Photo by Pat Gerrie
A Precious New Day
Category Archives: Snow
Mother, What’s All That White Stuff?
Do you remember Bambi asking, “Mother, what’s all that white stuff?” and she answered in such a soft voice, full of wonder, “Why … it’s … snow!”
Well, this morning I found myself saying, “Mother! What …?” etc.
It all happened overnight, and then it continued into the morning. My poor little birds!
The hummingbirds … where do they sleep on nights like this? At least they had a heated feeder this year. Last year I had to run out and exchange the frozen sugar water for liquid every 20 minutes or so. This year, I have one heated feeder, thanks to the thoughtful gift from a friend, and I can also put the not-heated feeders out there when the temperature stays above freezing. It works great!
The heated one is on the left, with the cord running from the outlet in the wall to the feeder.
For some reason the hummingbirds like sitting on the feeder penthouse.
Today it snowed for the second day in a row and just before it got too dark, a hummingbird came for one last drink. I took the video through the screened kitchen window as the light was fading. It’s not very sharp, but the hummer took a long last sip to last him for the night.
The rest of the birds have to find what food they can under the shelter of the eaves or the roof of a feeding station. I think they have a hard time in the snow, especially when the sun comes out and thaws huge portions that slide off branches, and threaten to bury them in the avalanche.
I’m always happy to see the snow because it looks so pretty, but I’m relieved when it thaws and the birds and little animals can breathe more easily again.
Do I dare to hope that this is the last of it for the winter?
A Cool Change
A thin layer of snow covers the usual feeding grounds of ducks, geese, and swans. While the nearby preferred agricultural fields are frozen over with snow and ice, the birds find food and shelter on the edges of the salt water.
The estuary of the Courtenay River holds a lot of bird life. Depending on the wind direction, waterfowl can find sheltered indentations in the shoreline where they can forage for food in the shallows. Rather than feeding on seeds and bits of plant roots when cold weather freezes their usual fields, they make the switch to marine vegetation and bits of animal matter (shrimp, crustaceans) that they find in the tidal areas of the shore. Once in a while, a faint ray of sunshine warms their backs on this southern exposure in spite of the cold day.
Looking upriver at Comox Bay
Looking outwards to the spit
Mainly widgeons and dunlins.
In these very short video clips you can see a swarm of what I think are dunlins flying in to land near the beach. Although it is a very small flock, it reminds me of those murmurations of birds, when they fly so close together in an incomprehensible formation without crashing into each other. If you make the videos full screen you might be able to see the fine snowflakes blowing around as well
These mallards are close to shore for several reasons. They have slightly more cover in case of predators (better than being “a sitting duck” in the open water), and there is probably more food available in the shallows where they can probe the sand with their bills and find small beach creatures to eat. At high tide there is also marine vegetation that is available only at this level, lifted up by the rising water.
They are in survival mode for now, waiting for a good low pressure southeast system that will bring wind, rain, and warmer temperatures, thawing out the farm fields that offer their preferred diet. I hope they are all lucky ducks.
A Cold Midnight Visit
Moans and groans that chill the bones,
Through the window stream,
Scents of icy northern zones,
Invade the sleeper’s dreams.
Cold unwelcome guest descends
On the huddled shape,
Shivering, the ice-ghost bends,
Whispers in her nape.
Who has paid the icy fare,
On these crystal flows,
Hitching rides on Arctic air,
Following their nose?
Walruses and polar bear,
Wolves and caribou,
Send their scent along the air,
Via Manitou.
Think of us, they sadly moan,
Swirling round the room,
Dream of us, for now you’ve known
Our cold nights and our gloom.
Crispin ‘s Weather Forecast
Waking up, he checks the yard,
Feels like snow that freezes,
Not quite yet, but blowing hard,
Come the northern breezes.
News is written on the wood,
Writing looks Chinese,
Anyway it’s not so good,
Says it’s going to freeze.
No, oh no, oh no-no-no-o-o-o-o!
This is not good news,
Says right here that it will snow,
Time to start my chews.
Here’s some rope to line my bed.
Captain won’t be pleased.
Likes his ropes kept in good stead,
He’ll be really cheesed.
But the Cap’s retired now,
He won’t miss this rope,
If he used it anyhow,
He’d be quite a dope.
Watch me shred this fuzzy line,
Stuff it in my cheeks,
It will make that bed of mine,
Warm and soft for weeks.
Ropey fibre dries my throat,
Swallowing is pain,
But let’s see what’s in this tote,
Tub has filled with rain.
Watch this clip and see my feet,
See my special toes?
Talent like this can’t be beat,
Every squirrel knows.
Ahhhh! That’s better. Now to go
Off to make my nest,
Deep inside a woodshed row
Safe and warm, it’s best.
First of December, First Snow
Evening darkens, snow clouds loom,
Heavy grayness hovers,
Every creature, filled with gloom,
Looks for extra covers.
Snowflakes drifting in the breeze,
Flutter to the ground,
Blanketing the dens with ease,
Whiteness all around.
Morning sunlight filters through,
Birds emerge from shrubs,
Now they wonder what to do,
Where are all the grubs?
“Where’s my breakfast?” they all cry,
“How will I stay warm?”
Shivering with cold, they sigh,
This is not the norm.
Robins tweet their invitations,
Gathering for flight,
Needing lower elevations,
Snow-free woods in sight.
Holly berries, mountain ash,
Worms and bugs to eat,
Having fled the winter’s lash,
Birds escape defeat.
Though it’s pretty, snow reminds,
How cold it will be,
Warm vacation, I must find,
Lovely sun and sea.
Meanwhile Emma snuggles in,
Fuzzy blanket warm,
Softly curled up to her chin,
“Now bring on the storm.”
The Weather Wins
Evidence of winter damage can last for years in America’s prairie landscapes. Farmers did their best to put up strong buildings to withstand the elements in the days before modern building materials were available. Even so, the fierce storms often proved too much for the buildings. These roofs most likely had a huge dump of snow on them at one time. The weight crushed the roofs as it crushed the farmer’s will to rebuild. In the dry climate, with little rainfall and lots of heat, crops could easily fail, discouraging even those who would have wished to rebuild.
Many buildings were left to their fate in the lonely landscape.
Even in more modern times, nature was more powerful than man. I hope the family who lived here wasn’t in the trailer when it blew over. If they were, they would have been rocking and rolling.
The tenants in these houses have moved out long ago. Most likely they, or the people they sold to, live nearby.
Somebody has to feed the horses.
Even the horses are hiding behind the house to get out of the blazing sun or the howling wind.
And yet, it’s a beautiful place to visit. Just very hard to live there, because the weather always wins.
Happy Hummers
Hills bedecked in powdered rain.
Will we see green trees again?
Chilly mist drifts overhead,
Cools the hibernator’s bed.
Yet the valley down below,
Barely shows a hint of snow,
Filbert trees are flowering,
Wimpy folks still cowering.
Filbert flowers dangle plain,
Golden curtain, golden mane.
Hiding hummers, sheltered perch,
Safe from predators who search.
In the open on this twig,
In the sun I dance a jig,
Happy to be warm out here,
Catching rays of light so dear.
In the shade, my throat is brown,
Wait until I turn around,
I’m like lady hot pants pink,
Pretty special, don’t you think?
Bright pink plumage, yes that’s me,
Now I’m quite a catch, you see.
Don’t believe me? Yes, it’s true,
Sure as I can look at you.
After the Snow
Screaming winds ripped through the fir trees when they were still laden with snow. The weight of the snow and the push of the wind was too much for some branches. It will take some sawing to make this branch manageable in pieces for the yard cleanup.
But all is not doom and gloom. See the black creature between the trunks of the trees? She’s having fun.
Here is closer look.
Sorry. All we can see is her hind end. The front part of her body, especially the nose and front paws, are busy investigating whatever smells so good inside that old tree stump. It will be bath night tonight … again!
I can smell it in that stump,
Is it mouse or ratty’s rump?
Something yummy for my tummy,
Hope it hasn’t turned too gummy.
What care I if full of soil,
In the house the rugs I spoil?
I won’t cower in the shower,
Splashing water gives me power.
People love me even dirty,
They make kissing noise all flirty,
They will hug me, it won’t bug me,
Better clean though, soft and snuggly.
***** Please visit annelisplace for writing tips. Today we have more troublesome words explained.
Rufus
Still, still, still I sit,
Feathers fluffed and light,
Chill, chill, chill is it,
Going to freeze tonight.
Save, save, save my strength,
Lest my legs do fold,
Brave, brave, brave at length,
Need to be so bold.
Eat, eat, eat the seeds,
For the night is long,
Meet, meet, meet my needs,
Hope I can be strong.
wordsfromanneli 