It’s been cold all week. Our daytime high temperatures didn’t even break into the 40’s. Later we did have some days that finally hit the fifties.
It rained a bit throughout the week, but mostly, it was clear and frosty. But not so cold we passed up our morning walk.
Activity has picked up at the feeder. We saw a flicker and scrub jay duke it out over some sunflower seeds and there has been a mix of birds at the suet block.
By mid-morning the tray is full of small brown birds, mostly sparrows with some finches, juncos, and chickadees mixed in. The suet box has been reloaded with a new block and the nuthatches are very happy.
The Crooked River level is still too low. Official word is it will come back up to normal winter flows after the first of November.
We hope that is the case, not so much for our personal enjoyment, but for the health of a river full of fish with a lot less water.
We still set up chairs on it’s bank and enjoyed a picnic lunch with mugs of hot tea and sandwiches. There was plenty of wildlife to see.
Forecasts suggest a break from this cold front.
We’re definitely into the late stages of fall. Winter hints at it’s arrival by stripping the trees of leaves and draining color from the forest.
The small critters join the birds in a feverish search for stores ahead of the season. With our weatherized house and yard, we can refocus on cold weather destinations and snowy adventures.