The first day of the GBBC saw a dusting of snow being flung all about by the strong winds which would continue throughout the weekend, but the chickadees, house finches and redpolls would not be so easily deterred.
Nor would this eastern gray squirrel who appeared to nibble on some peanuts only minutes after I had been wondering where all the squirrels had been this winter (I actually like when the squirrels visit!).
Saturday was busy with redpolls and the consistent finches, sparrows and chickadees ransacking the black oil sunflower seeds. Meanwhile, the suet feeders went untouched but for a pair of white-breasted nuthatches and a single downy woodpecker.
The cottontails frequently visit the feeders at night, picking up fallen bits of corn and seed, but this one cozied up underneath the house sparrows' tube feeder, making peace and chowing down.
Less welcome to the celebration by its feathered fellows, this sharp-shinned hawk made a few stabs at the sparrows, then perched on a neighbor's swing set, listening to the alarmed chickadees for a bit before moving on.
As the sun began its descent on Sunday, I stepped outside to refill the feeders and snap a few quick photos of the chickadees and sparrows still hanging about the yard. Sunday had been a quieter day at the feeders. A red-bellied woodpecker being the only new species sighted for the weekend, but it was fun watching all the birds that showed up, and I plan to make the GBBC a tradition going forward.
