Sparkling snow

About two inches of snow fell last evening, then the sky cleared by dawn.  The creek got a coat of white over the ice, but not in some spots where I think there was melt-water atop the ice.  This was fluffy snow that the birds sank into.

And there were plenty of birds.  The regulars and the winter regulars (white throats, yellow rumps, and juncos) were joined by a dove, a brown thrasher, a song sparrow, and a pine warbler.  A red bellied woodpecker and a downy woodpecker, both female, came for suet but were run off by a starling who was in turn chased by a squirrel,  Robins were hanging around the yard.  Gulls were flying.  At one point both butterbutts were about a foot apart on the snow-covered mulch coexisting, but it did not last long enough for me to take a picture.

The day warmed quickly and most of the snow was gone by lunch. The big storm was predicted for tonight.