Blue moon

Of course the only significance to two full moons in a month is what we label as a month.  There was a patch of ice on the creek this morning.  Early birds were downy woodpeckers, yellow rumped warblers, Carolina wrens, white throated sparrows, and blue jays.  The male red bellied woodpecker had a try at the dish feeder which held frozen, dissolved bark butter balls. Then the bluebirds arrived. 

It is certainly true that providing water draws birds just as well as providing food.  I poured hot water over the ice in the birdbath and many of the birds took advantage. 

In the late afternoon I noticed that a heron was having difficulty swallowing the fish it had caught.  The process took quite some time.  Around then some hoodies paddled past.  I also saw what I think was a red throated loon.  A flock of gulls came through like a circus, swirling over the creek. 

Sunset was fiery red.  Followed, of course, by moonrise.