Buster, you've just got on my last nerve!!!

Downy woodpeckers, having a bit of a set-to at the suet feeder and I was lucky enough to have my shutter depressed at just the right second! What's not to love about all those black and white wings? Day Three of the Great Backyard Bird Count here in blustery NJ. It was so freaking cold that even the squirrels retreated to their dens.

In fact, it was a relatively slow day in terms of the bird count, with mostly woodpeckers, sparrows, titmice, finches and ... oh, yes, the Cooper's Hawk. The temps never got out of the 20's (F) and we had winds gusting to 40 MPH - not nice weather for anyone. Tomorrow should be nicer and I hope to wrack up some good bird counts.

By the way, it's not too late to submit your counts! No matter WHERE in the world you are. The count goes through tomorrow. As of the end of Day Two yesterday, over 2,500 individual species had been reports - from the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, and more - SEVENTY FIVE countries in all! Pretty cool! And the information helps scientists and conservationists. Good stuff.

If you'd like to see a selection of today's shots on Flickr,Click HERE.

I will be back later to check in...

xxoo
Debbi (and all the birds)

Addendum: Here is a shot from last June with a much different look at the downies . A tender father/son moment...