We woke to an icy world today. The frigid temps had warmed enough overnight for some of the snow to melt and then the rains came and everything was enrobed in ice. Very pretty; pretty deadly. Any surface that had partially melted is now super slick ice. The ducks are NOT happy. I spread wood shavings in their yard, but if they pick up too much speed, they slip and slide on their amply padded chests. They could stay in their dry hut, but apparently there are still too many things to see and do on a day like this. Gotta love their determination.
On the birding front, the feeder and suet block have been receiving a lot of action during these cold days. If you're interested, this is a list of the birds that we have seen since Jan 1. If not stated otherwise, they were sighted in our backyard in the suburbs. Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Cardinal (M&F), Mourning Dove pair, White Breasted Nuthatch, Downy Woodpecker, House Sparrow, White Throated Sparrow, Junco, American Robin, Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Carolina Wren, Blue Jay, Goldfinch, Red-Tailed Hawk, Tundra Swan (adult and juvenile at local wetlands), Coopers or Sharp Shinned Hawk (difficult to tell apart), Turkey Vulture, Pigeons (farmland), Mallard, Kestrel (on telephone wire near farmland).