Birding w/ Jack Frost at Great Meadows NWR

I planned on a morning hike in Concord today, hoping to catch that nice golden light of early sunrise.  Got up at 6 and was at the refuge shortly after 7AM.  I was the only car in the parking lot, but some walkers and joggers soon passed me on the dike trail.   It was very frosty - 25 degrees - but warmed up nicely as the sun  moved higher in the sky.

Downy Woodpecker

American Coot

Canada goose

Canada geese

Mute Swans

Canada Geese

I read a fan post recently on Old Farmer's Almanac's Facebook page which related the following Creek Native American tradition:  "If migrating geese fly in a perfect V formation, it will be a mild winter.  If the V is raggedy, it will be a cold winter."   So, are these Vs perfect or raggedy?

Mute Swans

Song Sparrow

Accipiter (prob. female Cooper's Hawk)
life bird!

I think this accipiter just  made an attempt to catch the red squirrel below.  There was a lot of screeching, and it was coming from the squirrel!

Red Squirrel (aka hawk bait)

Mink!

a little closer

Downy woodpecker

American Tree Sparrow

Song Sparrow 

Hooded Merganser (female)

poss. Swamp Sparrow

Mallards

Goldfinches

Black-capped Chickadee

Vesper's Sparrow

(altho no white visible on tail in this position)
life bird!