the party / December 17

The red-tailed hawk was watching from his tree today.  My artist also group had a little holiday get together. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), red-tailed hawk, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

December 16 / the chill

Extreme cold warning issued in Toronto - when temperature will be minus 15 without the windchill. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (pair), cardinal (pair), mourning dove, red-breasted nuthatch

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

the goldfinch / December 15

Among the birds today was a goldfinch.  It's harder to spot them in winter because their colour becomes duller olive, and not so yellow. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (male), chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, goldfinch, house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

December 14 / the kittens

Had to shovel the driveway this morning - thankfully not single handed.  Got some groceries, stopped for bacon and egg lunch, then popped into the pet store for fun.  Two adorable 5 month old ginger kittens, waiting to be adopted.  It would not take much to convince me, if I didn't already have a cat!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), chickadee, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

the 13th / December 13

Friday the 13th.  Lots of birds again.  I saw something fly by the front yard, I think it was a hawk, but it was too quick for me. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker (female), chickadee

Fall visitors: junco, carolina wren

Overhead: gull, hawk??

December 12 / the sun

Still cold, but a sunny day, which both the birds and I are enjoying.  A trio of house finches in the garden today, two females and a male I believe. 

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker (female), house finch (pair), chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

the cold (again) / December 11

The birds seem to be staying warm somewhere today.

Common birds: house sparrow

December 10 / Human Rights Day

Cold again, though happily not experiencing the freezing rain we saw some of yesterday. 

Common birds: cardinal (pair), house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the cold / December 9

It's cold!  Maybe the birds don't like it either?

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (female)

Fall visitors: junco

December 8 / the sushi

So, I had a quiet day in, having been busy going downtown and out locally several times this week - which was not a bad thing by any means, but nice to take a break.  I even decided not to cook dinner, and ordered sushi instead.

Common birds: house sparrow

the win / December 7

Liverpool won again today!

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair), starling, chickadee, goldfinch, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

December 4-6 / the town

Downtown a couple of times.

Common birds: house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull

the train / December 3

Made it to the One of a Kind Show this afternoon, didn't see it all, but stopped to chat with some friends.  Also went to our artists' meeting in Port Credit. 

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow

December 2 / the pause

A quiet day.

Common birds: house sparrow, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the OOAK / December 1

Definitely have a cold, staying at home again.  I was going to go the the One of a Kind Show, but will have to go on a different day. 

Common birds: house sparrow, downy woodpecker (male)

Fall visitors: junco

November 30 / St. Andrew's Day

I think I have my friend's cold, but luckily I don't have to do much today. 

Common birds: house sparrow, red-breasted nuthatch, downy woodpecker, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the set-up / November 29

More arts work today - hung some work in a local coffee shop this morning. 

Common birds: cardinal (male), house sparrow, chickadee

Fall visitors: junco

November 28 / the trumpet

I spent much of the day downtown, dropped off some work for a holiday pop-up shop, and went to a matinee at the TSO, including some Mahler and Alison Balsom playing trumpet. 

Common birds: house sparrow

Fall visitors: junco

the teeth / November 27

Dental checkup!  A little bird visited the feeder this morning, which I think was a carolina wren - reddish brown, buff chest, light eye bar, long 'perked' tail, some dark flecks around the base of the tail.  Also dropped off some silk clutches to a local shop. 

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, cardinal (pair), downy woodpecker

Fall visitors: junco, carolina wren

November 26 / the treacle

Had a lunch and baking day with a friend - showed her how to make a treacle tart.

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, cardinal (pair)

Fall visitors: junco

the mondays / November 25

I have some catching up to do again!

Common birds: house sparrow, chickadee, mourning dove

Fall visitors: junco

Overhead: gull