Christmas butterfly!

The sky was not nearly as cloudy as the prediction.  The temperature stuck at 59°, though that was warm enough for a butterfly.  It was only a cabbage white that flitted across the back yard, but it was outdoors, not sheltering in the garage.  It was also gone before I got a photo so you'll have to trust me.  Warblers and bluebirds were more cooperative. 

White throated sparrows were back foraging in the mulch.   A chipping sparrow discovered the barkbutter balls on the ground.  Two mockingbirds had the same idea.  Eventually a female oriole arrived at the jelly dish.  The orange crowned warbler also came back for jelly. 

A squirrel engaged in some energetic tail flapping while carrying a nut.  Higher up in the oak, a female red bellied woodpecker had something in its beak.  I finally saw a male downy on the suet.  Brown headed nuthatches returned to the seed feeder. A heron flew downstream and a few buffleheads fished.  Two female hoodies paddled swiftly upstream.