![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPpPdvEoRPRZRV1xP4oZ5LrCvMx9kt2M3WvcTHoYsnTk3/collage_20260107.jpg) So Christmas has reached Russia. In Russia, Christmas is 13 days behind the rest of the Christian World. As patriots like to say, Russia has a special path, the best and most correct one, than the rest of the world. This morning, Christmas greeting cards have been coming to me from friends via messengers. I ask them, Will you celebrate? The answers are ambiguous - someone says that we will sit down at the table, and someone does not. But when asked how you will celebrate, everyone says the same thing - as always, alcohol and food. In Russia, we don't know how to celebrate Christmas; only real believers pray all night in church. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbmNHxqeG1zp4z2T3n3gSaKJJSJPeivKN9PqQxKSXpqZf/20260107.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmbmNHxqeG1zp4z2T3n3gSaKJJSJPeivKN9PqQxKSXpqZf/20260107.jpg) January 7. The time is 7:49. I had planned to get up at 6 a.m. today, but I stayed in bed until 7 a.m. because I had gone to bed at 2 a.m. yesterday. The sky cleared of clouds at night, but the red sunrise indicated a windy day ahead. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmatpuVhhqzigYwNmFvUQCrQRHdwLqRPoHa9QTZcDv2uKz/20260107_1.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmatpuVhhqzigYwNmFvUQCrQRHdwLqRPoHa9QTZcDv2uKz/20260107_1.jpg) The horizon is starting to lighten, but a large cloud is moving in from the south. At first, I thought she was backing away from us, but it turned out to be the opposite. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcj4J9qwv4p1srWmCWnZKUaNYEqV8yK2HdvvwyoRJu3W6/20260107_2.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcj4J9qwv4p1srWmCWnZKUaNYEqV8yK2HdvvwyoRJu3W6/20260107_2.jpg) The moon is still visible in the western sky. The chickadees have already arrived at the feeder. The early bird has more time to eat. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmetjATcwWn79kRhkec5FXg7HKaA5Zi56oALLAvaZWhuLQ/20260107_4.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmetjATcwWn79kRhkec5FXg7HKaA5Zi56oALLAvaZWhuLQ/20260107_4.jpg) 8:45 a.m., the sun has already risen above the horizon, it has become much lighter. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQ2JqFndY6jBeTNDZB9koD8RBYe3aMh6499evxrex2zQq/20260107_3.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmQ2JqFndY6jBeTNDZB9koD8RBYe3aMh6499evxrex2zQq/20260107_3.jpg) The sun rises higher, the moon sinks lower, there are even more birds in the tree, people started walking on the street, and I went for a walk with my dog. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUotyFoTKQps2AMgg1q1YG7yyusvYsyvitbryWWMKismY/20260107_6.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmUotyFoTKQps2AMgg1q1YG7yyusvYsyvitbryWWMKismY/20260107_6.jpg) I came home, the sun was already shining well on the tree, which had a lot of birds, among which there were about a dozen Redpolls. This is again one of the signs of climate change towards warming. I had never seen these birds near a feeding trough in winter before. They arrived in autumn and spring. But at the moment, I see flocks of Redpolls even in the woods and meadows. A small fluffy ball. In the morning, the thermometer was -19 degrees. It is difficult for a small bird to keep heat in its body, but it has fluff for this and it knows how to control it. And most importantly, we need food. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSXRgMab47kbLeDNnr4ZVejM2ExRBeZBTjkhottgqVqWw/20260107_13.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmSXRgMab47kbLeDNnr4ZVejM2ExRBeZBTjkhottgqVqWw/20260107_13.jpg) This year I bought 100 kilograms of sunflower seeds. I specially took small seeds so that it would be easier for small birds to crush the husks with their small beaks. But the birds eat carelessly; they rummage through the pile of seeds in the feeder, and a lot of food falls on the snow. But the fallen seeds do not disappear; feathered boys and girls are already eating them at the bottom. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVUzZWExsQmT5DgnHBoz8Wi1UjtuXfGZJYSvLwHMfpq7g/20260107_5.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmVUzZWExsQmT5DgnHBoz8Wi1UjtuXfGZJYSvLwHMfpq7g/20260107_5.jpg) In spring, there is a thick layer of husk under the tree. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQma2hU9VuhaeScrxaBbQvechbfLoQ1NpQaVZ4KW4cr1nVa/20260107_11.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQma2hU9VuhaeScrxaBbQvechbfLoQ1NpQaVZ4KW4cr1nVa/20260107_11.jpg) * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPZY7xcz5nVAEftT8QuE8KcjirpfcR9wLqmDUpVDFJvmT/20260107_10.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmPZY7xcz5nVAEftT8QuE8KcjirpfcR9wLqmDUpVDFJvmT/20260107_10.jpg) This is a rare guest in my tree. A chickadee with a thin blindfold. Of course I'm joking. Blue Tit, she always flies alone, and I have not seen the same second bird next to her. As Chuck Norris used to say, I'm a lone wolf. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcGBN9L3KAUVWvnWfYrpBce1mFsuMvRVCVMtDmi7QwBE4/20260107_8.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmcGBN9L3KAUVWvnWfYrpBce1mFsuMvRVCVMtDmi7QwBE4/20260107_8.jpg) Today, even an ordinary tit looks like a ball. She also fluffed out to keep warm. But chickadees don't sit much on branches; they move and eat a lot. By the way, they arrive before everyone else and fly home last. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmexoKvjVPpm3dMdCiGMEsAHdnXxmdn3UJPGY97bDUryTU/20260107_9.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmexoKvjVPpm3dMdCiGMEsAHdnXxmdn3UJPGY97bDUryTU/20260107_9.jpg) Sparrows, simple village sparrows. Now they are also my regular visitors. Two years ago, they only came to my tree occasionally, but now they come every day. Maybe it's a new generation that's used to getting food here in winter. * * * * * * * * * * [![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZbqRqyddy7Z8nTyRFpxuxWEFoKvBKMFLQjgouZpiDgsJ/20260107_12.jpg)](https://images.ecency.com/DQmZbqRqyddy7Z8nTyRFpxuxWEFoKvBKMFLQjgouZpiDgsJ/20260107_12.jpg) In the afternoon, the sun disappeared, and clouds covered the sky. The day passes quickly, and again I have the feeling that I'm not doing anything in time. There are only 4 days of Christmas holidays left. I have not yet shown the jay, which is a regular customer, the Hawfinch, the Bullfinch, and the green birds. I showed them quite recently. Or was it a long time ago? ***I declare my bird restaurant open and invite all birds to it*** * * * * * * * * * * [![image.png](https://images.ecency.com/DQmTmqSxirfGYoZyzkjjjCoHjvUd4Z2QzBxoHCvoBp53wVc/image.png)](https://ecency.com/created/hive-106444) _{*banner created by @barbara-orenya*}
![imagehive1.png](https://images.ecency.com/DQmYbD5H7vX4jU6TiFbUKDRt1VvurE3tmJNBgpmF4jxEYkW/imagehive1.png) ***Don’t Worry, Be Happy*** _{(C) Bobby McFerrin} _@apnigrich ![](https://images.ecency.com/DQmdNkuUGwFFCjDbTagfBfakLRE8shLea64nDEXNMZbnoF7/image.png)

Christmas 2017