Here's my Project Feeder Watch data for count week number 9. We had 20 species and 116 individuals visit this week. Things of note: did not see any raptors this week and the heavy snow brought us a Northern Mockingbird, first one I've seen in months. Only one squirrel this week. It's been a tough week for the birds with the heavy snow, high winds and now freezing rain. And yet they still show up. CU all next year! #ProjectFeederWatch #Birds #NewEngland #Gardening #Allotment

Winter has returned. Six inches (15cm) of the fluffy white stuff overnight. It's a poor photo, but I was busy with a snow shovel. #gardening #Allotment #NewEngland #Winter

When your daughter is a botany professor and she brings beverages to the Yule festivities, you get some interesting (and quite delicious) choices. I offer here a selection of Apple and Gooseberry Birch Sap seltzer, Black Currant and Thoroughwort Birch Sap seltzer, and Mulberry and Nettle Birch Sap seltzer. all quite refreshing. #Gardening #Allotment #NewEngland #Yule #Solstice #Botany #Feast

Here is the ProjectFeederWatch data for my site for week number 8. We saw 18 species totaling 123 individuals this week. No exciting newcomers, just the reliable regulars. Lots of cold weather meant lots of toting warm water to unfreeze the water rays this week. #ProjectFeederWatch #Birds #NewEngland #Gardening #Allotment #Winter

BeetBear and I wish everyone a Happy Solstice. At least now we can start getting some of our daylight back, but remember: "When the days begin to lengthen, the cold begins to strengthen." Time to go in and order seeds... #BeetBear #Gardening #Allotment #NewEngland #Zone6b #Winter #WinterSolstice #Solstice

Just had a powerful storm blow through overnight and this morning. It brought in much warmer air, too. Last week's snow is history. Wind gusts this morning hit 50 mph / 80km/h and temps got up to 56.7°F / 13.7°C. Rainfall was .67 inches / 18mm. We've got power outages all around us but here we're ok. At least there was a reward in the sky as the storm passed. #gardening #Allotment #NewEngland #Winter #Rainbow

Here is this week's Project Feeder Watch data. It's now week Seven of the count. We had 19 species and 127 individuals this week. The Red Shouldered Hawk is still around but everyone seems to be avoiding it pretty well, so far. Chipmunks have finally all gone to ground, but squirrels still coming. Also one lonely grackle still around. Otherwise it's just the regulars. First count of the season with snow cover, also. #ProjectFeederWatch #Birds #Newengland #Gardening

Well, the "Light dusting" snow squall event predicted for yesterday turned in to about 4 inches (10cm) of light snow. Garden now has it's ground cover of "Poor Man's Fertilizer". Temp got down to 13°F /-10°C overnight and now has managed to climb to 22°F/-5°C, so this isn't going away for a while. Gotta go feed and water the birds... #Gardening #Allotment #NewEngland #Zone6b #Birds