The first real snow of the season fell yesterday, and it immediately transformed the world into a winter wonder land.
It's nice to have winter arrive, but why does the snow always seem to come just as the ice is almost ready for skating? The calm weather this week had allowed the lake to spread a perfect layer of smooth ice just before the snow fell.
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| The Full Cold Moon reflects off newly formed ice on December fourth |
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| Ice working its way slowly across Lake Wicwas under the setting moon |
But we'll take the snow (is there a choice?) and it sure does make everything look pristine.
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| Hemlocks are still holding onto their cones |
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| Snow-covered pines on Sheep Island |
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| A tunnel of snow |
With the snow the bird feeders came out, both because the birds can use it with much of their food supply covered up, and because we'll be able to see if the bear is still active. It didn't take long....
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| A goldfinch scratches its chin |
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| A Tufted Titmouse waits its turn on a snowy branch |
I can't wait to get out after the first snow to see what's been out and about in the world, and sure enough, even coming home from the concert last night there was already the trail of a fox trotting down the road in the still-falling snow. This morning there were mouse prints in the snow by the stone wall where it has its nest.
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| Mouse prints, with the tail imprint barely visible |
And right next to them, the landing mark of an ermine where it dropped down looking for a meal, but there was no sign of a capture, at least at that location.
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| Ermine landing mark above the mouse trail - about 4 inches long |
I found the track of a coyote as well.
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| Coyote tracks this morning |
And saw where it ventured to a small stream for a drink.
So, we may have missed the skating window again this year, but I'm looking forward to the season of observing animal tracks, and at least we should be able to get out on the skis soon!
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| Some trails will be ski-able with one more good storm |
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