Workwise, last week was quite a hectic one. It was also, for the most part, grey, gloomy and wet (and cold).

With the exception of Thursday. While it was a bit of a brutal day workwise, the temps reached almost double digits (Celcius), and the sun was shining bright and true. Around 3 pm, I got a bit of a break in the workload (had a little time to breathe between projects). I left my office to use the washroom, and as I looked out the window, I noticed a pile of Juncos playing in Willow Grove.

Juncos are a type of sparrow, all black, with a little white belly. We only see them here in the winter – some people call them snowbirds instead of Juncos. They also have a tendency to feed off the ground, making them easy prey. They are the main reason I cut down the seed heads in the catio yard – our first winter here, Burton brought me a dead Junco as a present – twice!

I think they are an exceedingly cute little bird!

So anyway – I decided I deserved some fresh air and sunshine for all my hard work. I grabbed the fancy camera and headed outside to see if I could get some Junco pics.

Of course, as soon as I got out there – the little guys scattered. But I figured if I settled in and sat quietly for a while, they’d come back.

While I was waiting…

My squirrelly friends came by. There were peanuts in the feeder and while these guys are still wary of me, they were willing to chance it for a peanut feast.

There’s something about the way squirrels hold their hands that just make them look so excessively polite!

If you look closely, you’ll see this one has a little leaf in his hand.

How the get peanuts from the ring still cracks me up. Hanging by their feet! That seed feeder in the background… it’s supposed to be squirrel proof. The cage slides down, blocking the holes, when anything heavier than a cardinal perches on it. Well… that’s all well and good, but the squirrels get the seed from it the same way they do the peanut ring – they hang from the top – gate averted!

I don’t mind if they get a little seed though – there’s more than enough for everyone.

It’s been mostly the grey squirrels in the yard this year – my black squirrels with the red markings have seemed to disappeared this year. There have been a few solid black squirrels playing about, but they are much more shy.

So was this guy.

He is a grey squirrel, but his coat had a very red/brown tinge to it. And no white belly like the other grey squirrels. He was digging about in the leaves by the shed, but took off when he realized he was being observed.

Of course, since there were peanuts in the ring, the Bluejays were about.

There were three of them (I think) coming and going.

I sat out there for over half an hour, but then then sun started to set, and it was getting much cooler. Despite the wait, my Juncos hadn’t returned. No doubt they are extra wary in my yard thanks to Burton…

But… as I got up to go inside, something flitted down into the pussywillow…

A wee little Junco at last! Only one, but I’ll take it!