but the hushed
wingbeats
of
the multitude
overhead.
but the hushed
wingbeats
of
the multitude
overhead.
winter
All posts tagged winter
but the hushed
wingbeats
of
the multitude
overhead.
Winter has been very cold, lately, with enduring snow cover. In these conditions we enjoy helping out the local birds. In the last couple of years we’ve seen a growing year ’round presence of Eastern Bluebirds both at our feeders and around the property. Today four to five of the little beauties showed up at the tray feeder — by coloration, all boys — enjoying the spread. As they busily picked away at the seeds the view was often blue bird butts. Sill in all, a welcome break from February’s shades of gray.
Early January and heavy snow was falling. Local birds were flocking to our bird feeders. Suddenly, the small birds disappeared. The local Cooper’s Hawk had showed up for lunch and our smaller feathered friends did not want to be lunch. Snow and blowing snow came and went as the raptor sat, observing from a tree branch. Sometimes the hawk could be seen clearly, sometimes snow completely hid it. The hawk watched for a while but, seeing no potential prey, flew off to hunt elsewhere.
Just as the Japanese Maple reached full fall glory, the first snow arrived.
Burdened by the icy wet, leaves shower from the treetop down; they dress the ground beneath the tree in brilliance not seen in a year.
As winter draws near.
Among the first Bluebirds to show up at my feeder, this one arrived after freezing rain enshrouded the feeder’s rain shield in icicles.
I’ve never seen them. I’ve never, ever seen Bluebirds in my yard or at my feeders. Until this month.
Wherever two or more are gathered, there’s an argument. Eastern Bluebirds on an icy birdfeeder.
First I saw a couple of Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) show up just after I restocked my feeders for the morning. They returned the next day and then there were three. Skip forward a few days and yesterday, February 12, I counted eight — eight! — of the beauties around the feeders, in neighboring trees, and on the ground!
One of the eight Eastern Bluebirds that appeared in my Northern Ohio front yard February 12.
I don’t know why this year is different but at a time when I could use some cheering up, the Bluebirds flock to the view from my window. And they do, indeed, bring happiness.
NOT Bluebirds but they can certainly eat a lot of bird seed!
The gazebo at the center of Public Square, Medina, Ohio, all dressed up for the holidays!
It was worth braving the 24°F temperature to pay a return visit to Public Square Wednesday night, camera and tripod at-hand, to shoot some holiday pics! The recent official tree lighting was fun but, with the large and excited crowd, not a good time to set up the camera for long exposures. I’m hoping one of these, or other of my non-holiday shots will be published in the city’s bicentennial book.
Buildings along North Court Street, Medina, Ohio, are outlined in lights with windows dressed for the holiday season.
Besides the brilliantly-lit iconic gazebo, the buildings around and near Medina’s historic town center are outlined in white lights, lights are strung in the branches of sidewalk trees, and most businesses have decorated their storefront windows. It’s a little early in the holiday season but the sights were worth cold fingers and feet.
South Court Street viewed from Public Square, Medina, showcases businesses and buildings in their holiday finery.
Cloudfall. Snow and graupel falling from their bases make the clouds appear to be collapsing.
I usually don’t care much for winter cloudscapes. Snowy days tend to be overcast, shapeless, dull. Yesterday was different.
Sun-Snow-Shadow. Snow streamers and crepuscular rays interact. Snow and graupel falling from their bases make the clouds appear to be collapsing. Canon 7D Mark 2, March 7, 2018. Photo by James Guilford.
I was visiting relatives in Northwestern Ohio, driving from one town to the next, when clouds near the horizons caught my eye; it almost appeared the clouds were collapsing on to the farmland below! The wide, open views of flat farmland, along with isolated areas of falling snow and graupel produced fascinating scenes.
Isolated Snow Showers.
Bands of dark cloud swept overhead while, lit by the late afternoon sun, the falling streams of snowy precipitation shifted with the wind kept me stopping on the quiet country roads of Henry and Fulton Counties, hopping from site to site, making me late to my destination.
I couldn’t help it; the sight was so out of the ordinary.
Wren-Wreath. A Carolina Wren perches on a holiday wreath made of bird seed.
A couple of Carolina wrens (Thryothorus ludovicianus) stopped by one January afternoon to enjoy a treat from our holiday wreath; here’s one of them.
Away! A crow takes flight from a field of snow.
DUST OF SNOW
by Robert Frost
The way a crow
Shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree
Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of a day I had rued.
Lakeview Park Beach, Lorain, Ohio, in January 2018
Late in January we had a bit of a break in the weather. Yes, it was still cold but the sun was shining and the temperature was in the double-digits. We paid a visit to the Lake Erie coastline.
At Lakeview Park, Lorain, lake ice, pushed onshore by winds and waves, lay in piles dirtied by flotsam also thrown up by Erie.
Gulls sat on nearly every ice floe in Lake Erie, off Lorain, Ohio, as the old lighthouse stood watch.
Gulls rode ice floes in the open waters of Lake Erie off Lorain, Ohio, as the lighthouse stood watch. One ring-billed gull, on a chunk of ice of its own, seemed pretty relaxed; it yawned widely as we watched.
A Ring-Billed Gull yawns as it stands on an ice floe just offshore of Lorain, Ohio.
PhotonStopper 