bird in the yard. Interesting, I've not seen the Northern Flickers since Monday, and for the last six weeks, the Flickers have been among the most active feeders.

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.

Snow and birds - The five inches of snow we received last Monday disappeared by the end of the week due to warm temperatures in the 40's and rain on Friday night and Saturday. The rain on Saturday changed to snow around 4:00 P.M. The snow ended by 2:00 A.M., but not after accumulating around seven inches. The strong winds during the night caused the snow in the backyard to be a little wavy from drifting. I measured the snow this morning, and the depths varied from 6-10 inches. It looks like more than the six inch snowfall on Chistmas day. Yesterday afternoon after the snow started, around a dozen Juncos were in the yard along with a lone White-throated Sparrow. I saw the WTSP again this morning. I cleared an area in the driveway, so I could put down some millet and cracked corn, and the birds seemed happy.