You could say, we are in the grips of winter. Ice and snow are everywhere, the cold is working into the house and +15 degrees feels like a heatwave. If you know us, Kim and I just put more clothes and get outside and make the best of the winter and we don't just hide out inside. However, I did find a Field Mouse and a Swan that just did not want to deal with the cold.
Just the other day, Kim and I where talking about the lack of Deer we have not seen in the area. We have not seen any tracking in the backyard, only once has a bird feeder been ripped out of a tree by antlers. They must have moved on or the Coyotes have kept them away. Then came this past Saturday morning, it was Big Buck Saturday. It started off, with a 12 pointer, in the dark (sorry about the quality) to a 8 pointer. At one point we had 8 bucks, rubbing trees and eating the bird seed on the ground. One of them decided that it was time to take the lights out of the tree so, he started without me. Let's hope they move on, or it is going to be a tough summer growing plants.
It uses to be a big thing to see Robin, in late winter. As it was a sure sign that spring was on it's way. However, that has not been the case around our area. At any given time you can find Robin's. Kim and I have found flocks of them in the winter, if you can find open water you will find Robins. This winter we have had a pair, spending the winter in our backyard. They do like the small pond next to the house as it some bugs in it and they are ways picking at the waters edge. For me, the bird that signals spring is on it's way, it the Cedar Wax Wing. If you see one of these, spring is on it's way.
Once again, I finds my butt sitting in a snow bank. With ice everywhere, if you find open water, you will find the birds. So Sunday afternoon, I made it to a little area that I know about, that most past by. You have to walk about 30 min. off the road in snow up to your knee's (one of these winter I am buying snowshoes!) I found some tall grass and put my butt in the snow. I had a group of Trumpeter Swans all to myself. If you have never seen a Trumpeter Swan, they are about three times the size of Canadian Geese
. So taking off and landing is like watching a 747 take off and land. If you are going past some open water, look for some white, it might be a Swan.
For the last two weeks I have been off. I have fished, fished and fished some more. However, this past week, I took a day off to watch the masters fish. This was one of those rare days, when every thing lined up in your favor. The sun was out, 5 degrees, a stretch of river was open and the Bald Eagles were everywhere. At one point I counted 49 eagles in an area less the length of a football field. Watching Eagles, watch you, takes some patience. They spend 75% of their time, perched. So you wait and wait some more for the right shot, then hope your fingers are not frozen, so you can push the shutter button. Was it worth it, sitting in the snow, not a soul around, in the Cat Tails, watching one of the masters fish? You bet it was!
