The snow finally stopped falling in the mid-afternoon today.  Between 9pm last night and 9am this morning, about 8 inches of snow fell.  I couldn't tell where the deck steps were.  All this snow gave me a work out to keep up with the shoveling.  Don't get me wrong, I love shoveling.  There is a real feeling of satisfaction when I get to the end of the driveway and see the high banks on either side.

All the bird feeders were wearing 'marshmallow' hats.  The tray feeders were so full of snow that there was no way for the grosbeaks to get at their seeds.  They were perched in the tree branches while I cleared the snow and refilled the feeders.  As soon as I moved away, they swooped down and feasted all day.

I measured the snow on the picnic table.  There was 29cm.  When the snow stopped falling there was about 31cm.  The grain dish for the deer was buried.  I found it in the middle of the yard, refilled it and moved it closer to a path that I cleared out.  It confused the deer that visited today.

Two fawns came in and were very anxious about approaching the dish.  A while later a buck, two does and a fawn came in.  They were all hesitant about approaching the dish as well. 

The does did not like each other.  One chased the other.  I found out why a few minutes later.  The buck that came in earlier in the day waited in the wings.  He had his eye on the aggressive doe.  He jumped the fence and came after her but she was too fast.  She took off in the opposite direction and jumped the fence.  He was right behind her.  She played 'hard to get' as she raced between the trees with the buck in hot pursuit.  

Good thing they took off into the trees.  I saw enough action in the backyard today without being witness to his booty call.