A Snowbird in Paradise

I love to check out the critter footprints in the snow the morning after even an inch of snow.

Here I identified mice, rabbit, and squirrel.  Could be something more exotic some day.  As we drove East on a road away from the new Humbug Marsh Wildlife preserve, we noticed a coyote loping through a yard along the road.  He looked to be well-fed and rather larger than others I have seen trotting along the roadside in the past.  Given the wildlife in the Marsh I wonder why he would leave that buffet.

Mother always said when she saw a "Snowbird" (Junco) there would be snow within 24 hours.  This little guy has been around the last 2 days and, sure enough, we have had snow  the last few evenings.  I know this doesn't make sense scientifically, but it happens so often it makes one wonder.

This Nuthatch and a pair of Chick-A-Dees are also winter visitors I never seem to see in summer.  I am being careful about feeding the birds.  A neighbor will take over with my left-over seed cakes while we are in Florida.  I leave a few days between feedings in the seed feeder to be sure the other birds have other places to get food.

This is the first orchid I have ever had bloom for me.  I rescued a couple sad pieces of orchids from under a neighbor's bushes when we were cleaning up her property (now in the hands of her children who live far away).  Needless to say I am thrilled and hopeful that I finally know how to care for these plants.  Another one that was a gift is near to blooming also.  Those two pots will be going back to Florida with us.  I don't know if I will leave them there or cart them back to Michigan again in Spring.