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Tag Archives: winter

Signs of the Season

Despite the calendar, it really is winter now! Christmas Bird Counts started this past weekend and last night we received nearly a foot of new snow! My first CBC was the Bridgeport circle, about fifty miles south of here. That meant a very early start to meet the other volunteers and find out which area we needed to cover during the short daylight hours available this time of year. The weather started out gray and then went to misty and then to snowing hard by mid-afternoon. Despite that, we saw lots of fun birds and enjoyed the company and celebrated with a wonderful dinner shared with all of the counters. Many thanks to the organizers and compilers for a fun day. If you want to learn more about Christmas Bird Counts, see this link.

Some areas of Douglas County can seem pretty remote

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This cow wanted some company

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Foster Creek in Douglas County. I think the green plant is watercress.

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The neighbor’s snow measure stick

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We have a reliable snow plow service and needed it today

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A little bit of color

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Luna reluctantly broke trail

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Too much fun in the snow!

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It’s a hard job but someone’s got to do it!

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Riser Lake

Luna and I drove into the lower Rendezvous yesterday in hopes of maybe spotting a Snowy Owl. Again, no luck finding Bubo scandiacus but we did see a variety of raptors including a Golden Eagle, female Northern Harrier, two American Kestrels and a few Red-tailed Hawks. Near town there was a Northern Shrike hunting from a powerline.

After the owl-less drive, we stopped at Riser Lake to stretch our legs and see what else we could find. The lake is almost entirely frozen over and the little bit of open water held a pair of Mallards til they realized we were going to walk around the lake. They took off and then returned before we left. The only other birds were Northern Flickers, a couple of Black-capped Chickadees and a lone Bohemian Waxwing.

It was a good day for a walk with a little bit of crusty snow and no precipitation. Luna is still nursing a sore back so she doesn’t have the energy to run like she always has in the past. It seems harder for her to jump in the car and she sleeps more than usual.

 

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Abandoned fruit trees indicate that people once attempted to make a living off the land in these arid hills.

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The colorful fruit is welcomed by the wintering birds, especially the waxwings.

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Thin ice

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Frozen in time

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What thing doesn’t belong in this photo?

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Interesting low-growing plant on top of the hill overlooking the lake

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And one lone pine tree too

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Whose nest? It is about ten feet off the ground. Seems low for a Common Raven but what else would use a nest so large?

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I found pears, but no partridges

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Over the River and Through the Woods

In Search of the Perfect Christmas Tree

Our good friends and their enormous newfoundland dog joined us for the day. After much organizing and loading we all squeezed into our truck and headed for the forest with our US Forest Service Christmas Tree Permits in hand. It was a perfect winter day with lots of sunshine and some fresh snow. Not too much snow. Last year there was so much we could not get to our favorite spot. We were in luck this time. This is our fifth year here and Ken and I have gone out on Thanksgiving weekend each year to search for our own Christmas tree together. We have gone from taking four dogs with us to just one. Sam is no longer limber enough to traipse through the woods and is content to stay cozy and warm at home.

 

But first, their was a downed tree across the road blocking our way

 

Steve and Ken made short work of it

 

Dogs romped and played before the unfortunate dog incident where 120 pound Micah pounced on 60 pound Luna.

 

This is the place.

 

Em is ready to help with his own saw as his mom looks on

 

That’s our tree! Thank you tree. And thank you Steve and Kim for finding it!

 

Luna is no longer comfortable with Micah.

 

There’s the happy family with their perfect tree!

 

And through the woods we go.

 

It was a parade

 

Ken likes this

 

The tree is just the right size for our house.

Such a pretty day.

 

Here comes Kim with their small tree.

 

And the guys brought in a big one for them

 

Em got to ski while the trees were loaded on the truck

 

First time this year. I think he likes it.

 

Short days

 

Headed home

 

After the Snow Fell

Yesterday, St Patricks Day, another four inches of snow fell! Much as I love winter and snow, I am ready for Spring. The weather gurus say this wet weather pattern will continue into next month although with maybe more rain and less snow. And after that, more typical spring weather, whatever that means.

As always, the fresh new snow was beautiful and now it’s melted and there is mud in the cleared areas.

 

 

 

 

 

Mt Robinson appeared as the clouds began to part

 

 

Rose Hips

 

Lichens

 

 

Likin’ these lichens.

 

 

Today the driveway is mud again

 

 

 

 

 

Says Phoebe singing from the highest peak of the roof

 

Across the valley

Another Morning with New Snow

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I keep imagining that one day I will see green when I wake up.