Goldfinch and Squirrels

Goldfinch and Gray Squirrels seem to be the only critters entertaining us these days.  The Goldfinch I understand, hungry for food in the middle of this deep freeze, but I thought squirrels hibernated, at least during the coldest snowiest part of the winter.  They're more active than I expected.

A few of the Goldfinch are there even in the early morning dusk when I wake up, most of them on the ground while a few fight for spots on the feeder.

They do give the back yard an air of busy-ness, because something is actually going on out there in the typically -20°C early morning temperatures.

There's a constant coming and going, constant movement, which still pictures like this don't really capture.

Several times I have spotted a single House Finch in with the Goldfinch flock.  Can you see the hint of a red breast on the bird closest to the feeder pole?

Here's a short video to show the constant movement and coming and going of those Goldfinch.  It's a much busier spot in the yard than a static picture reveals.  No sound, shot from inside.

The other critters are this pair of Gray Squirrels.  Now I must admit I have allowed myself to have an all too human bias against the aggressive Gray and Black Squirrels (colour phases of the same species) in comparison to the cheeky little Red Squirrel who visited at our last house.

But I think I may have to change my tune and just enjoy observing the antics of these two.  So far they're not disturbing the feeders themselves, which are so far 'squirrel-proof', just feeding on the ground in between scampers up the trees.

But I didn't expect to find them out in snow like this.  It was snowing so thickly the camera couldn't even focus on this one.

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