Egads.

For the first time in many years, I have shopped on Black Friday. It was for something I needed (a new winter jacket) from a large retailer, and it was 70% off by the time all the discounts had been applied. OTOH, I did this online, so it's not like I was in line at 4am for it (*not* doing that. Evar.).

J took the pump out of the pond yesterday. The birds were immediately concerned, hopping around in the rill, looking for the running water. There was a skin of ice over the pond away from the rill, and once the pump came out, the pond quickly froze over. Not surprising, as the temperature hasn't gotten above freezing in the backyard since... Tuesday, I think. There was a squirrel poking along the edges of the pond looking for water this morning. I have ordered one of these for the birdbath, in hopes of saving me a few trips out with hot water.

Other bird news:

• six blue jays in the rowan yesterday
• three bluebirds on the birdbath (or maybe they were swallows -- they were bluer than I expect bluebirds to be)
• four cardinals in the rosebush
• too many juncos, tufted titmice, chickadees, sparrows, and nuthatches to count (they keep moving, which makes it even harder to count)
• at least three different woodpeckers at the seed feeder/hopping up the trees

I have discovered that the squirrels leave the bell feeder alone, unlike a suet feeder. I'll probably put out a suet feeder anyway, but not until there's snow.