​in East Thetford pines (with more hardwoods and bird species coming along since the 2006 windstorm), we've been enjoying a lively group of tufted titmice and chickadees, purple finches, goldfinches, a small flock of very handsome dark-eyed juncos, white-breasted nuthatches and, less frequently than years ago, red-breasted nuthatches and a gang of blue jays.  A downy woodpecker drives everybody nuts by parking on the suet feeder for extended periods...

Also, occasional visits from a pair of cardinals who live somewhere else in the neighborhood (wish they'd move in here), hairy woodpeckers, a couple of pine siskins earlier this week, a single mourning dove - it's mate having been snatched by a hawk a couple of months ago.  No sign of the chipping sparrow couple who wintered over last year.  Some days, a ruffed grouse, or two or three, hang out -- even doze in the crabapple tree above all the seed and suet activity just below.

Having cleaned out the deep freeze and come to terms with some baking I'm never going to accomplish, have been scattering rye berries, coarse polenta, some other meals and seeds which the ground feeders seem to enjoy picking through.  Hope that's not contraindicated.

So, nobody exotic, but steady, welcome company.

Connie Snyder