Birds at the feeder

On a cold day, the bird feeders provide a regular United Nations of varieties to look at. That's a chestnut-backed chickadee on the suet, a red-breasted nuthatch on the black feeder, a song sparrow on the branch and a downy woodpecker flapping around in the bottom centre of the shot.

Crow in snow

I've developed a new interest in birds, and would eventually like to be doing more photography of them. Crows are handy because they don't mind the attention.

Yard rat

The problem with putting out food for the birds and the squirrels is that sooner or later, you attract new friends. Like this guy, who we took quite a shine to. Unfortunately, so did the cat down the street.

Grey squirrel at feeder

Grey squirrels commute along the fence in our Esquimalt backyard, so we've taken to putting out peanuts in an old bird feeder for their enjoyment. Some can be coaxed to take a nut from your hand, but most have a healthy skittishness.