This tiny Dark-eyed Junco was doing all it could to only keep one miniature foot in the snow at a time in a 2014 snow in Virginia. It was only after watching carefully for several moments from 25 ft away that I noticed it changing feet every few moments. Not to worry though, just out of camera range were 4 feeders I kept filled in the back yard it had a feast at.
This was a cold Virginia winter morning that was so chilly, the local mourning doves preferred to perch on the metal bird bath (or get a brisk sip of water, I wasn’t sure which). The device being held under the water by the stone is a water warmer which kept the water just above freezing on such days so birds could still have access to water without it icing over. I couldn’t get over how fluffy these doves stayed as they worked to remain warm until the sun rose.
A brilliant red Northern Cardinal popping against the snowy background of the nearby woods.
Coming in for a landing to peck at seeds just under the snow.
A sky hunter patrolling the skies high above the tree tops. This red-tailed hawk circled for a while, checking out the woods, looking for an unfortunate critter. It’s humbling to watch hawks and other birds of prey from the ground, knowing their eyesight is so amazing that their view of us is tremendously better than ours of them.
This happy Carolina Wren used to frequent my back porch back east. I enjoyed keeping my camera on the kitchen counter to catch little glimpses of its visits and to listen quietly by the patio door as it would sing its little heart out. These are sweet little birds and they tend to have a spirited, spunky look with their tails jutting this way and that.
I happened upon this bloom while strolling a local botanical garden. It was only just beginning to open its petals but there was just something about that color that caught my attention. Not peach, not pink, not orange, but something so striking and soft that I studied it for a time. Should I ever identify this particular rose, I’m planting a few bushes of it! Gorgeous.
A song sparrow making haste off my back porch railing after a healthy snow a few years ago. One of my favorite photos. It’s not the most perfect resolution, but there’s just something neat about the little flakes of snow kick-up and the feet and wings that I’ve always fancied.
