Noooo, make it stop!  All the snow is melting.  This is not supposed to happen in January.  I just came in from outside and the water is running off the roof like spring day.  The gravel on the driveway is showing.  I wanted to go x-country skiing and skating this weekend and it looks like neither activity is going to happen.

I'm not liking the mild weather but the birds sure are.  There is a flurry of feathered activity in the backyard.  I was getting dive-bombed by the chickadees from every direction.  

The pine grosbeaks were singing from the top branches of my neighbor's spruce tree.  The bright red males were taking turns at a nearby tray feeder.  They appeared to be quite happy that I refilled the tray.  The deer came during the day and cleaned it out.

The pileated woodpecker hasn't been to the deck feeder in a while.  It has been busy on an old poplar snag.  I had the tree taken down about eight years ago and asked the arborist to leave an eight foot stump for the birds.  The bark has been peeling off and the woodpeckers have been feasting on the grubs.  Last summer a tree swallow used one of the big holes for its nest.  It will be interesting to see what kind of visitors the snag will attract in the spring.  There are many more cavities to be occupied this year.