Wednesday Walk in a Winter Wonderland...
Mother Nature's April Fool's Day Surprise!
I know it is Spring and I was really enjoying the milder temperatures earlier, thinking we were going to get an early Spring with a slow melt - then wham! Mother Nature was pulling tricks on us and threw us back into winter with cooler temperatures and a dump of over 6" of snow. I found it really disappointing to be back in full on winter but I must admit it sure is beautiful - come have a look...
Early Morning Sun Sparkling on the Snowy Bushes
Snowy Scene From Our Deck
View From Other Side of Deck
Bruno doesn't care if the snow came back for he loves to roll around in it and when the sun is on the deck he will lay in a snow patch to keep cool.
Bruno Looking Handsome by Snow Covered Apple Tree
As we head down the lane there is more winter wonderland.
The snow was so heavy that the spruce boughs were just drooping and the willows were bending low.
Young Spruce With Boughs Drooping From Weight of the Snow
Bruno Running Under Willows Bent by the Heavy snow
Beautiful Wintry Scene Along Trail to Back of Property
Walking Down the Snowy Willow Lane
Every where I turned the sun on the fresh snow made for some wonderful shots.
Walking Bruno Down the Lane Lined With Snow Covered Trees
After the walk Bruno likes to run free exploring the bush.
Bruno Coming Out From Exploring in the Bush
I don't know what it is about Bruno but he insists upon having a stick to carry around when we have our run abouts. I guess because he wants to be prepared in case a game happens which quite often does as I pretend to get it from him.
He had this little stump he was carrying around but it became a big snowball when he dropped it in the moist snow. This type of snow is perfect for snowman making!
Bruno Running With Snow Covered Log
JJ got coaxed to come out when the sun was shining and he did a bit of exploring but there wasn't to much bare ground and he doesn't really care to walk in the snow.
We had a big spruce tree fall down across our lane so he went exploring on it.
JJ Exploring on Fallen Tree
JJ did manage to climb up the big snow drift that was in front of our garage but only because I had opened the door to get the shovel and he wanted in. That snow bank was caused from an avalanche of snow sliding off the roof which needs shoveling out to create a path to the garage door - I had my work cut out for me.
JJ Walking Up Big Snow Bank to Get to the Garage
This is where JJ preferred to be sitting in a sunny windowsill watching the wintry scenes from a nice dry space.
JJ Happy Sitting on a Dry Windowsill
After I finished shoveling out a path to the garage door we headed back to the yard. The sun had bought the birds out and there were plenty looking for food for most of there food sources were under a blanket of snow.
Male Evening Grosbeak Perched on Top of Spruce Tree
Close Up Male Evening Grosbeak
Male Evening Grosbeak in Snowy Pine Tree
Another View of the Male Evening Grosbeak
Male and Female Evening Grosbeak in Pine Tree
Close Up Female Evening Grosbeak
Close Up Black Capped Chickadee
The chickadee in the photo below was going after something in the spruce trees. I'm thinking they may have been eating the spruce buds. I have seen other birds feeding on things in the spruce tree too.
Chickadee Checking for Something in the Spruce Tree
With the lovely morning sun the birds like to sit and capture it on the tree tops. This time we have the bluejay perched on the tree top and he was calling his buddies.
Bluejay Sunning on Tree Top
We had a lot of bluejays coming to the feeder but they usually wait until I'm not around. This guy must have been hungry for he came for a feed even though I wasn't too far away.
Close Up of Bluejay at Feeder
Another bird who was coming around for a feed was the downy woodpecker. He came just after I had cleaned the snow off the feeder and filled it again, not really caring that I was fairly close.
Downy Woodpecker Checking Out Feeder From a Near by Bush
Woodpecker Scores Some Seeds
Another View of Downy Woodpecker at the Feeder
Not to be out done the squirrel got in there for a feed. He too wasn't too concerned about me being close for he just wanted some sunflower seeds. He's so cute!
Squirrel Getting a Feed of Sunflower Seeds
Squirrel Checking Me Out
I'll leave you with one more snowy scene with the sun low on the horizon.
Sun Shining Through Snow Covered Trees
This is my #WednesdayWalk (although a day late) hosted by @tattoodjay. He collaborates with @elizacheng and her #MakeMeSmile initiative see her latest post here
The photos were taken with my Canon PowerShot SX60 HS.
Your photography is awesome!!! I hope I can see the snow someday.
The images are mesmerizing!
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Always thoroughly enjoy your walks with Bruno, JJ and all the birds down the lane.
JJ is an expressive big cat who obviously knows what is best at different times of the year.
Squirrel warding you off with look in the eye, April fools day turned out to be fun after all that is said or done @porters.
Happy Easter!
We used to have a few bold squirrels when we were renting an acreage years ago. Some of them were down right belligerent and would chase all the birds away. We don't have that problem at the homestead yet but hopefully they will come in closer to the house once we have the yard more established.
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Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
My mama @buckaroo says that snow is special. I think it is pretty but I like your dog! I have a big great dane. And lots of cats. But that is because we are on a homestead. My mama says that you have a pretty homestead @porters
Love all these photos they all look so cool and romantic.