Yesterday the temperatures were well above freezing and there was no snow and ice on the roads unless they were in very shaded canyons or way above our elevation. And Johnny’s Seeds sent us a catalog. I told Dan this meant we need to go plant something. He suggested a drive instead.
We were both very much in need of cheering up and some distraction. We lost a very dear friend on Friday to leukemia.
On the way down the mountain, we came across what looked like a small snake in the road, soaking up the sun, possibly a Garter Snake. The middle of the road is not a safe place to be, so Dan stopped the car and I got out to see if the snake was OK, and if so to move it along off the side of the road. The snake took exception to being moved and was pretending to be a rattlesnake, feinting strikes at my foot, coiling up and hissing as I tried to herd him across and into the grass. Since he was a very small Great Basin Gopher Snake, and not a rattler, I wasn’t impressed. He was being such a snot about it, I got a little twig instead of using my foot, and when he curled into a ball I would flip him over, and his head would pop up on top and glare at me. Eventually I got him into the grass. Dan was impressed that I had trained him so well.
A pair of Tundra Swans on a mountain lake, with Common Mergansers.
The mergansers are so much smaller than the swans. They were running around on the water, making waves.
About fifteen miles from us are a group of recreational lakes, a good place to see lingering waterfowl in any open water. Everywhere there was shade, ice covered the lakes. And you could tell just by looking at the color that the ice was anything but solid. It might support your weight for a while, just long enough perhaps to get you far enough from shore into deep water. But where the sun could reach the water, it was open and occupied by birds, and rising fish, all enjoying the false spring.
In fact the weather was so mild we took the GT out for our drive, instead of the Outback. This will be the last drive of the year for this car. It will be cooped up in the garage until the roads are ice free again in the spring. Maybe next year we will get some snow tires for this car.
On the curve of the road right behind our parking area, the freeze and thaw and heavy rains of the recent weeks were causing rocks to slide down the cut bank and into the road way. It was a spooky sound, rocks sliding down the hillside and skittering across the road, echoing off the mountain sides in an otherwise silent landscape. It was eerily quiet, no bird sounds except the slap of running Merganser feet at the far end of the lake. No other vehicles were on the road.
The rocks scattered on the roadway made continuing on that particular road too dangerous and we took a side road as soon as we could, heading for higher ground and less shade. By going up and over we could make a loop and return home.
Sitzmark is a ski area for downhill skiing. Nearby is another area for cross-country ski enthusiasts.
The chair lift does actually get up to where snow lingers. Short ride down, though. I imagine coming to an abrupt stop when the snow ends, about 10 feet past the upper end of the chair lift.
Sitzmark does have a chair lift, and a ski shop (sorta), and a place with tables to sit down inside and have a cup of hot cocoa. Normally by this time of year it is open for business, usually around Thanksgiving. If the temperatures for the past week or so had been a bit lower, they’d have had many feet of snow to play with and this place would have been buzzing with activity.
We continued driving along, looking for birds, in particular Snow Buntings and Common Redpolls. We didn’t see any of those, but did see a flock of Mourning Doves, a Raven, and a couple of Butteos. These Butteos, to be precise.
The high grasslands are a perfect place to find soaring Rough-legged Hawks.
These northern latitude birds come down into this area during the winter months. It's always a treat to see them.
Hard to say if this was a pair, one was soaring and this one on top of the telephone pole was definitely admiring the display of mastery of the art of flying.
The rest of the drive was uneventful, just nice scenery and gorgeous clear skies, and warm spring-like temperatures.
Back home, our invisible bunny friend who lives by the carport was in residence.
This little guy, or one just like him, has been living by the carport for a couple of years.
Last night I think he did a weather dance, as this morning there is snow all over the place. When it is white he completely disappears from view until he moves, and sitting still is what he does best to become invisible. The thing is, sometimes he just sticks out. Global warming sucks.
Ruffed Grouse in the Service Berry bush by the house. I took this picture through the window, that's why it's so fuzzy.