Critters from a Snowy, Cold Week

Heidi was happy to run about the front yard a bit Thursday, when I took photos for the new header. She has to go to the back yard when it's just her going out. She was just as glad to go back in, though.

On Wednesday, I wasn't going out much due to the cold, but once, when I stuck my head out the door, heard a loud bird, and looked up to see this woodpecker. None of the photos turned out great, but I was glad to get the photos. The juncos and sparrows in the neighbor's bush did not stay in one place long enough for the photos of them to turn out.

I tried to check my old posts and did an internet search to remember what kind of woodpecker this is, but didn't find it. I also did a search to see if I could figure out what kind of tree it was in, and I'm thinking it may be a western sycamore tree. If you know any identification of plants or animals I show, feel free to say in a comment.

I took a few photos of the back bird feeders through the door on Thursday. The safflower seeds we got last year to discourage the sparrows has not had any birds at all eat it so far this year. I don't remember if any ate them last early spring. I wonder if they go bad, or if the sparrows eating the nice sunflower seeds are scaring other birds away even from feeders they don't eat from. I've read that the house sparrows we have are not native, and are actually invasive. I wonder if we should only go to food they don't like for awhile.

This morning, I saw a couple blue jays. I couldn't get a decent photo of either, with all the branches in the way, and them not cooperating. I did get a clear shot of the back side of one of them, but decided not to post it.

The squirrel thought I was out to take its photo, so I obliged.

Oh, maybe I was mistaken about that. It decided to go inside a minute. I thought it interesting that it went in at the bottom. I'd never thought of that, but assumed the opening was at the top like a bird's nest.

I'm posting for SkyWatch on my other blog, but decided to include this morning's sunrise here. I like how you can see lots of nests in the trees.

The next 2 were taken about an hour later than the previous photo.

To see more critters or find out how to link yours, go to the Camera Critters link in the sidebar. Thanks Misty Dawn!