The start of another year....

I had promised myself I would attempt to update the look of this blog for this new year....but so far haven't got around to it.

So, let's carry on and set the scene for the coming year...

It is a chilly start with day time temperatures barely getting above the zero mark - that is on the Celsius scale of course!  Water levels are down to about as low as they can go here at the first bay with it's broken off piling and the bank that is eroding away.  There were a few ducks just off here this afternoon and a Belted Kingfisher is often seen on that leading log in the middle of the photo - but not today, and not long enough for photos!

and the scene is pretty much the same here at the log bay, a few Mallard and Green Wing Teal paddling along the edge - that is pretty much it.

The influx of Bald Eagles is over now - no more salmon to eat - they've had to move on in search of food.  Of course a few live here year round .....

like this guy seen yesterday - New Year's Eve.

There have actually been a few interesting bird sightings the last couple of day...like these

Bushtits - a huge flock of these fluffy little guys moved through our complex yesterday afternoon.....

It isn't often that they stay still long enough to get a picture like this!

Since I still find it a novelty to have....

hummingbirds here all winter, here is another photo taken yesterday, this being a female Anna's Hummingbird.  In fact these little guys are the most consistently seen species this winter.

Falling into the 'inconsistently' seen category would be...

these Evening Grosbeaks....4 of which were in a neighbours tree today....

and...

this male House Finch....also seen just down the street, and the first one I've seen for months.  Neither it nor the grosbeaks made it to our yard with all our feeders.

A total of 19 species were seen today, between our yard and on our rather chilly walk - in order of appearance - Varied Thrush, Steller's Jay, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Anna's Hummingbird; Chestnut backed Chickadee; Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee; European Starling; Red Wing Blackbird; Black capped Chickadee; Belted Kingfisher, Evening Grosbeak, Common Raven; Mallard; Green-wing Teal; Bald Eagle; House Finch; and Pacific Northwest Crow.