Happy Winter Solstice! Now the days can start getting longer again. Time to start a new bird list for the new year. We have all the usual suspects around the house. It’s always fun to go for a drive and see who we can add to the list first.
A hen Downy Woodpecker scoots up a Ponderosa Pine, to get out of range of my camera. She moved amazingly quickly.
What’s really funny about this is that she’s so brave when we are putting more suet out on this same tree. She stays very close and keeps a sharp eye on those proceedings, and will land on the suet feeder before we’ve moved away.
A female Ruffed Grouse showing how protective her coloring is against the snowy branches of the bush.
In the heavy cover behind her bush is her suitor, all fanned and fluffed. He’s been that way since last night when Dan saw them in and underneath a Douglas Fir. He has a while to wait until spring, but he’s keeping up the show until then, I suspect.
Snow piles up on conifer branches, bending them down from the weight of millions of tiny ice crystals.
One of my favorite views is to stand under a towering tree and look at bright blue winter sky, white snow, and dark green shiny needles.
A couple of days ago we had frosty fog, which coats every surface.
The frost gives snow flakes something to adhere to. This plum tree next to our bedroom window is especially lacy.
We aren’t seeing a lot of accumulation but frequently snow has been falling.
Frosty Ponderosa needles, and snow piled up on top, with sunshine behind.
Snow and shadows, the whole world is shades of pastel blue and white.
Tall, ripe grass seeds hiding under a blanket of seeds, waiting to be discovered by any number of seed-eaters.
We love the first day of Winter.
I envy you guys so much right now…