Christmas Surprise!

Charlie and I went for a hike in the forest. We eventually wandered down to the first valley and the creek bottom.

Part of the way down the very steep hill.... I thought I heard some birds squeaking out soft calls.

When we got to the creek, I stood still and let my eyes wander through the brambles and trees.

I thought I spotted a Blue jay, but to my surprise. It was a Blue Bird! I called Charlie to me and we both sat in the snow and watched the surrounding woods. More Blue Birds! I counted at least 20 of them.

While standing in the creek [water proof boots], I carefully scanned the thick brush. There was another bird I could just barely see across the creek.

It looked like a sparrow but the markings were different from the ones I see in the yard. If I have my ID right, it should be a white throated sparrow. 

When I got home, I looked this bird up and listened to its song.  I do hear this bird in the spring and they are very hard to spot. 

This bird wasn't singing, it was landing in the creek area and seeking food.

Such a well camouflaged bird!

This was cropped rather tight... hard to spot! But he is there and very hard to distinguish from the leaves.

And then there was this guy....

The birds left the area with Charlie trotting through, so I decided to go home and feed lunch to the hubby and come back out later in the afternoon. I carried a small camp stool to sit on so I wouldn't get soaking wet sitting on the ground or on logs.

This Acrobat was the first one I saw on the edge of the woods before I headed down towards the creek for the second time. 
Red Bellied Woodpecker? Right?

It was near the one of the springs that I settled down to wait. I could hear the Blue Birds, Chickadees, and Nuthatches in the area. So I thought I'd just sit and wait.

Some 20 minutes or so later, the birds came back to the area. 

The Blue Birds put on a delightful show.

I stayed there until the sun started to exit from the valley, then I climbed up and out of the valley and rerouted my hike to go through the large meadow towards home. I didn't get any shots, but I watched as a Baldie got chased by crows.

My afternoon hike was more of a ... few steps... stop ... listen .... walk a bit more .... stop ...listen and look around.

Even more fun. I unfolded the camp stool and sat in the warm afternoon sun and just watched the Meadow.

Even in places you don't think there is anything interesting, one can find something intriguing to look at.

It was a fine Christmas Day. What could be more perfect?

My Happy Place

 Weister Creek that is.

I had a 'date' with another hiker who cancelled early Friday morning. I didn't mind, I decided to head out and take Charlie to Weister Creek. The 'Ice' Caves probably were not spectacular with the drought we've had along with the strangely mild winter.

But I knew there would be some ice for me to enjoy. I felt that I should go even though the day was heavily overcast again and fairly cold.

I knew that once we got into the forest we'd be out of the cold and damp wind. Then things would get fun. Besides, I'd rather walk on frozen snow, ice, and mud than walk on slippery sloppy stuff.

I wore my YakTraks. It only took us about 7 minutes to get to the bottom of the first big gully with the rock shelters that turn into exotic ice caves most winters.

The 'caves' at the very top of these formations are over 6 foot tall inside.

This is a shot from 2 years ago to give you an idea at how large the 'cave' in the upper right corner is:

How was the ice this time? It was 

cool....

And for a view from end to end... Enjoy the drip drip drip noises. I found them so comforting. 14 seconds long. 

Normally by this time of the year, the Ice Curtain is huge and covers almost the whole rock shelter. The interior of the shelter or cave is also covered in ice. Ice cleats are a must for moving around this area.

Inside the 'cave' a few years ago:

Charlie and I walked over the top of the ridge and looked down on the second ice cave area. There was almost no ice but we could hear the dripping from the top of the rock shelter. We moved on and went further down to where most of the 'tours' end at another ice wall on Weister Creek.

Closer with a long lens.

In winter last year when we had subzero temperatures:

We headed over these ice formations and went down the stream to look at one of the last easy to get to formations of ice.

Charlie knows these trails by heart as he has been with me so many times.

During a good cold winter, this particular spot fills with layers of ice. The water around the large rock becomes thick enough to walk on and a person cannot see the sandstone behind the ice. the colors of ice will be various with the particulates it picks up. 

Curiously there is a cable that be seen when the ice is small. It has been there ever since I can recall. I see it in the spring usually when I hike here looking for Skunk Cabbage, Trillium, and all sorts of spring flowers.

This my Happy Place.