It's not spring yet

Cold bath.... the cooper's hawk. Better the bird than me.

Snuggle woodcock. Do not disturb.

________________________________

Garden surprise

Sunday afternoon. Time to go to work. All photo gear packed in case in organized fashion. Stop to look out lobby window before heading out. YOW!!!!  Something moving near garbage, poking in ground. Now of all times when I have to get to work, a beloved WOODCOCK.  That's it. Forget work. Get into photo case, strew equipment all over floor to get to proper gear. Don't fly away, please don't fly away. Luck was on my side. Woodcock in a safe spot, hidden from possible prey. I wouldn't go out into yard to spook it. Window viewing was fine. The doves and sparrows were also finding food in same spot.  This was great for the woodcock. Safe cover. Grub in the ground. Total conflict: stay and watch woodcock or get to work.  I had to leave and hoped woodcock would still be there when I got back from work.  It wasn't, alas.  But I know it had a nice rest in our garden.

I see woodcocks in our garden about once every six years. Happiness is a woodcock.
___________________________________

Signs of spring

It may still be cold and bleak, but the robins are coming to town, males first. Not many worms yet, but definitely berries.

_________________________________

Spring????

All shot through lobby window. Spring??????   I'm not going out in this! Reflection on glass causes softness.

____________________________________________

Cold, but active

It's cold, but that doesn't stop cardinals, chickadees, bluejays from being active.

Add the titmice and cedar waxwings to that. I need hand warmers in my gloves.

______________________________

In the garden

I heard the voice first, the bark sound. Time to stop and wait.  Sure enough, redbelly working the trees. There's grub in the bark.  Ditto for titmouse, also flitting around. There are edible bits even if I can't see them.

Female cardinal comes for bits and also hides under bushes.  Nice day, not too cold.

Maybe spring will arrive??????
________________________________

Frigid

Time to get off my rump and go check out the Hudson. I know there are young eagles riding the ice floes in an attempt to find fish.

Eerily quiet, George Washington Bridge and some sort of floating thing, maybe an ice breaker.  Gull  on lookout for food.

The black dot on right is an eagle. Oh, if only I owned a more powerful lens.

Not sure what's in flight, most likely a gull, most wished for, an eagle.

Now it's snowing AGAIN.  Time to warm up.
_________________________