Feathered Friends in Winter Weather!

Fog created by warm water and -20 degree temperatures (with the wind chill) made it difficult to see many birds on the water. A flock of mostly Redhead are in flight. Port Huron, Michigan is in the background. I even saw 3 people go swimming in Lake Huron at Canatara Beach this morning! (Dec. 14)

A Red-bellied Woodpecker looked a bit bewildered with snow on the tree branches and snow in her “eating bowl”.

When the snow had melted on the branches, a White-breasted Nuthatch repeatedly bobbed his head into the eating bowl in our backyard.

I initially thought the Nuthatch was grabbing bits of nuts or seeds left behind in the bowl by other birds. However, he kept "surfacing" with a drop of water on his beak. The “eating bowl" on the Silver Maple had turned into a bowl of drinking water, thanks to the melted snow.

American Robins are regularly being found near a bit of open water.

A Robin decided it “owned” the berries on this fruit tree. Anytime another bird (of any species) landed on a branch, he chased it away. He spent more time aggressively protecting his prize, than actually eating any food!

American Goldfinch enjoying a wintery bath!

Instead of tapping on trees for food, a Downy Woodpecker picked through an old squirrel nest in hopes of finding insects that had chosen the shelter for their winter slumber.

I could hear the soft chattering of a Carolina Wren long before I saw it. They hide out in bushy areas, making it difficult to get a clear shot.

An American Crow spent time playing with an object. It wasn't until I had a closer look that I could see he had found a cherry Timbit. Not exactly healthy food, but he was having fun with it!

The crow eventually wised up and spit out the Timbit!

Redheads rolling in the waves!

Herring Gull patrolling the Lake Huron Shoreline.

Jessica B heading into the Lake Huron. The movement of freighters regularly cause floating masses of ducks to take flight, if they are too close to the shipping channel.