Snow Cubs and Snow Birds Delight~

These two images are of our Meaka~

We finally got a spot of snow, some 5" but first a layer of ice beneath that.  It made things quite slick until we got the snow.  The sun came out the day after and with bitter cold temperatures of a high of 7'.  Even with that kind of cold,  it was time for the three dogs to have a big snow romp.  I first let the 10 year old Meaka out with the younger 20 month old Svetka.   After they had their snow fun, I let the middle girl 5 year old Silveit out for her fun in the sun and snow.  

Remember to double click on the first image, to view a larger slideshow presentation after                                                                you have read the narratives~

I am joining in the fun with Eileen at:

http://viewingnaturewitheileen.blogspot.com/

Saturday's Critter

Anni at:

http://id-rather-b-birdin.blogspot.com/ 

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

 Linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'

    

Maggie's  MOSAIC MONDAY

                                              https://normandylife.blogspot.com/

 Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global 

   http://communalglobal.blogspot.ca/

& 

Stewart for:

http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/

Wild Bird Wednesday

These two images are of our Silveit~

And these two images are of our Svetka~

My husband Bill went out to make sure that the girls stayed safe.  They all get snow balls on their feet that have to be removed~

We lost another tree this week.  A very tall old Oak.  It fell into our next door neighbor's yard.  Bill too a couple of days to begin logging it out until the logs themselves actually froze to the ground and then his chainsaw quit working~

We got an alert this week that was very exciting for me.  A dark morph Rough Legged Hawk was spending time hunting the corn fields for rodents less than five miles from where we live.  I find them stunning. They They are a large Arctic species that has come very far to hunt this land near where we live... pretty neat!  The next day a light morph RLH appeared as well.  There is also a pair of Northern Harriers working the land and an American Kestrel.  Now what I really want to see is there is also a Short Eared Owl hunting there and several have been fortunate enough to see and photograph it.  I am going back again Thursday morning and see if I can spot it. The land is frozen some 4" under the soil line at this time.  The Owl hangs close to the frozen pond and the hay bale areas...wish me some good fortune as well~

Early morning light and 11' on this frozen land, that is so beautiful~

I was pretty far away from the birds, yet was delighted to finally get this wonderful opportunity~

Ice covered barbed wire~

Something about the rust and the ice was quite lovely to me.

Where the Short Eared Owl hangs close to~

I believe that this is one of the Northern Harriers...dark morph would be adult female~

Possibly the male Northern Harrier...please anyone who needs to correct me, I would appreciate it~

American Kestrel~

The light morph Northern Harrier, I am pretty sure~

As the sunshine began to lower it created an amber glow on the ice covered fencing~

This little House Finch has some light apricot pigmentation going on, presumably from eating so many tiny red berry seeds~

Oh I LOVED this one~

Tufted Titmouse...what is not CUTE about the little chaps!!!

Eastern Towhee came to visit...this is a male~

American Goldfinch eating seeds from Rose of Sharon that my dear mother gifted me with over 30 years ago...she would be pleased~

We usually get about a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos in the Winter months.  This year for the first time ever we have great numbers as well as the same for the Finches~

My youngest daughter and I went to a nursery 15 years ago and took a wagon ride out into a field of Norway Spruce trees.  She and I each selected our favorites and now here they are today.  Her tree is taller than mine... Mine was hit by another fallen Oak tree that was 97' tall from base to top many years ago.  The tree trunk...I kid you not, landed right between both trees and pinned mine down until my husband could free it~

I was just getting ready to close the patio door curtain the other day when I spotted this wee little Brown Tree Creeper.  I had not seen one for a very long while...

Poppy,...I know that you love Blue Jays and here are a few selections that I made just for you.  

Enjoy~

http://poppyview.blogspot.com/

Finally at last a European Starling eating some berry fruit outside the garden window.  I am not certain, but it looks like it's right eye may have a problem, but it flew very well and ate for a long time~

This Northern Mockingbird, did not know that I was so close to it and kept looking for me~

Sunrise, not sunset over the fields where the Arctic type birds have been visiting~