Snow Day

Though I'm no longer teaching, I still get a thrill from a snow day. This morning I watched the birds fight at the feeder for the prime spots. The evening grosbeaks were there first.
But later, a large hairy woodpecker came and kept others at bay with its long beak. I watched the snow drift build up at the back door. Here it is around 11 am. And later in the afternoon. The layers are so even and interesting.
It's hard to know how much snow we got. I measured a range of 12 to 18" depending on the spot. The wind was moving so much of it around. It shaped the snow on my car to make it look like a Prius.

I did snow day things like bake pumpkin bread, and I finished my Christmas tree skirt. It was done except the binding before Christmas and since we've returned I've been working on the binding so I can put it away finished for next year. And of course I shoveled snow. I need to make sure there was a parking space for Matt when he came home. I left the snow drift at the back door for him to shovel, so photos of the garden in its deep blanket of snow will have to wait until tomorrow.

Sunday Morning Sights

We were out early this morning to take photos of a quilt that I made as a gift for my cousin when I spotted some other interesting things.

A male evening grosbeak was hopping around the yard. He let me get close to photograph him before finally flying away. I've been seeing flocks of them at my feeders, especially in the morning. However, this one was alone.
Also, the frost had formed some interesting crystals on the lacinato kale leaves.
I'll share the photos of the quilt after my cousin's wedding next weekend.

Garden Visitor

The goldfinches were the first to enjoy the sunflower seeds but I have yet to get a good photo of them doing so. Last week while I was weeding, I kept hearing a "thump, thump, thump". I found a downy woodpecker enjoying the sunflower seeds. He was rather enthralled and allowed me to stand a few feet away to take his picture eating the seeds.
Lately I've also seen the chickadees enjoying the seeds too. I'm glad there are so many visitors to my garden.

Baltimore Oriole

Last night in the garden I heard a bird song I didn't recognize. I looked up and found a pair of Baltimore Orioles, male and female. . I am always excited by seeing Baltimore Oriole because I grew up rooting for the Baltimore Oriole baseball team. They always seemed like a mythical bird to me because we never saw them in our area. I've now seen them more frequently last year and this year. Last night my hands were covered in mud so I wasn't able to get any photos

This afternoon when I got home I heard the call again and found the male up in the trees and got a few photos. It was eating the seeds or flowers on one of the trees.

Later in the evening there were two males arguing in the lilac. The photo here isn't the best, but you can get an idea of how the bright orange looked in the green and purple.
I'll enjoy listening to them as I work in the garden. I hope they nest nearby.

Pileated Woodpecker

I'm not sure why I went into the guest bedroom this morning on my way down to make breakfast, but I looked out the window and saw a pileated woodpecker pecking at the large old maple in the front yard. Matt ran down and got the camera and I got a few photos through the window. It was early (6:30) and the sky was gray so the contrast wasn't great. However, iPhoto does a great job enhancing images.

Bluebirds

On Saturday, I was on the phone with my mom when I looked out the window and saw a bluebird picking up grit from the driveway. I picked up the camera and followed him as he flew to the apple tree. There were actually two male bluebirds, and one female. I have not seen them here in Vermont before, only at my mom's house in Maryland so I was glad to get a few photographs. I only wish it had been a blue sky day instead of gray and dreary.

Wildlife around Maryland

Last week I enjoyed a vacation at my parents' house and the surrounding area. Here are some wildlife photos I managed to capture.

A blue heron in Wilde Lake
A bunny in the back yard
A frog at the edge of the pond
A bluebird that I chased around the driveway, trying to photograph.
Hairy & Downy Woodpeckers on a tree near the bird feeder

Cedar Waxwings

Lately I've been hearing the high pitched "bzeee- bzeeee" of the Cedar Waxwings outside our side door. You can listen to their song at LearnBirdSongs.com. They come in groups to feed on the red berries on the bushes and to perch in the locust tree. They're a little skittish when I come out with the camera, but I managed to capture a few today, though the evening light was not great. I enjoy their striking accent colors, especially the yellow-tipped tails and red-tipped wings.