I haven't posted in a while. I've been out on the trail almost every day but it's been so cold that I haven't seen anything other than Hairy Woodpeckers, Chickadees, Nuthatches and Gray Jays.
To say that we've had a cold start to the year 2014 would be an understatement. Here's a screen shot of the Weather Network page I took during the early morning hours of January 2nd, 2014. Note the Wind Chill factor of -54 C.
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| The Weather Network - Jan 2, 2014 at 3 am. |
And it's been a sustained freeze: the temperatures have been ranging from minus 40 C to minus 54 Celsius during the last 6 days.
That's why I was surprised to see the Red-bellied Woodpecker again today in my back yard at around 3 this afternoon. I read in a few guide books that they are expanding northward but I doubt that they are used to this type of sustained freezing temperatures. My first sighting of this bird was around Nov 22,
2013 and it's been spotted by myself and by various people in the neighbourhood since
then. Thanks to everyone on Helmer and Hellen avenue who put out suet; if he survived the last week, he can survive anything!
Here's a photo I took on December 22nd. He's holding a piece of my home-made suet.
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker / Pic à ventre roux South Porcupine (22 Dec 2013) |
Here's the first photo I took January 1st, 2014. My suet has attracted a lot of these lately….
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| Hairy Woodpecker / Pic chevelu South Porcupine (Jan 1, 2014) |
Happy New Year !
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