Not everyone loves hot weather. Sure there are many who migrate to warmer climates, but there are also those who stay here above the 49th Parallel, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
A walk through the woods in the last couple of days allowed me to check out who my winter friends are. I say friends because, for some of them, they would fly straight to me, greeting and calling. Yes, I know, they all want treats. But hey, not many choose to stay. So, for those that do, they deserve a free lunch.
Here are some of my winter pals. We’re in it together, come snow and storm in the coming weeks and months. The Black-capped Chickadee:
The White-breasted Nuthatch, like the Chickadees, official greeters whenever I visit:
So, a treat for you all:
Female Downy Woodpecker:
The Red Squirrel:
Of course, there are those who’d want to strike out on their own:
The elusive Blue Jay. Yes I hear their calls all the time, but very hard to actually get a photo:
Here’s a Red-breasted Nuthatch in the evening light:
But my greatest catch is this. From afar, a gigantic furry ball high on a tree:
I thot I thaw a pussy cat, but when he turned his head 180 degrees, almost, then I knew what I thaw was a Great Horned Owl! I’ve followed an Owl Family for a few years now, always thought they fly to warmer places in the winter.
Of course, he didn’t care for my free lunch of sunflower seeds. Looks like he’s captured his prey, keeping it close by his side, uh… looks like a squirrel. His look speaks volumes. I know, I should have brought a bigger lunch:
I can see there are lots of winter birding adventures ahead.
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Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. CLICK HERE to see what others have posted.
ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY ARTI OF RIPPLE EFFECTS
DO NOT COPY OR REBLOG
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Here are posts on the Great Horned Owl Family I’ve been stalking every Spring:
Ripple Effects 
Great photos, Arti. Love them all, especially the owl. We have some of the same winter birds here in the Kansas City area. I have trouble getting photos of blue jays, too! They are big, noisy birds, but they sure are camera shy! A blue jay and some male cardinals were sitting on a branch outside my kitchen window. I thought it would make a great colorful photo of red and blue birds, but the blue jay wouldn’t cooperate.
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Cathy,
You know, I’ve never seen a Cardinal. Hope one day when I visit the U.S. East coast I’ll have the chance to see more varieties of birds.
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Oh Arti thank you for these wonderful photos. . . LOVE the Great Horned Owl with his huge lunch!! You are wonderful.
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Heather,
As I always say, I was just at the right place at the right time. 😉
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O holy cow, that owl! Great shots – I’ve never seen an owl quite like that.
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David,
Yes, that was quite a surprise. I just followed the hoots I heard.
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Awesome shots! You have captured the essence of your “friends,” and even the owl, who does not seem that friendly.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
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Laurel,
Thanks for stopping by. 😉
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I am amazed. What birds we do have here in suburbia I often don’t see at all; then my daughter takes a walk with me and writes down 20 species she spotted! I’m so glad I found your blog in time to see your bird friends! I’ll be looking in frequently for more gorgeous shots of these elusive creatures.
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GretchenJoanna,
Well, the area where I took these photos is a boreal forest, part of a huge provincial park right close by my home. So you can say I’m very fortunate to be so close to nature.
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Your birding photos are amazing! You always capture the birds in action, as if they’re about to take flight at any moment. Loved seeing the great horned owl. So majestic on his perch.
Here are my Saturday Snapshots.
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Sandra,
It was a surprise for me to see the GHOwl. He looks much better in picture than real life, I must say. 😉 Thanks for visiting.
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Your bird photos are always amazing, but those owl pictures are really spectacular. My Snapshot is at http://chriscross53.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/recreating-medieval-abbey.html
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Christine,
Thanks for stopping by again. I’d go over to your Snapshots right away. Good to hear from you. 😉
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Oh, that nuthatch is a charmer! As for the horned owl, great catch! Look at those ripples on his torso.
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nikkipolani,
Nuthatches and the Chickadees, they are so friendly. And yes, I’ve many more photos of the Nuthatches greeting me and actually befriending me. Very animated, like a Disney cartoon. 😉
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I can almost hear you trilling… “A spoon full of sugar” with one of these friendly feathered friends alighting on your hand!
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What gorgeous photos! The owl is stunning, but I am very partial to the black-capped chickadees.
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lostandfoundbooks,
O then you’ll be greeted unreservedly. Here’s a little role reversal here, the Chickadees are like paparazzi, me a celeb. 😉
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What a lovely collection of wildlife. I love the owl photos, and chickadee is such a cute name.
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Ginny,
They are all adorable. I love visiting them. Thanks for stopping by the pond. 😉
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Beautiful shots!! Love them all, especially the owl!
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Vicki,
Yes, the Owl was quite something. Total surprise for me. 😉
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Great photos! I love that Owl, what an awesome sight. Thanks for sharing.
Sharon @ Sharon’s Book Nook!
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Sharon,
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
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As usual your photos of birds captivate me. Love all of them but the owl is amazing!!
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Ellen,
I was really fortunate, for the next day I went back there, I couldn’t find him anymore.
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Gorgeous birds and an owl with attitude! Love it.
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Thanks Claire. Yeah, an owl with attitude. 😉
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These are truly lovely. My favorite birds are the year rounders, too. I have never had the good luck to see an owl, but I have hope 🙂
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linnetmoss,
Now I know one more spot to look for the owl. Hope to see him again in the weeks ahead. Thanks for stopping by. 😉
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Except for the owl, all of these birds come to our backyard feeders. In the winter, we also get cardinal, finch, and sparrow. I think the starlings just come in the summer.
The past few years, besides the red squirrel, we have also started getting black squirrels. In the summer, we get rabbits.
Our neighbor just recently got a visit from a raccoon. He has apparently taken up residence in her tree. It’ll be interesting to see if he sticks around.
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Allison,
I’m sure you see some varieties of birds that I’ll never see here. We’re having -20C temp. this week. Don’t think I’ll venture out to the woods any time soon.
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Beautiful pictures! I love seeing the wildlife in our backyard, but what we see here in North Carolina is quite different!
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Julie,
Yes, I admire your warmer climate and more colourful birds. Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment. 😉
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This time, it’s the squirrel and the bluejay I most enjoyed. I think it’s probably because I know some of their cousins will be my winter friends, too. I’ve spotted three young squirrels in some acorn laden oaks near where I park. I’m putting out shelled sunflower for them now, just so they’ll know that, when things get rough and the acorns are gone, they’ll be able to find a little something there. Who knows? They might even get a pecan or two!
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Linda,
You won’t believe this… we’re in the midst of a snow warning. Lots of white stuff covering everything now, and the coming week forecast is -20’s C. And it’s not even winter yet. Don’t think I’ll be going out to the woods any time soon.
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What great companions you have for the winter. The only one of these birds that I know for sure I’ve seen is the blue jay. I love your owl photos, incredible how they can turn their head. And you’ve got -20 pre winter, and we’ve got 30+ pre summer.
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Louise,
Sorry for the late reply. Yes, I’ve more photos to post this coming Saturday Snapshot. And it’s all white by now. Enjoy your summer! 😉
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You must be a patient person to take all those bird shots. And lucky you. Meanwhile we’re hoping to go to Brackendale after Christmas to see the bald eagles gather.. That’s south of Squamish in BC.
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Jean,
Not patient but just love the woods and to have the birds as company. I’ve passed through Squamish once but have not stopped there or gone to Brackendale to see Bald Eagles. That sounds really interesting.
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We hope to go this year soon. I do have eagle photos from other occasions elsewhere.
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Wow, look at that owl! Lovely photos as always Arti!
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Stefanie,
Have been looking for another owl (tips from other birders) but no luck. Will post some wintry birding photos this Saturday Snapshot. And I’ve heard about your deep freeze too, but maybe not as bad as the east coast U.S. Keep warm!
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It got cold like January but we didn’t get much snow. Poor Buffalo New York is buried right now.
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Wow — that last photo of the owl — look at the texture on his body — almost like scales, the feathers are so tight and intricate! And thanks for identifying the nuthatch. I’ve observed a bird looking quite similar at Lizzie’s feeder, much like a chickadee with more of a woodpecker-long beak. I tried to find it in my Birds of Michigan book and now I have something more concrete to look for, I think that’s it!
You are indeed a Bird Whisperer! I’m glad they come to you, knowing you will care for them with your gifts. A lovely exchange, I think — some seed for the permission to catch a beautiful photo!
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Jeanie,
Sorry for the late reply. I’ve forgotten and yes, I loved that! ‘Bird Whisperer!’ But i’m not, still consider myself slightly moved ahead of a novice. This week it’s all snow but with warmer temp., so I ventured out and got more birding photos. Will post this coming Saturday Snapshot. And yes, you’ll see another variety of the nuthatch.
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