Saturday, December 6, 2008

Winter Birds

One of the Black-capped Chickadees takes a sunflower seed from a handful I had scattered on the snow-covered wood pile. If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you will be able to see the chickadee's tongue.

The little Red-breasted Nuthatch is here most days and is a delight to watch. *He is certainly outnumbered by the chickadees, but that does not bother the nuthatch at all. If a chickadee is in his space, he scolds with a short "pfft". He might even take an aggressive hop towards the chickadee causing the poor reluctant bird to fly off to a nearby perch and wait until the nuthatch has left.

This female Pine Grosbeak sits on a branch close to the bird feeders, looking very calm.

*I'm not positive that this is a male Red-breasted Nuthatch.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Lake

One week ago, Sunday


It was overcast when I stopped at the public access road to take a picture of the lake which had turned milky white from the freezing action. I noticed that someone else had been here testing the ice by throwing a couple of small rocks onto it. They didn't break the surface, but it is by no means safe to go out onto the ice yet.
This photo was taken from the bridge at the river channel. It is always the last bit of the lake to freeze.
There are still a few floating waterlily leaves in the water by the bridge. This stream stays open well into the winter, and it is where we can usually find the Bald Eagle perched looking for his or her supper.

Since taking these photos we have had some milder weather and rain as well. When we drove past the lake yesterday, there were puddles of water everywhere on the surface of the now glassy thin ice.