Winter Skywatch

 

20th February at 07:16

Thursday and Friday were of the kind that kept me "busy enough" without blogging. Thursday was laundry day for me; and on Friday I had a delivery from the supermarket booked between 10-13. For a change, they had put me almost first on the list rather than last, so I got my delivery already around 10:15; which also gave me time for a walk around the cemetery after lunch. The weather forecasts for the upcoming week being rather gloomy, I thought I had better seize the opportunity. It wasn't as sunny as the previous day but also not quite as cold, so kind of nice anyway.

I did not make a lot of photo stops on that walk, but I noticed that a second bird feeder has been put up on the other side of the same tree as where the "little red house" one is. (Cf my "calendar photo" for February.)  I think the green one is meant for the bigger birds... 
 

I also stopped for a photo of the one family grave of ours in this cemetery - belonging to my maternal great-grandparents. (That grave is still officially in the care of my aunt, who lives elsewhere, but I keep an eye on it as I often walk by there anyway). The hares seem to have been visiting (actually, there are very few spots in the cemetery not covered in hare tracks!) - but I don't think neither old spruce branches nor dry heather is in their diet. The winter grave decoration seemed as intact as can be expected after nearly four months... 

Late last night, before I went to bed, I noticed that it had started snowing outside again - but very tiny snow flakes. There were weather warnings issued along the west coast, but the "warnings" not stretching quite as far inland as here. This morning, I did wake up to the sound of snow ploughs outside; but so far it seems we only got just about enough new snow to cover old footprints on the lawns. (2-3 cm)  

As it's hard to predict whether the next shower will be snow or rain, or the next few days predominantly icy or slushy, after breakfast I took out a couple of bags to the bins, and then "a few extra steps" (10 min or so) in the immediate neighbourhood in connection with that. I don't intend to go out again today; and tomorrow will depend on how the weather develops.

 Linking to Skywatch Friday

Birdwatching

The little Red House bird feeder in the cemetery has stayed in place since its last return; and the birds seem to appreciate it. The ones using it that I've managed to identify so far are Great Tit (very common around here), Bullfinch and (I think) Greenfinch. *

Not much use trying to capture any of them with my phone; but yesterday when I had my other camera, I managed to zoom some in from a "respectful distance".

* (Swedish: Talgoxe, Domherre, Grönfink.)

 

 

Peek-a-boo

Guess what else that was missing around here has turned up again?

Today

 Yes! The red birdfeeder is back!

I stood and stared at it for a while before it hit me what was different about it. It was obviously the same one - apart from one thing... Can you spot it?

Before

Before                                                     After

 They have given it a larger roof. I suppose the reason is that the old roof was smaller than the feeding board at the bottom; and a larger roof provides a bit better protection. (?)

 

Weekend Reflections, and a Mystery

 

The Sun made an appearance today, for the first time in I'm-not-sure-how-long, and I extended my walk down to the riverside, hoping to catch a couple of reflection photos.

 * * *

After that, I walked back via the cemetery, where earlier in the week I had noted the sudden appearance of an unusual birdfeeder ...

 ... and then, yesterday, the disappearance of the same!

It was still gone today (just a hole in the ground to show where it was), and I could not find that it had been put up somewhere else instead. So for now I'm left with guesses, like: Was putting it up in the first place perhaps "unauthorised" - as in not approved by those in charge of the place? Did someone object to the bright red colour? Or did it just not work as intended, or in that particular spot?? Or did a random passer-by fall in love with it and decided it would look better in their own garden??? ... 

Unless it turns up again in some other spot, I guess I shall never know!!!

Meanwhile, here is another bird feeder in the cemetery. This one has been there for years, is still standing - and seems to be well looked after, and "doing its job".