Frigid

The creek was half iced over and the birdbath was a rock. Fortunately there was no wind and the sun shone. Puffed up against the cold, birds were anxious to pack on some calories. Unfortunately, the cat was too.  Pine and myrtle warblers managed to avoid the predator.  Bluebirds stayed out of reach.  Even starlings avoided danger.  Orioles seemed oblivious.  A song sparrow hunted fallen seeds.  Two downy woodpeckers courted, I think.  They circled around a dogwood trunk, then one came to the feeder.  A junco discovered the birdbath had refrozen.  An odd red winged blackbird with white eyebrows showed up.  I guessed it was a youngster with some juvenile feathers remaining, or maybe female.  A blue jay went for barkbutter balls but a bluebird objected.  

At lunch, a Carolina wren hunted in the leaves, then flew to the suet.  Doves camped out by the frozen birdbath.  The orioles sampled everything.  A brown headed nuthatch  got a turn at the feeder.  Warblers and starlings argued over the suet.  Meanwhile, a red bellied woodpecker watched from the trees.