Red-bellied Woodpecker.

A really nippy morning full of antic backyard bird activity. I’ve got a feeling somehow they’re connected. The neighbors’ outstanding feeder array has drawn a bunch of species to the trees above the little curvy stream, and I saw most of them today—three spp. of woodpecker, a pair of dueling male cardinals, a little scattering of juncos. A raven even flew over. Twice.

Orange in a tree.

And Jack and I took a frigid hike up Beech Hill—we met a friend, a neighbor of the, but most people (and birds) stayed away due to low temps and stout wind gusts. I did see a flicker fly by.

Then, after we got home, I noticed an orange stuck in the crook of a hardwood branch high above the yard. I’m guessing a crow hauled it up there—but who knows?

Beech Hill List
Beginning at 2:30 p.m., I hiked the open trail.

1. American Crow*
2. Northern Flicker
3. Black-capped Chickadee* (v)

Elsewhere

4. American Goldfinch (v)
5. White-breasted Nuthatch
6. Blue Jay
7. Common Raven
8. Red-bellied Woodpecker
9. Northern Cardinal
10. Dark-eyed Junco
11. Downy Woodpecker
12. Mourning Dove
13. Hairy Woodpecker
14. Tufted Titmouse
15. Herring Gull

v = Voice only
*Also elsewhere

Dark-eyed Junco.