Whether you consider the call of the Red-winged Blackbird to be a song or a noise, I am always delighted in spring to hear my first familiar liquid and gurgling konk-la-ree.

Every winter a few stay around in southern Ontario near bird feeders. The two that we saw and heard this morning likely are doing this.

Due to the steady fall of wet snow on this -1 degree morning, I didn’t take photographs except from a few from my car. An recent costly experience with camera problems due to moisture has convinced me to refrain from wet weather photography.

There were many birds present including these robins enjoying sumac fruit:

This morning’s group:

I brought a few distinctive twigs to the car to photograph:

February brings the rain,
Thaws the frozen lake again.         – Sara Coleridge (1802–52)

Miles Hearn