Snow and Clouds and Moody Views

 

We have had snow on the ground a good deal this winter. As long as the roads are passable I can enjoy the seasonable weather. On mornings after a snowfall, especially one without wind, the forest is transformed into patterns rendered in dark and light tones...

 

Some photographers refer to overcast days as "black and white days" remembering, I suppose, the era of black and white film. Following are two renderings of the same scene; the first in color...

and the next in black and white...

A great blue heron looks for a meal in a small creek...

I found the reflection almost as interesting as the bird.

This hawk, that I have tentatively identified as a juvenile red-shouldered, has been frequenting an area that I visit daily...

Normally, it is quite skittish and does not tolerate my attempts to capture an image...

It must have been uncommonly hungry on this day, and I softly uttered a "thank you" for the opportunity to get these images...

Horned larks often can be spotted along rural roads after a snowfall...

I was visited again by this brown creeper...

They are always interesting to observe...

This adult red-shouldered hawk was hunting near our house...

Three deer chose a sunny hillside to loaf and chew their cuds...

I shared this screech owl in my last blog post. I pass this tree daily and can't resist taking another photo each time I go by...

Upon observing a different tree cavity I became excited about photographing a red-morph screech owl...

Closer inspection, with binoculars, revealed leaves instead of owl "ears".  Probably part of a squirrels nest.

I found this knothole interesting enough to photograph...

even a wee bit cockeyed...

We haven't had a completely ice covered waterway yet this winter, but there is still time...

Thanks for visiting, be well, and come back soon.