Offer it....

...And They Will Come...

It snowed a bit overnight, leaving a fresh blanket of white over everything and making a walk in the woods a very appealing prospect. AND, the temperature was only minus 5C - positively balmy, so I was off to the marsh. 

I guess the weather wasn't for everyone, and yes, the roads were somewhat icy, but for whatever reason, I was the only one down there! Just me... and a lot of hungry birds! They peered at me expectantly as I walked down the trail, and followed my every footstep....If I as much as raised my arm to take a photo, they flew down from the trees and kept flitting back and forth across my path, at times almost landing ON me! The message was clear...  

I just happened to have a little bag of birdseed in the car, so I turned around and went back to retrieve it, almost tripping over a young deer who was hanging out on the path too! He seemed unconcerned about my presence..and then was VERY interested in what I brought back from the car. He watched me holding up my hand with something the birds obviously liked and he seemed to want some too! He came up so close that I could have easily handed him some! ( extra) Now that was weird..the deer are not usually that friendly! This was turning out to be a fun day...

I never did make it to the marsh..I was having too much fun en route with the birds, and of course, the deer...The chickadees are the bravest ones.. They are so used to being fed, that they don't need any coaxing at all. They will even land in twos! The cardinals though, are leery..I have never seen them eat out of anyone's hand, but they do hang around watching, maybe wishing they could be that brave? They were out in full force today, but still holding back. 

 And then, a lucky break for my main blip today....a hungry Downy Woodpecker! He landed several times to get a bite...What a cutie...He is not a regular, so he got top billing.

So, if you go down in the woods today, take a little birdseed..Offer it up and you will be surprised by who will come!