Snow Bunting

Frozen in Time

Gravity of Love

"But if you're in the eye of a storm just think of the lonely Dove,
     The experience of survival is the key to the gravity of love."

~ song lyrics by Enigma

Frozen Fog

Common Redpoll

Several Common Redpolls were visiting the bird feeders in my yard today.

Peace on Earth

Holiday Treats

Ice Bells

Black-capped Chickadee

Old Man Winter

Solstice Greetings!

The true meaning of this date every year symbolizes the death of the old crop cycle in the northern hemisphere and the beginning of a new cycle.  Trees are dormant and the earth rests and regenerates itself until the spark of life returns in February at the time of Imbolc.

Last Day of Autumn

Attention climate change deniers:  Blossoms on a tree on the last day of autumn 2012 in western New York!  Our unusually mild weather this month has totally confused this tree.  The winter storm predicted for tomorrow should put a quick end to the confusion.

Bonaparte's Gull

I love these petite and graceful gulls.  They breed in Canada during the summer and spend the winter in the deep south, the Caribbean, and oddly around the southeastern portions of the Great Lakes.  In winter their black heads turn white with a dark smudge behind the eye.

Sunset Portal

Like a splash of gold paint in the sky.

Swan Yoga

Sapphire Blue

Wintery Sunset

Icy Stare

This poor Blue Jay went to drink from the unheated bird bath this morning only to find the surface frozen solid.  He stared at his reflection for a while, poked at it a few times and then flew off.

Strange Weather for December

Shelf clouds with thunderheads, 60 degree temperature at dawn and spring peepers singing.  Very strange weather for western New York in December.

Bonaparte's Gulls in Winter Plumage

Moonrise

Crisp and Bright Morning

Chipmunk in the Snow

Snow Covered & Slippery

First real snow cover of the season.

Seasons Change

Tundra Swans

Migrating Tundra Swans passing through western New York State.

Tonight's Crescent Moon

Bald Eagles in the Distance

Trio of Gadwall Ducks

Northern Shoveler

Trumpeter Swans

Saw a small flock of five migrating Trumpeter Swans!  

Almost New

Waning Crescent Moon (taken at 6:00 a.m.)

Lesser Scaup

One of many waterfowl migrants passing through the area.  This is the peak time for duck migration.

Quietude

The sun sets over autumn vineyards and corn rows.

Great Blue Heron in Flight

Bald Eagle

This one was quite a distance from me this afternoon but very aware of my presence.

Shortest Days

Amazing post-sunset glow over Lake Erie this evening.  With the sunset time of 5:01 pm, we are heading into the shortest daylight period of the year.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Kinglets

Golden-crowned Kinglet gleaning food from autumn foliage.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet below.