January Doldrums.

1-18-22 SHORT HILLS: It’s been a dismal January. Not a lot of snow so far, plenty of cold and wind, a little sun and most days warm enough to walk the dogs. It’s the most unpleasant corner of the year, but we are edging up to a month past the Solstice, and the days will be getting longer. 

I read somewhere that the white-throated sparrows were in trouble as a species, but we have had at least a dozen here at our feeders every day, more than most winters. There were a couple of robins in the yard yesterday, near a holly tree that still had a few berries. It seems to me that they should be further south, but I guess they know where they want to be.

The dogs spend more time outside than we do and enjoy the cold. I need my Carhartt gear to be outside.  

Maizie likes lying in pachysandra.

Bally likes the hillside to bark at the mail carriers.

White-throated sparrow under the feeders in front. You can see the upper and lower beaks, the tongue, and a sunflower seed.

Four sparrows and a junco.

No problem finding him.