Cold weather brought starlings to the suet feeders.
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And snow on the ground reflected sunlight onto their beautiful feathers.
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That day they were pecking at seed in the snow.
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They have impressive and colourful beaks.
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Maybe this bird was scooping up snow. The water I put out in the morning soon freezes.
(We have two heated bowls and there is running water nearby.)
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Late in the day we receive other visitors.
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Mostly, they come after dark but sometimes hunger gets the better of them earlier.
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One day recently I was called to the window to see someone new:
A black squirrel.
Comparatively black, with a red undercoat, but quite different to…
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…our enterprising grey squirrels.
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The black squirrel is a genetic mutation. It increases melanin which offers more warmth in colder climates, so says the internet. Black squirrels are said to be numerous in urban areas.
A friend tells me that she sees them in New York City, but this is the first we have seen here.
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We figured this individual caught a bus up from the Bronx.
It certainly had city-smarts and promptly found its way into a bird seed bowl.
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It is my conclusion that we are nothing more than a wayside rest stop along the Grand Trunk Road of the Squirrel Interchange, a convenient stopover for nomadic creatures to spend a few days with us, after which they take themselves off, – elsewhere.
One or two of our customers graced us with an extended stay and at least one, namely Ghost, stopped in on his way back to wherever it is they come from.
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Over the years, we’ve had quite a fashion parade with a great variety of tail and accessory colours and patterns. Often they all seem to vanish at once and sometimes it’s as if we’ve been given a poor review as we go weeks without catching sight of a single squirrel.
Whoever knew they were so diverse? Or perverse?
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There is one that stays, however…
Our friend Little Red. The original is on a celestial cloud now, but her grandchildren are with us and for that we are very glad.
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Thank you so much, Carolyn, for the amusing post with a well-travelled black squirrel, lovely starlings, and other wildlife! I am counting days to spring!
Joanna
Those squirrels sure are smart at figuring out ways to get where they shouldn’t be!
It’s wonderful that the snow (and cold) doesn’t keep the wildlife away from your yard (and great that you also take care of them in the winter when food is scarce). The news that there is food at your place has spread far – the black squirrel that ‘travelled by bus’ is proof of that 😉. Little Red and her family are my favourite of the squirrels and I’m always happy to see a photo of one of them!