Cool Chickadee

No matter how grey, COLD and bleak the winter days can be ... Chickadees always seem to bring warmth and happiness to the scene ... even when huddling amongst the trees!  

Elusive ...

This small flock of Pine Grosbeaks have been coming "quickly" into our yard each morning ... but as fast as they land and scout the surroundings (and I attempt to take a picture), they are gone again!  

Handsome in White

I couldn't resist when I spotted this beautiful Snowy Owl on our way to load and move more hay bales today.  Out of the 10 spotted yesterday, 2 were mature owls flaunting a very white plumage.  Well, this handsome old lad definitely has Snowy Owl charisma!  I wonder how old and wise he truly is???  In the days and weeks to come, we will be bidding them farewell as they begin to migrate back north.  Here's hoping we can see a few more before they go.  

As the clouds rolled in, we enjoyed working in +10C temperatures!  A drastic change from last weekend ... in fact, nearly a 50 - 60 degree change in temperature (especially if you include the nasty wind chills that blew threw the province last weekend)!  We traded in our toques and heavy winter jackets for ball caps and light sweaters today!  Perhaps Spring really will surface in the near future!

Watching YOU!

Aaaaaaah!  Sweet, sweet Snowy Owls!  Always so majestic ... they are captivating to see!  Fortunately for the boys and I, we saw a grand total of 10 Snowy Owls today!!!  *SIGH* I wish I could've stopped and photographed each and everyone one of them but that was not possible.  However, just seeing them is a gift.  

The sunshine returned and its supposed to warm up this weekend!

Have a glorious weekend Everyone!  

Falcon Jackpot

A good way to start off March ... at least through my eyes!  It's not even a great shot but any day that you can cross paths with the World's largest falcon ... I'll take that as a good day!  Yes, this was an O M G snapshot of a Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus).  Not only the World's largest falcon but probably one of the top avian hunters around!  What would be their choice of meal:  pigeon, duck and other succulent birds!  Aaaaah ... to see one in action!  I might have to be better prepared and see if I can cross paths with this magnificent raptor again before Spring arrives!  

Two Days

Saturday, February 22, 2014:

COLD!!!

Flat light, low fog, flurries off and on and the return of subzero temperatures!!

It makes staying in and getting up EARLY to watch the Men's Olympic Hockey Final AOK!

Go Canada Go!  

Congratulations to all of our Canadian Olympic Athletes!

Sunday, February 23, 2014:

What's not to love about the twilight hour?

Numen ...

"The spirit of divine power presiding 

over a thing or place."

Fellow blogger, Tammie Lee is participating in and extended the challenge to others to post and share something in the spirit of the word 'numen.'  The challenge is throughout this weekend.  So, in the spirit of the word numen ...

This little Downy Woodpecker sends the spirit of 'numen' echoing throughout our yard with each lil' knock!  

Mrs. Nutty

Meet my friendly neighbourhood 'White-breasted Nuthatch' (Sitta carolinensis).  Trying to take photos of her is like trying to catch a missile in a spider's web!!!  Although not the best, I did manage to capture her in true 'Nutty' Nuthatch form ... UPSIDE DOWN!  Yes, Nuthatches forage upside down!

Those Winter Tweets!

The Male House Sparrow

The Female House Sparrow

Female Common Redpoll's

*Sigh* ... the majority of our song birds/birds migrate south for the winter BUT on bright blue, sunny days I love the clatter of 'cheeps' and 'chits' from the combined chaos of the House Sparrows (Passser domesticus) and the Common Red Polls (Carduelis flammea).  They fill my trees by the 100's and certainly break the winter silence!

Busy Birds

Always a flurry of activity and chatter, the Redpolls were certainly dashing and darting about today.  The temperature reached -4C and was certainly much warmer!  Not only does warmer temperatures put a smile on our faces and an extra skip in our step but it appears to add 'flutter' to the wings of the Redpolls!

Poor Lil' Red Poll ...

My Red Poll's have returned but this poor lil' dude took a wrong turn and flew into my window!  He was okay ... a bit stunned but I scooped him up and set him over by my trees and bird feeders.  It took him a few moments to shake off his headache but returned to the skies shortly there after!