Winter kicks off

November was very mild but suddenly winter is here, a month earlier than last year. We don’t have much snow yet but it’s been cold, at night around -20°C (-4°F) and during daytime around -10°C (14°F). With a few layers of pullovers I can just about manage it.

We have spotted a new visitor lurking around the bird feeder hanging from the apple tree visible from our kitchen window. Strangely, the winter birds do not seem to mind the larger newcomer that is sitting on the upper branches of the tree every now and then. I zoomed it standing a few steps away from the window to avoid disturbing it so the photo is not very clear. As far as we can tell, the creature looking straight to the camera is a female Eurasian sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) (varpushaukka) – far more dangerous for the winter birds than our Jack. The little ones should watch out!