Very cold

A streaky gold dawn segued into bright sunlight.  Two herons flew over.  I wonder where the water birds are waiting out the freeze.  Feeder birds paid a quick breakfast visit.  A yellow rump and a downy tried the frozen suet.  White throats and juncos skittered around the snow crust.  Cardinals and finches visited the feeder. It is too cold for melting though the snow may be compacting - K said she didn't break through the crust.

I happened on a map of white throated sparrow migration produced by eBird. 

The lunchtime visitors were sparse.  The same birds appeared, but mostly one at a time.  However, they posed in the trees which made a nice change from feeder pictures.  Peanuts only attracted squirrels.  A little melting occurred at the margin of the pool and creek but it began refreezing soon. One squirrel got a cold drink.  Another clung to the sunny side of the oak trunk. 

Icicles got impressively long.  The sky stayed clear through a peach-colored sunset.  A planet trailed the sun but tonight is the dark of the moon.  And tomorrow begins the lunar new year.  Tomorrow is supposed to be even colder, maybe single digit Fahrenheit.