Sunday (2/6) was just another beautiful day around the yard with ground snow coverage hitting about day 30 or so.  After two years of this now, the presence of snow on the ground seems to be the winter norm ... for now.  I don't mind it, I like the consistency of each day.  But, the snow coverage is starting to remind me of a winter I spent between Utah, Wyoming and Montana.  Well, sans the 12 - 14,000' peaks towering nearby of course.  I'll never forget that winter, that's for sure.  Never.

Here in Harford (Creswell/Bel Air), our back yard RUSTY BLACKBIRD flock has now grown to 12 birds (7/5 M/F), and is now the second most numerous blackbird type behind Common Grackle (18).  Red-winged Blackbirds are about 8, Brown-headed Cowbird 4, and European Starling remains at 0.  At this rate of increase from 1 to 4 to 6 to 12 over four weeks, I should catch the Mt.Airy/Florence Road Rusty flock of 60 on June 26 of this year.  Looking foreward to that, definitely goin' stake out the yard for it ;)

A Sharpie made a prolonged visit for some close-ups.  One Northern Cardinal count hit 68 birds ... in the backyard!  In contrast, given the nice brushy, woodland edge habitat of near, we usually have 4 to 8 Eastern Towhees present year round, and especially well observed during periods of snow coverage.  This is true of the last 12+ years.  However, I have not seen a towhee here since about late Nov. of this past year.

Not sure if they're still present, or just tucked away all warm and snug, but earlier this winter we discovered a new night maruader coming the back yard, a group of about 12 Southern Flying-Squirrels.  They're cuties.

--
Rick Cheicante
Harford County
Bel Air, MD