
Bohemian Waxwings.
We missed a good episode of Auroras a few days ago. Lots of cloud cover. It has cooled off a little, but not enough to clear the skies. The snow has melted in the valley bottom and everything looks grey and dusty in the lengthening day.
Hard to believe we are almost a month into 2026.

Travelling Riverside Blues.
Carol A. Hand
Love the birds and riverside blues. 🪶
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underswansea
Thanks Carol!
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Michael Watson PhD
I love waxwings!
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underswansea
They are a very nice bird to watch. It looks like you had a Nuthatch at your feeder. They are tough little birds.
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mountaincoward
I’ll be happiest when we’re about 3 or 4 months into the new year as I hate winter with a vengeance!
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underswansea
Ha ha! It will be over before you know it. Our winter has been warm and overcast. It would be nice to have some blue sky at any temperature.
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mountaincoward
we had 3 weeks of -8 including during the day at the start of January – probably would feel warm to you but I found it horrendous. Then we’ve had really strong east winds for most of the month with the resulting wind chill. My body had had enough of it by yesterday and went into shutdown for a whole day. Mind you, it wasn’t a day to be outside anyway so it picked a good day for it. I felt sorry for the birds I feed in my back garden!
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underswansea
Three weeks of -8 doesn’t sound good, especially with the wind blowing. Our winter has been very mild. We have had many days above freezing. Today I worked mostly outside without a jacket. Our birds seem to have even anticipated the warmer weather with some species either coming back early or not migrating and wintering over. Stay warm. Hopefully you have a few sticks of firewood left. I remember you writing about a neighbour who was scavenging all the dry wood.
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mountaincoward
I’ve had to stop using my log burner since I got officially diagnosed with COPD as the (admittedly very few) particulates ejected on opening the door and suchlike would be dangerous for my lungs. I had noticed that my lungs and nose and so on didn’t really like the log burner. Shame as I have loads of firewood laid up in the shed!
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Julie@frogpondfarm
Hey Bob I know a month in already! That riverside blues is fabulous. Andrew would love all the stars
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underswansea
Hi Julia, one month down if you can believe it! Glad you like the riverside photo. I hope you show Andrew the photo. Of course Orion in the southern hemisphere appears upside down to the way we see it here. Take care.
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Julie@frogpondfarm
I sure did show him … he knew straight away it was your photo
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