January 17th - AiA Challenge rolls on

One of the most frequent visitors to our bird feeders in winter is the chickadee.  This afternoon I observed them make countless trips from the feeder to a nearby bush, hammer open a seed then hop to another branch and do a quick bill-wiping motion.

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapilla). Sharpie marker.
Willington, Connecticut, USA. January 17, 2015.

In January in Connecticut, we see loons along the coast. They have lost their distinctive black and white spotted pattern, and instead wear a drab coat of gray and white.

Common Loon (Gavia immer)
Connecticut, USA. January 2015.