Ice Out on a Small Stream

 After a couple of days of above freezing temps the ice on Catoctin Creek began to break up.

It began slowly at first with the water rising faster than the ice could melt. In the next photo the water is flowing over the ice on the right side of the creek...

When the larger chunks broke loose, they collided where the stream narrowed and ice jams formed...

A fallen tree covered in green moss stood out amid the winter landscape...

Next, smaller pieces came loose and floated downstream...

As the water level went down, blocks of ice were left behind...

If nothing else, nature is always interesting.

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TURKEYS and a FOX

A nice thing about snow is that it can help one see distant objects more easily. This fox was over 100 yards from the road and might have been overlooked if not for the snow.

It made two attempts and came up with what appears to be a vole or mouse...

This group of turkeys were much closer and paid me little notice while I photographed them from my car...

I have read that turkeys in urban areas have become so accustomed to humans that it is common to see them up close. That is not the case in my area, so this was a rare treat...

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Winter Chills

 

The cold spell has relented a little and most humans and other critters are glad of it. Here are some birds that take the weather in stride...

Eastern Bluebirds are finding berries on vines and bushes where they can...

 

Horned Larks and American Pipits have been spotted in crop fields...

American Pipits...

Trees are reflected in an icy pond...

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MERLIN...Falco columbarius

 

I took a short drive yesterday, just to get out before the storm and the likely chance of being snowed in today. As luck would have it, I stumbled upon my first Merlin.

Even though the light was poor, I was still happy to find this falcon perched in a dead snag not far from home.

I often see kestrels in this vicinity and at first glance I thought this was a kestrel on steroids. Closer observation revealed a different bird entirely.

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American Kestrel the Smallest Falcon in North America

 If you spend much time in agricultural areas, you may have noticed a small hawk-looking bird hovering over the corn stubble or harvested hay fields. If so, you might have seen an American Kestrel, sometimes called a sparrow hawk.

The bird shown above and below was capturing large flying insects for hungry nestlings...

Insects, small rodents and birds are the most common items in the kestrel's diet. They can often be seen perched on power lines or tree limbs watching for prey...

I recently spotted a kestrel on a fence post near home...

By zooming to 600mm I was able to get a better look...

This bird had just caught a small rodent...

When it finished eating the first victim it began looking for another...

It was not long before another was spotted...

and the chase was on again...

After seizing its victim, the kestrel departed for parts unknown...

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