The end of 2009 brought a surprise snowstorm followed by cold rains. If you’re a hungry predator, you can’t wait out the bad weather if you want to eat. Two bitterns were working the edge of South Quigley Lake, there was one a few feet below me that was actively stalking the shoreline (you’ve seen its handiwork catching voles in other posts), while this one further up the road stayed fairly still and seemed more interested in opportunistic meals.
When I noticed a juvenile heron hanging out at the end of the auto tour at Ridgefield during the Christmas break of 2009, I made an effort to photograph it every chance I could. One thing in particular I wanted to photograph was the most distinctive differences between juvenile and adult herons: the lack of white on top of their heads. On this day, though, the young heron had plenty of white on top.
You win this round, Mother Nature.
Congratulations Ellie!
Today is the one year anniversary of the day we adopted her at the Humane Society and brought her home. I’d tell her how lucky she is we found her but I know we’re the lucky ones, we got a real sweetheart!
This picture of our serious-looking girl was from the snow late last year, I had just gotten home and took a few quick pictures before we lost the light completely. She stayed when I told her to, but she wasn’t interested in pictures, she just wanted to get on to playing, and play we did! Turns out hedgehogging is especially fun in the snow and we played until we could barely stand.
She and I spent yesterday enjoying treats and hedgehogging and snuggling and watching football, which wouldn’t be a bad way to spend today either.
We had a sunny and cold Christmas this year instead of our normal wet or occasional white one. I had been hoping to play with Ellie in the snow since it was playing with Porter from next door in last year’s big snow that started me thinking it was time for us to adopt a dog, but no such luck.
On Tuesday, I checked the weather before heading up to Ridgefield and saw the rain was supposed to make a comeback in the afternoon. It didn’t rain but as I started my last trip around the auto tour at the end of the day, I had to smile at the few flakes that fell, hardly enough to call even a flurry, my first snowflakes of the season. The snow picked up as I drove around but it wasn’t until I got near the end that it was falling hard enough that I started to get a little concerned. After snapping some quick pics of baby nutria and a juvenile heron in the snow, I started for home.
Unfortunately our Subaru is in the shop this week and I was in a rental, so I was without four-wheel drive, but I got home without incident, the roads being fairly clear and getting into our driveway proved the biggest challenge. My timing proved fortuitous as the snow continued to fall through the evening and I just missed the worst of the traffic.
I took Ellie out to play in the snow as soon as I got home, either on our walk or with other dogs in the park or hedgehogging on a snow-covered turf in the backyard. She was having the time of her life and after a couple of hours of vigorous play we called it a night.
Both of us took it pretty easy the next day.
I agree, Mr. Elk, I agree. We’ve had an unusual spate of sunny days the past couple of weeks. Sunny and cold days, although the clouds and rain returned this weekend and it should be back to normal this week.
I came across this bull elk late one evening on a snowy day in Yellowstone in the fall of 2007. I’m always a bit nervous driving in snow on my hiking trips since I’m traveling alone and not used to the winter conditions, but the snow wasn’t too heavy on this day (although a heavier storm arrived soon enough).