Hoar Frost

The morning of January twenty-second was minus three degrees. While out walking the dogs I came across hoar frost in several locations around the village. The feathery, fern-like ice crystals were beautiful and intriguing. If it hadn't been so cold I would have spent more time photographing and examining them.

Janes Avenue storm water gully with hoar frost

Close-up of crystal formations in gully

South Lawn

Delicate Crystals

Ice Thorns on Lilac Bud and Branch

Floating Crystal on Stream at end of Peck Avenue

Got Out Again

So I got out snowshoeing again on Sunday January fifth, this time going with my husband, Dan.  We drove to the end of Ruhle Road South and parked. After strapping on snowshoes, we headed toward the pedestrian bridge between Rhule Road north and south. Right before the foot bridge there's an unmarked trail which will take you into the woods heading toward Shenentaha Park. The trail is gorgeous! Up on the ridge to the left is the Zim-Smith trail and down to the right is the creek. Soon the trail comes down to the water and is marked from this point on. There is also a trail to the left which ascends up to the Zim-Smith trail. We stayed on the trail by the water which eventually brought us up to the park. Check it out!

Start of Trail

Looking Up At Zim-Smith

Lace

Got Out

Sign from Zim-Smith Trail

Old Snowy Jalopy

Bracket Fungi

Tall Pines

Judy, Becca and Windpaw on Loop Trail

Frigid temperatures, a foot of snow, rain, ice, wind chills of well below zero, this is how the first week of January 2014 played out. Before being iced over, the snow was light, powdery, and clinging to everything. I got out on Saturday and Sunday, January fourth and fifth, for a little snowshoeing. I stayed local both days, first going to the Usher Road State Forest on Saturday. You can take the Zim- Smith trail south to a sign that indicates the state forest land and loop. You can also drive to a parking area on Ushers Road to do the 1.5 mile loop trail. The trail is flat with lots of old White Pines, and a  couple of little bridges over streams. We didn't see any wildlife but the impressive pines, clear blue skies, crisp air and time spent with friends made for a great trip.

Northern Flicker Settles for Suet

It was minus three degrees on the morning of January third. The snow was just winding down after falling for twenty-four hours. The bird feeders in my yard were crowded during the storm and with this morning's frigid temperature were again being visited by a number of birds. A Northern Flicker caught my eye as it flew in and landed on a suet cage. Usually these woodpeckers are ground feeders, sucking up ants and beetles. With a foot of new snow blanketing the yard not an ant was to be had. The flicker settled for  blueberry suet, chiseling the frozen cake with its curved bill. I got pictures through my glass paned kitchen door. Dog slobber on the glass makes it look like I used a filter! It was just too cold to go out on the porch to take his picture plus I didn't want to scare him off. He came back in the afternoon.

Male Northern Flicker

Beautiful Markings

Note the Black Moustache

Frosty Mornings

In between holiday preparations, snow shoveling, and dog walking, I took some pictures of the birds that flocked to my feeders this week during the snowfalls and frigid temperatures. They looked striking against a frosty backdrop. When the feeders were crowded, the goldfinches and juncos opted for seeds from the garden flowers. A Red-bellied Woodpecker jabbed at an apple on one of the trees in the yard. A Carolina Wren ate privet berries from my neighbor's hedge. The juncos and American Tree Sparrow hopped under the dried, snow topped Miscanthus sinensis grass for cover. It was five degrees one morning when I took some of the shots. I didn't last outside for long.

Dark-eyed Juncos

Tufted Titmouse

Miscanthus sinensis grass

American Tree Sparrow and Goldfinch

Blue Jay

Carolina Wren

December Snow

Inch

Wander

Cling

Drift

Texture

Tree

Merry

Project Feeder Watch

The first week of November, I began my eighth season of participating in Project Feeder Watch. From November through early April, I will watch my bird feeders two consecutive days of the week. I'll record the temperature, precipatation, amount of snow and the greatest number of each bird species that I see at one time at the feeders, eating flowerhead seeds or insects in the the yard and garden. My own data collection site through Cornell Lab of Ornithology, allows me to easily look back and see what birds were in my yard a half dozen years ago, how much snow we had and what the temps were. I always have a hard time transitioning to less time spent outside as winter approaches. This citizen science project connects me to the outside world even on the most frigid of days. Peering out into the yard, binoculars in hand, I have begun to have an appreciation for the garden in winter.  I enjoy seeing the many shades of brown, rust, and wheat that the perrenials and grasses have taken on as they wither and dry. I leave most everything up in the garden beds for winter interest, as well as, so the birds can eat the seed heads of the plants and so that wildlife has cover. Just today, three White-throated Sparrows and a half dozen Dark-eyed Juncos foraged in the leaf litter in the garden and yard. They were joined by a couple of Blue Jays and several Mourning Doves all looking for food on the ground. I noticed how the female junco blended in so well with the ground cover.  Chickadees clung to the Northern Sea Oats, a native grass, and nibbled on the seeds. A Carolina Wren sat quietly at the feeder seeming to contemplate its next move. Unfortunately, it didn't stick around for a picture. Over the last eight years I have had thirty different species of birds in the yard. I'll let you know if that number changes this season.

Goldfinch Strikes A Pose

Female Dark-eyed Junco

Feeder for two, please!