The days continue cold and windy, not an easy time out there for the birds. Today I did some field sketching. There was a lot of activity at the feeders - all three of our regular species of woodpecker came in for breakfast, the Red-bellied, the Downy and the Hairy.  I sketched the female Red-bellied Woodpecker (center) when she flew in to the seed tray. The male Downy Woodpecker is at the lower left, and the female Hairy Woodpecker at the lower right. There's a real size difference between these two species, which you can see relative to the suet cake they both perched on. Assorted other species in the margins...

(center) Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus
(lower left) Downy Woodpecker, Dryobates pubescens
(lower right) Hairy Woodpecker, Dryobates villosus

Birds were scarce at lunchtime on the UConn campus today, and though we found six species, and Jorge photographed a few, the Rock Pigeons seemed to sum up the day better than the others. They appear huddled together for warmth against the 24F air temperature which prevailed for most of the day. Like yesterday's Cooper's Hawk, the pigeons hang out near the horse barns - no doubt enjoying grain left uneaten by the horses.

Rock Pigeon, Columba livia, Mansfield Connecticut