Blowing snow was not in the forecast which I saw this morning although – 16 was. Yesterday, in -18 degrees, my camera battery was exhausted in half an hour so I tried something different.
I used an older camera knowing that it would get some snow on it, I put 2 batteries in my snow pants pocket covered by my parka to keep them warm and I used a plastic camera bag to cover the camera. Unfortunately, I could not attach the bag to the camera (telescopic lens) so it blew away about 20 times. Thank-you to the group who kept bringing it back. I was putting the camera battery in just before taking a photo but this leads to very cold hands and, at one point, I dropped a battery in the snow which I quickly found. And, of course, my balaclava was fogging up the camera viewfinder.
It was fun!!
Some birds:














Park views:



Some botany:




Today’s group:


NATURE POETRY
Come see the north wind’s masonry.
Out of an unseen quarry, evermore
Furnished with tile, the fierce artificer
Curves his white bastions with projected roof
Round every windward stake, or tree, or door. – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82), “The SnowStorm”
Miles Hearn
Miles, all your photos are terrific, but the cardinal and chickadee – that is one in a million!
OKAY, so I’m not Ogden Nash, but I try………..
How beautiful is the cardinal
Who brings us love in winter!
His red shines brightly in our hearts
And we never need to squinter.
I think those mute swans
Have the right idea,
Tucking their heads in their fat feathers.
But all I`ve got are long johns
It’s really not that fair
I’m left with insufficient measures
In the raw and icy air.
What a brave group! You are true winter survivors. I could only walk my dog for 20 minutes on Friday.