This Red-breasted Nuthatch hangs out in my back yard. Last spring I started to get serious about bird identification, starting with a purchase of Peterson’s “Birding by Ear” cd. Then I received Stan Tekeila’s Michigan Birds cd and Sibley and Kaufmann bird guides as gifts. A few weeks ago I was asked to help with the Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 14th at Hidden Lake Gardens. So for the past few days I’ve been reviewing my field guides to touch up on my visual identification skills. I’ve also been waiting patiently for our first good snow to do some cross country skiing. I was at Hidden Lake Gardens yesterday and there was barely enough snow to ski. I decided to just hike the Pine Trail instead. Today there will be no hiking. Today I’m working on a woodcut for the Chocopalooza Festival this winter at Adrian High School. I hope to have a photo of one or two finished prints in about two weeks.
The Heron 
Good luck on count day next week. Hopefully some good birds will be out and about.