Winter came hard and fast

No, I’m not complaining, though my dogs are not too happy with the cold. But after a couple of weeks of catch-up in the yard, both Tim and I were more or less ready for it. We just didn’t think it would get this cold this fast. Wow.

I’m so glad I had the feeders ready. So is this guy. He looks like this year’s crop of red bellied woodpeckers. (Page 190 of your Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Birds.) The feeder makes him look small, but he’s bigger than a blue jay, fairly shy, and acrobatic. We don’t see them much at our “city” house unless they are cold or feeding young.