Pas de Deux
Our snow had reached a thickness of one foot by yesterday and Amanda had been putting food out on our terrace for the birds.
We had seen various birds feeding, including Robins, but yesterday, for the first time, a Grey Wagtail turned up. It turned out to be a stroppy little thing and when the next Robin arrived he tried to drive it away. Bad move! Robins are not as frail as they look and it turned into a right old punch-up with the two of them actually rolling around on the snow.
This happened two or three times during the day although no lasting harm was done but I think they parted the best of enemies.
We also had a Muntjac Deer turn up which was nothing unusual but the unusual bit was when another Muntjac appeared as well. Muntjac are solitary animals and don't go round in groups so we were interested to see what happened when they spotted each other.
When they did catch site of each other they froze, not literally you understand even though there was a lot of snow, and gave each other a frosty stare then went on their individual ways.
Muntjacs aren't as stroppy as birds then.
3 thoughts on “Pas de Deux”
I keep reading about all the bad weather in Europe. Doesn’t sound like fun at all. But at least you have some entertainment. Now do you have snow shoes? I have really been thinking of getting some, but I am not sure how my knee would fare with them. Of course if I bought them, then we would not get enough snow to use
Annecyborn(Quote)
We don’t have snow shoes and, unless things have changed, would only use them about once every 20 years.
Our snow started to thaw late yesterday and it was actually raining after dark. We now have large patches of ground showing and at least three quarters of the snow has gone. According to the weather forecasters It’s supposed to be dry this week although very cold and, of course, I believe them.
Barry(Quote)
Good Morning all:
A foot of snow followed by rain, freezing rain!
That’s the kind of stuff I hated as a professional driver. 
(See last year’s Christmas photos on my site.) Worst yet, our wildlife can really have it tough if there was any remaining snow. The frozen crust makes it very difficult for our smaller animals, turkeys included, to get adequate food. Predators, (coyotes, foxes, the odd wolf, bob cats etc) can catch turkeys, squirrels, partridge, rabbits because they can’t run or hide properly. Deer can find it difficult as well depending on how deep the underlying snow is. Very small critters, mice & voles, usually tunnel thru the snow at ground level.
For us human types, a foot of snow is usually cleared up in a day or so. (We have the equipment!) Here its been, by your standards, cold – highs in 20’s and 30’s F. We have barely an inch of snow on the ground. Diamond Geezer has a nice article about snow comparison.
It’s beginning to look like it could be a very interesting winter. Glad I’m retired?
P.S. Got a new computer — don’t ask
Old Guy USA(Quote)