eye shields

I've occasionally noticed something about the eyes on some of the birds I observe: milky or filtered texture.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology http://www.allaboutbirds.org, birds have what is known as a nictitating membrane or “3rd eyelid”.

This membrane is a translucent or clear eyelid, closest to the eyeball. A bird will close these membranes over their eyes but can still see through them to protect their eyes when needed, such as in flight, while hunting, or to dive under water.

This Northern Flicker may have been trying to shield his eyes from flying bits of bark as he probed for insects.

critters at the woods' edge

This Eastern Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) has a thick fur coat in cold weather, but does not turn white like the native hares do.  This may be the rabbit that saunters around the fenced veggie garden all spring, looking for new lettuce to enjoy. They live in the brush pile at the edge of the woods, and like to munch on corn and other seeds that blow out of the tray feeders on windy days.  There seemed to be some accumulated in the sheltered depths of the toad haven, half buried by snow.

still sub-zero

Watching the feeders and counting birds today for Cornell FeederWatch http://feederwatch.org/.

All the birds are fluffed up as they hunt frantically for food today; it was near 20F below zero overnight.  The wind makes it feel colder.

A pair of House Finches tried to outdo the colorful beauty of the male Northern Cardinal as they flitted to and fro between the seed tray and the Ninebark bush.

Sub-zero

Sub-zero!  Really sub-zero.  Thanks to Winter Storm Hercules, a polar vortex is invading most of the nation with record-setting low temperatures.  Tonight's forecast low: minus 24F.  Tomorrow's high temperature: minus 13F.  All with high winds.

Today, with the sun shining and only 3 degrees below zero, all the critters were stocking up on food.  I put extra suet and nuts out in the bird trays, and corn on the ground. This Bluejay was trying to fluff up his down underlayer for maximum effect.