Not exactly what I expect to hear or see while clearing out my driveway this afternoon after the beautiful snowstorm; I heard the rattling, and then saw a Belted Kingfisher flying over the pasture, most likely headed for the CT River and some open water!
 
As for my yard feeder:  nothing real exciting, but there are noted differences from last year.  
 
Newcomers for this year:  three American Tree Sparrows - a first for my yardlist as a regular, winter resident.
Just after Christmas, four snow buntings hung around one afternoon and then moved on.
Male and female Northern Cardinal present the past few days - not a usual visitor.
Just one junco has been present; just one.  
 
Fleeting glimpses of a few Evening Grosbeaks but they never stick around.  Whereas last year I was mobbed daily by Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls - absent this year.  Darn.
 
First time ever:  NO gray or red squirrels.  Has there been some sort of disease?  I did stop feeding the birds this summer due to resident bears, and the yard's population of chipmunks and squirrels dropped dramatically, but I fully expected to have squirrels return once I started birdfeeding again.
 
AND - last but not least.  This is the first year that the Blue Jays are pecking at the peeling white house paint and have moved on to non-peeling paint.  Why???
Apparently latex house paint is a source of calcium; something the jays are craving.  They prefer egg shells I've read, but I don't do enough cooking to put out a lot of egg shells daily.  I am putting out "poultry shell" which is also being consumed but is not stopping the daily pecking at the house.  Any suggestions?   Fun birding, Peg Ackerson
Lyme [log in to unmask] 
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