Sunday

Thursday night we had a real winter snow storm with lots of blowing and drifting snow, but not much accumulation! It was a very heavy wet snow, and stuck to all the trees etc. What a beautiful sight.

It made for some great pictures even if I'm ready for it to be gone...

This is our front yard. I have 7 bird feeders out there, and now that the Great Backyard Bird Count is over, I have lots more birds. I'm sure it is because of the snow..

On Chautauqua Lake there is still some brave souls willing to venture out on the frozen lake even though the ice surely doesn't look very thick, and the temperature the day we were there was 43º

I have quite a few Downey woodpeckers, and I think they are just so cute.

To my surprise the other day, while I was watering the Orchids, I found this one blooming high up near the ceiling. It's on a hanging Orchid and has no fragrance.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

It's Tuesday

Can you believe it, another beautiful day! Night temps 24 deg. Day temps in the 40's. Now here are a couple shots you don't see in February very often. First I've seen lots of buckets on the trees to catch maple sap. Sap runs when the night time temps are below freezing and the day time temps are above freezing. We've had some like that lately.

Then it's amazing, but everywhere you look there are plenty of clothes hanging on the clothes lines. I love that smell of fresh laundry after it's been dried outside.. But in February?

I spotted this big Eagle this morning about 1/4 mile from our house. I'm glad they are sticking around this winter.

I wanted to show you this egg that our son Steve got from one of his hens last Saturday. The egg on the right is an extra large, and the one on the left is as big as a duck egg! That must have hurt! LOL It was a BIG double yolker. Granddaughter Becca had it for breakfast.
Happy Tuesday!

Thursday

Three nights ago we had some clear skies, and I tried my hand at a waxing crescent moon.

Well, it's here! We did get some snow last night. Not as much as the weather guys predicted, but at least the heavy rain is over for now.

It's actually pretty, and my winter birds are beginning to show up.
Have a great rest of the week.

More gloomy weather

Another gloomy day. sigh! 6" of snow again yesterday too, and it is heavy and wet. Not very good for taking pictures.
This Tree sparrow is tired of all the cold weather. As soon as Spring breaks we won't see these guys any more till next fall. We were treated to freezing rain last night also. Signs of it were everywhere.

Four and twenty Blackbirds in my front and back yards.

The female Red-winged blackbirds were scarce on this day. Mostly males everywhere.

I had to share this picture of Tauqua in his bed. I took all the stuffed animals off the bed, and he let me cover him and them with the pillow covers and I actually thought he was comfy.

Weekend Reflections

Winter is still with us, and tonight we are getting freezing rain. Mother nature wants us to know she is still in control.
Click on over to http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com/ to see lots more reflections.

Soggy Saturday

A really nasty day and sorry, but no pictures outside. These are from earlier in the week.
Plenty of visits from the White-breasted Nuthatches. Here he is again. I just can't let a day go by without more pictures of the Cooper's hawk.

This shot of a wet Mrs. Cardinal was taken by our oldest granddaughter Becca. I thought she did very well for an 8 yr. old.

The Crows come each day, sit up in the trees and look down at all the birds eating their food. They are very spooky.

On a ride to the peninsula at Lake Erie last week there was a bit of open water and I found a group of Mallard ducks resting on the ice. In the back are 3 Lesser Scaups.

Another group, large this time of Lesser Scaups and Common Goldeneyes. Of course the ever present Ringbilled Seagulls.

So much rain today. Lots of snow melting, but the creek out back is slowly rising, the sump pump is pumping water out from around the foundation of the house, and what is seeping into the basement. We are keeping a watch on everything. Snow on the way for tomorrow.

Temp now is 44 deg F - 6C. Stay dry all.

Skywatch Friday

Another really cold morning, but at least it is getting lighter much earlier, and it won't be long before we'll go on daylight savings time.
Happy Skywatch to everyone. Click on over to http://skyley.blogspot.com to see what the "gang" has done with this great meme.

It's Thursday

A large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds arrived this morning along with lots of Starlings and cleaned up all the seed on the ground. A sure sign of Spring? ? Along came this Robin too. I feel bad for him. There isn't much to eat, and the temps are really cold tonight. Right now at 8PM it's 11 deg! I'd invite him in, but Frosty was already licking her lips at the thought of a snack!

Speaking of Frosty, here she is. Peeking out from behind my coat.

On a trip earlier in the week, I spotted a Ruffed Grouse hen sitting in this bush. Of course by the time I got the van stopped and got the camera focused, I only had time for one picture before she flew away.

L0ts of deer out this time of year too. All looking for a bite to eat.

On the way home this woodchuck ran across the road, and up this snow bank. Some of the ground animals are beginning to appear. We have had a skunk in our back yard for the past 3 nights eating underneath the bird feeder. The Canada geese are showing up too and flying all around the neighborhood. I even saw a Brown Creeper this afternoon on our big Maple tree out front,but couldn't get any pictures. He was going around the tree way too fast for me. Just before supper I looked down on the creek and spotted a small flock of white ducks. I got out the binoculars, and I'm sure they were Common Mergansers. I have seen them there in past Springs, but today there were too far away for any pictures. The trail to the creek isn't accessible yet because of the high water this week. The water level has receded, but now all that is left are big chunks of ice.

That's all for today. More snow this morning, but only flurries. Some afternoon sun, but a very cold and windy day.

The weeks End

Saturday afternoon I get this excited phone call from our son that lives 2 houses away that there is a possum in their yard up on the bird feeder pole. I grabbed my camera and ran down the road. Here is what I found. This critter was at the top of the feeder pole just waiting to raid the bird feeder. Check that back foot... This morning early began as a beautiful day, but before long it became overcast and next came the snow. Thankfully just flurries.

Friday we had 11" of snow and through all the snow and high winds the poor turkeys managed to show up for some corn. They were very spooky and kept checking for anything strange. Sorry about the poor quality. Shooting through the snow covered window wasn't all that great.

When they finished eating they all went out to our back yard and settled down next to a Spruce tree out of the wind.

Of course you know who, Mr. Cooper's hawk, spent the day here too, just watching and waiting. One strike that I saw, but no dinner here. It was really windy.

A ride to the great Blue heron nesting area, and they were all snow covered. We'll be going back after the birds return.

I hope you are having a wonderful week-end.

This week, and more snow

Oh dear, more snow this week, as a matter of fact 11" on Sunday night. Just when we had tons of it cleared away from the house.
Sunday afternoon on a drive past this Amish house shows church is still going on as you can see by all the buggies. A little later I spied some deer resting beneath some underbrush,

Here is one doe that had her nose buried in the snow searching for grass. She didn't hang around very long though and ran off.

On our way to watch trains we always pass this adorable little country house. I never see any one there, and I would love to just sit on the porch and look at the beautiful scenery. Someone takes very good care of the house, and plants beautiful flowers in the Spring.

I participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count this year again, and I had 8 Cardinals all at one time.

This is our front yard after the 11" snow fall, and now I hear there is another storm coming tomorrow night! Oh joy!

Ruby Tuesday

The ice fishing season will soon come to an end, but for now the ice is still thick enough. Later this week it will warm up, and probably it won't be safe to venture out.
Happy Ruby Tuesday, and do click on over to Mary/the teach' site http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ to see lots more RED.

Sundial and Feathers

We were having a real angry blizzard Saturday morning. As soon as I put out seed it would get covered up by all the snow. I put some in this sundial bowl, and there was plenty of arguing going on. Sometimes they all got along.

Then sometimes NOT!

An outsider tries to get on board.

The "Boss" tries to shoo him away.

Finally the piggy Blue Jays leave.

Cardinals Rule!

A new "Boss".

More outsiders fly in for a landing and good food.

Then of course the "Boss" returns, and warns everybody to "buzz off".

Mr. Cardinal watches from the tree.

They he attempts to get seed again.

But the "Boss" is watching, and promptly chases Mr. Cardinal away.

We ended up with almost 7" of snow today. At the end of the day the sky began to clear, and the sun shone. Unbelievable!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week-end.