The whirlwind of moving and change continues to swirl, but is slowing to a nice, comfortable pace. I officially started work yesterday and have a number of appointments and visits. Started the sermon, too!

I live downstairs as the parsonage undergoes painting and carpeting transformations. However, I put my love seat upstairs in the living room so I can watch birds on and off throughout the day. My feeders up front have lured Black-Capped Chickadees and Sparrows. The berries on the tree attract Bohemian Waxwings. I found a Nuthatch on the tree-trunk and a fat Robin in the branches. I cannot believe a Robin lingers here.

I have explored a bit of the countryside, looking for Snowy Owls, but have not seen any–yet. I hope to catch a glimpse of one on Thanksgiving Day. I am going to Long Lake National Wildlife Refuge, which is about an hour away and one of the top birding spots in the US. Of course, most of the birds are gone now, but several winter birds should be out.

While wandering, I found a State Park on a lake. It features hiking trails around the whole park! Also, on the way back, I saw a muskrat hut, or push-up. I thought it was a tall beaver dam, but after checking around, I learned about muskrats. Wikipedia says:

“In streams, ponds or lakes, muskrats burrow into the bank with an underwater entrance. These entrances are 6–8 inches wide. In marshes, push-ups are constructed from vegetation and mud. These push-ups are up to three feet in height. In snowy areas, they keep the openings to their push-ups closed by plugging them with vegetation, which they replace every day. Some muskrat push-ups are swept away in spring floods and have to be replaced each year. Muskrats also build feeding platforms in wetlands. They help maintain open areas in marshes, which helps to provide habitat for aquatic birds”

The push-up that I saw was tall like this one, but on the ice, like the one below.

I keep promising house and church photos. Soon! Happy Thanksgiving!

Bohemian Waxwing eating berries, looks just like the berry eaters on my tree.

Snowy Owl