New year rains in

 It would make much more sense to me to begin the year at the solstice instead of ten days later.  Nevertheless, I overslept, and all I've seen this morning are a junco on the feeder and a squirrel trying to rob the feeder.  And raindrops plinking one at a time into the birdbath. A little later a chickadee showed up. 

When we returned after mid-afternoon, the birds were having a party with a squirrel.  A half dozen doves, a towhee, two wrens, sparrows, juncos, finches, cardinals, chickadees and a nuthatch were all making a mess.  Hulls everywhere.  They rushed off when we came in, but gradually drifted back.  The photo is a Carolina wren and a white-throated sparrow, both have white eyeliner. 

A flock of cedar waxwings paused in the redwood.  An eagle soared over the dam.  Gulls cruised the creek, occasionally making plunges into the water.  Not a bad start to the year.