Angry Bird

I think this StellarJay was annoyed with me for making him work so hard for the suet hanging from a tree branch. Unlike the Scrub Jays who stand on top of the holder and lean over the side to grab a beakfull, these guys launch themselves from the ground straight up in the air to grab a bite before plummeting back to the ground. It was impossible to capture him in action, and clearly I even had a bit of trouble getting him in focus when he was sitting still.These birds are characters and I love their blue eyebrows....

The quail were huddled in the driveway, blown up like balloons against the cold, and the woodpeckers swooped in at will. Despite the fact that they have stuffed acorns into every nook and cranny on the property, they are apparently saving those just in case OilMan decides not to put suet and seeds out for them.

We took Ozzie to a park where a blind eye is turned if dogs are off leash, particularly if they are running through the creeks and carrying sticks bigger than they are*. He was feeling particularly frisky and garnered mostly smiles rather than scowls of disapproval.

I found the bird action a lot more exciting than the football action which, on the American fields of play seem to culminate either n motionless players lying on the ground or ambulances driving onto the field with regularity.  I was glad to hear that the one who was carted off to the hospital on a back board today was "able to move all his fingers and toes". 

We went to bed so early last night that there is still a fair amount of still sparkling wine left tonight. I'm making sure I can still move all my fingers and toes with my feet up in front of the fire and a glass in hand. My socks are labeled L and R just in case I forget which foot is which....