A month ago we had our first taste of winter when a ten centimetre snowfall fell and covered the landscape. But then, the weather turned mild and in a few days' time the snow melted. And, unusually for the Ottawa region, we've had no snowfall since then, but for a few flurries that amounted to nothing left on the ground. At this time of year the ground is usually penetrated well by frost, and there's a good layer of snow over it which forms the basis for what's to follow.

None of that has yet occurred this year. Yes, it's been cold enough to penetrate the top layers of soil and freeze it solidly, but then a thaw occurs and we're back into that time when night-time freezing followed by day-time thawing takes place with the result being afternoon mud on the ravine trails.

We're no longer seeing an assortment of birds and plenty of them at the bird feeders. Since there's no snow there remains ample for birds to feed on in their natural foraging without being dependent on bird feeders, though we still get the doves coming around regularly, some juncos, chickadees, nuthatches, redpolls and occasionally the cardinals and hairy woodpeckers.

At the lower level feeder trays there are always crowds of squirrels. They can be depended upon to take the easy route in scrambling for food at any season of the year. Their antics provide us with plenty of amusing little scenarios as the red squirrels claim ownership of everything, challenging the black and the grey to stand up to them, which they rarely do, simply taking to awaiting their turn at the pleasure of the reds.

Last year and the year before, when the landscape was well snow-covered, we had occasional visits of rabbits to take their share of the seeds and nuts we put out, and that was always fascinating. As were the night-time and occasionally day-time visits of local raccoons. Particularly when a mother raccoon brought along her three kits and they all somehow fit themselves onto/into the tray holding the seeds and nuts.

This year, with pickings still in abundance in the broader environment, not yet covered with snow, our visitors have been predictably the squirrels, not yet any of the more exotic creatures that surround us.