Goldfinch Drinking from an Ice-covered Birdbath
This morning we awoke to the glitter of sunshine on soft white snow. A light snowfall during the night left maybe an inch or two, at most, covering the ground and powdering the tops of bushes and lining the branches of bare-limbed trees. Trees in the woods looked especially pretty, encased in sparkling, icy snow.
It was a brief, bright frosting – by mid morning snow was dripping down from the trees, and by mid afternoon it was almost all gone. But before then, I went out for a walk, to enjoy the snow while it lasted. The feeders in the front yard were busy with small birds – lots of American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins – together they’re going through a lot of birdseed every day lately; helped by Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Chipping Sparrows, House Finches, a pair of Northern Cardinals, and a Carolina Wren or two. Pine Warblers were singing, and coming to the feeders now and then, too.
At least a hundred and probably more American Robins were scattered out on the ground and in the trees, scratching and rustling and calling out in startled squeaks. Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows fed more quietly underneath the feeders. Up in one corner of the yard, a Hermit Thrush scratched around with several Robins, looking thin and pale brown, almost insubstantial among the big, sturdy black and red-breasted birds – though with bold spots on its upper breast and a lively manner, the skinny Hermit was much more active than the solid Robins; it moved quickly, lightly across the ground in spurts, head up and alert.
A Goldfinch came to the birdbath for water, and seemed unbothered to find it frozen solid. It slipped out onto the ice, only a little unsteady, and leaned down with its head turned to one side to scoop water from the surface where some had already melted, splashing up a spray of drops each time it drank.