The Saturday morning wren. . . . . . . . .

Carolina wren, as you know by now, is my much-loved sweet little bird.

Our live-in pair. . . . . . . . sleeping nightly in the now dead hanging Boston ferns

on the front porch (those plants left purposely to serve as their 'hotel rooms' 

every winter) . . . . . . have been nibbling on this seed bell to which I add

 peanut butter each morning.

Yesterday morning was a golden gift of cold, yet brilliant, sunshine. 

The bird baths were frozen solid, the birds were hungry - Bob ventured out,

 filling feeders and suet holders. Me? I grabbed the camera and spent time

 at the windows just watching and enjoying the tiny visitors at breakfast.

Today is overcast, grey, cold, and a drizzly rain has started falling and will

continue until evening. I'm definitely not a football fan - but I do enjoy 

a fireside snack (naughty I know) and a nice glass of red on a cold evening, 

so guess that's where I'll be tonight. . . . . . . but viewing VICTORIA!

Thanks for being wonderful 'you' - your comments on the

woodpecker photos were lovely.

Front porch 'restaurant'. . . . . . . .

I love this photo because I rarely see two of these little devils together in a

 cute pose like this!

A very quick move to the window with the camera and I caught them

 eating the seeds and crumbs offered to the birds.

They had a short fight on the rail first to decide who would eat, then the one on

 the right waited patiently for his turn. . . . . . . though there was little remaining 

as squirrels suck up their food like powerful vacuum cleaners!

Note, last week's 7" of beautiful snow is history and we are back to bare, brown, 

dreary and warm temperatures again in the winter garden.

A new purchase for the porch 'restaurant' - a birdseed bell covered with a rather 
cheapo type of seed - but I bought it specifically to spread with peanut butter for 
the birds. No sooner was it hanging when the Carolina wren appeared to check it out! 

 They are the most curious little birds.

The Carolina wren, sweetest little garden bird around here - always my favorite.

How are the birds faring in your area? 

 Thanks for helping them with food and water at this time year.

Birds and their offspring. . . . . . . .

The garden has been exceptionally busy these past few weeks - many new

 family members now learning the ropes regarding eating, bathing and doing

whatever parent birds teach their youngsters. We keep the feeders filled - not cheap

 by any means - however we love our birds. The birdbaths are cleaned and refilled for both

 the birds and squirrels during this hot weather, and to get rid of pesky mosquitoes.

Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinenis

Handsome slate-gray bird with black crown and long, thin black bill. 

Often seen with tail lifted exposing a chestnut-colored patch, 

just visible here.

This young catbird is busy learning its way around my garden with
 a parent (male and female have same appearance) close at hand
 on the suet feeder.

A secretive bird, the catbird was named 'Bird That Cries With Grief' by

 the Chippewa Indians due to its raspy call.

Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum

A baby Brown thrasher perched on a birdbath considering a drink or

 a dip perhaps. . . . . . . . 

. . . . . . . . while one parent watches from the bench. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . and the other checks out the food supply!

Again, male and female are identical, a little larger than the American robin,

 with streaked breast, rusty coloring, and yellow eyes. The male has the largest

 documented song repertoire of all North American birds with over 1,100 song types.

This pair have either two or three youngsters - lovely to watch them interact.

I actually parked myself in a chair - with a camera of course - on the back deck

 for a while yesterday morning to watch the busy birds and squirrels.

Guess what? Cute squirrel photos coming next time!

Today is disappointing!

Up to nine inches of snow was expected.

At midnight I heard the sleet slapping against the windows.

At 6:30 AM I peeped through the blinds and saw a little white on the ground.

I went back to sleep hoping for more.

At 8:00 AM I was up, camera in hand, totally disappointed.

I saw branches bending over, and a layer of ice coating every surface,

 with just a shallow dusting of snow on top.

Fooled you!

 But lovely to see a pair of Eastern Bluebirds back at the suet feeder.

The always sweet Mourning Doves - later I poured warm water on the

 birdbaths to help melt the ice.

Many cardinals, male and female all over the garden today.

The Northern Flicker is back - first visit in a while.

One of the many 'furballs' inhabiting our garden and sharing gobbling the birdseed.

Grey squirrels - love 'em or hate 'em - they are cute, at times!

All creatures need food in this expected severe cold which will last several days.

All photos taken through the windows this morning - it's below freezing - but

guess what, it's actually snowing out there NOW as I go to post this!

Off to dig out my boots and recharge my batteries.

Bluebird BLUE. . . . . . .

I was pleasantly surprised when several Eastern bluebirds hung about

 the garden during the recent ice storm. I believe it's the family that nests

 in my birdhouse come Spring and now just stay here year round. 

Often joined by many northern migrants, swelling local populations each

 winter, they are always welcomed as colorful additions to the garden.

Quick flashes of cobalt blue in the trees where they feed on suet, 

seed feeders, and often on the ground, I was really thrilled when this male 

came back and forth to nibble on the seeds scattered on the front porch rail

 mainly for the chickadees like the one below.

This little guy picked an icy perch, the tip of a fig tree branch, probably using
 it as a safe lookout. Note the frozen rain falling. Hopefully no more weather
 such as this any time soon.

The proverbial sweet 'bluebird of happiness.'

February Snow. . . . . . . .

Totally unexpected. Well they did say a few flurries possible. It started

around 6:30 am and was already sticking by the time I looked out at 7:30 am. 

It's still falling now, huge fluffy flakes flying by the window as I write, and it's 

almost 2:00 pm. We may get about three inches today. 

Of course this is nothing compared to up north, but for here in the south it means 

everything is shutting down again - just as the ice from last week melted and 

was a memory, and the kids returned to school yesterday, but are off again today.

I just had to let you see my flannel-robed snowman/birdman out early this morning 

to refill the feeders and toss some crumbs and seed out. Dozens of birds, and four 

squirrels, were looking for breakfast by 7:30 am - they know when the weather 

conditions will be bad.

Note Bob is none the worse for wear after yesterday's slip cover debacle!

Temperature will remain around freezing today so little melting expected.

Hope you enjoy these pics from my garden today. 

Another storm may pass through tomorrow night bringing 

more snow on Thursday morning. . . . . and here I was thinking

Spring was about to appear. 

That old Mother Nature is up to her trickery again.