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Dec. 16: Red squirrel sighted at old chipmunk 'hole' that leads under concrete slab by breezeway entry.
Dec. 20: A second red squirrel has appeared, with both now scrounging for sunflower seeds fallen from feeders. Gray squirrels are harassed by the smaller, aggressive reds. Grays are not numerous thus far this winter.
Dec. 28: 1730 hrs.- Two deer across the road 100' from house grazing on grass where snow has melted off.
Jan. 10, 2006: Cute, red-breasted nuthatch has joined regulars at the bird feeders.
Feb.3: 1400 hrs.- 25 robins across the road on bare, grassy area. High temp here 48, with rain in the morniing.
March: There have been four deer grazing numerous times both 'out back' and close by across the lane.(no snow
March 11: 0700- saw the first pr of redwing blackbirds scrounging seeds on the grnd under front yard feeders; a few days later a huge flock invaded the front yard filling trees and ravenously eating seeds both on grnd & above.
March 12: 0930- pair of Canada geese landed on still frozen pond. A few more soon after. All left before 1700.
March 16: A Rusty Blackbird has been a regular at the platform feeder 4' off the ground & on the ground beneath
March 28: Canada geese now swimming in the unfrozen pond. "Ice Out" was at 1400 hrs.
March 29: Pair of Mallard ducks and some Buffleheads already on the pond.
March 31: Three distinct pairs of Canada geese on pond and upstream marsh. Expect they will be nesting here.
April 3: Old, grizzled woodchuck close behind the house 1600. Probably spent winter under the breezway extnsn
April 11: First flicker and two cowbirds seen in front yard.
April 12: Small beaver dam across pond spillway. Put wood duck box on large tree on dam near spillway (Kyle).
April 13: 1400 hours- Pair of bluebirds checking out nearest box across the lane, which is not their usual one.
Beaver dam that was opened yesterday was not rebuilt overnight. Small 'gaggle' of geese came in and immediately became pest out back and across the lane. A number of Purple Finches are visiting the sunflower feeders.
April 18: Repaired muskrat created burrowing across one-third of the pond dam where destroyed B. dam was.
April 30: Rosebreasted grosbeak chomped on sunflower seeds in one of the front yard feeders at 0630; returned.
May20: Saw Canada goose family of five goslings go into pond from the road at 1700. Hatched in marsh area.
May 22: At 0800 a hummingbird came right up to the living room window where my computer is. First seen
June 1: Saw doe and well grown fawn in lower field at 0600. Youngster surprisingly well separated from mom.
July 23: Woodchuck close behind the kitchen at the rear of the house.
July 26: Feather remains of a bird on the ground quite close behind the house/'back shed.'
Aug.4: Three, possibly four, Great (American) Egrets visited the pond 1200 into the eveng.Seen on far side&islnd
Aug. 15: Two young deer came up road and stopped across from the house. Went on their way across the field.
Sept. 10: First migrating Canada geese on pond 0700. Probably came in the evening before.
Sept. 15: Pair of Great (American) Egrets at edge of far side of the pond in late afternoon.
Sept. 26: Three hen turkeys came down from the woods and strolled around across the road before departing.
October 7: Largest congregation of C. geese on the pond thus far numbered at least 200. Feed in local corn fields
Oct. 15: An even larger number of geese on the pond- perhaps 500- in the afternoon.
November 15: 1700 hrs- Deer buck with nice set of antlers crossed lane before pond as I came in from supper.
December 10: Put out two sunflower seed feeders late afternoon.. This is late, but have had physical problems.
December 11: Early morning, first chickadees, bluejays and a downy woodpecker were at the sunflower feeders. Doesn't take long! Late in the afternoon a pair of cardinals appeared.
December 12: Hairy woodpecker at a sflower feeder early morng. I can view some feeders while at my computer
December 13: Tufted titmouse visited 'coffee can' sfwr feeder in front of dining room window at 1500 hrs.
Dec. 14: Have to mention that gray squirrels are regular visitors under the birdfeeders. Have seen 7 at one time!
Dec. 20: First visit of mourning doves, with a small group feeding on the ground under the feeders. Red squirrel has joined the crowd. They "rule the roost," despite being smaller than the grays.
Dec. 21: Nuthatch and Goldfinch coming to the sunflower seed feeders.
Dec. 30: Released 'trapped' junco from the front window of the breezeway. Came in through open garage door.
Jan. 6, 2007: Large raccoon by side of lane coming up the grade to house. Curled up in ball but alive. Injured or eating something. Probably rabid, since did not move as I passed in car twice and stopped to watch. Gone later.
-Pair of mallards on totally unfrozen pond 1600 hrs. Hi temp here was 67.6, while Albany had a new record 71.
Jan.7: Put out three "hardware cloth" (wire screen-like sheets) suet feeders for birds. First exposure of suet.
Jan. 9: Pair of Red-bellied woodpeckers feeding on suet. First they have visited this season so far as I know.
Jan. 15: Small hawk swooped in under lge maple in front yard in an attempt at taking a small bird under feeders.
Jan. 17: A two day freezing rain storm 14th-15th has left all vegetation covered with ice. Seed feeding birds are in a bad way. Hordes are coming to the feeders and scrounging on the ground. I am spreading seeds on the ground.
Jan. 18: Lone Canada goose walked across the pond on the ice from road toward the dam at 1600 hours!
Jan. 19: Goose was still on the ice covering the pond! Jan. 22- Goose still on the ice covered pond- 1600 hrs.
Feb. 2, 2007: Three deer grazing on small patches free of snow 100' behind house @ 1700. During the night they came across the front yard and upset the makeshift platform birdseed feeder.