Icy Morning

It was as cold as it looks, but the sun was out and it was not snowing.
This swan found one little opening in the water and called it home.
And I did not fly south for what reason?
Even this Malard is having a hard time stoping on the ice.

Could it be?

Could it be? that was what I asked myself this past week as I drove past the Minneapolis Airport. I told Kim, that this was going to be the winter that I found and photographed a Snowy Owl. Looks like my winter is over. The Snowy Owl was sitting on top of a antenna watching the planes go by and looking for a mouse or two. These snowy owls migrate south from the Arctic tundra. So a Minnesota winter must feel like a spring day to them.

Did you see that?

Some sights you don't always see, but wish you did.
The bird bath after it snowed this week.
A Merlin, that is a very small falcon about the size of a Blue Jay.
This immature Double Crested Cormorant must not have listened to it parents and decided to spend the winter in Minnesota and not the Gulf of Mexico. Kids!
Now this is something you don't see ever day. But Kim out looking for birds at 16 degrees.

Copper and Bronze Christmas

As promised, here a some photo's this years tree, Copper and Bronze on a white. I sure do like these flocked trees, they make the ornaments stand out. This weekend we survived two Christmas parties, two down and four more to go. It looks and feels like Christmas around here, the ground is white, it has not gotten above freezing in the past three weeks. Everything is falling into place. That can only mean one thing? Ice Fishing is here!!!