February 1, 2020
I love going out on picture walks. It’s one of my favorite things to do! Even in the dead of winter!
By all accounts, this has been a relatively mild winter here in Michigan, so I had been eagerly waiting for a really big snowfall to come along! We did have a few short bouts of snow in December and January, but it melted quickly. Yesterday, though, on the very last day of January, it finally happened!! We had what I would call “a magnificent snowfall.” Huge, fluffy flakes swirling all around– giving the world that magical snow-globe kind of feeling! It was perfect! I had to get out the door!
Getting out the door, though, was the easy part; trying to stay warm and take pictures at the same time, was not —especially when the wind chill was well below freezing. I can easily put on two or three layers of pants, sweaters, socks and hats, but I cannot do the same for my hands –not if I expect to be able to operate any of the tiny buttons and dials on my camera! Over the years, I have tried various combinations of mittens and gloves and hand warmers to solve the problem with varying degrees of success –or lack thereof!
As the weather got progressively colder this winter, I tried yet another new idea. Instead of gloves, I tried two layers of very thin mittens (along with my usual rechargeable hand warmers). I picked mittens instead of gloves so that my fingers could keep each other warm; and I chose thin ones so that I could still feel the buttons on the camera! The inner mitten was a wool blend and the outer one a wind-proof, water-proof shell. So far, this combination has been working at least as well as most I have tried –but the jury is still out. When I’m not actively engaged in taking pictures, I stuff my hands deep into my pockets and hold on to those toasty hand-warmers.
The problem is, most of the birds I encounter are not particularly interested in seeing me with my hands in my pockets standing around doing nothing! As soon as my hands go in the pockets, they start badgering me to take another picture!
“Pick me! Pick me!” they chirp insistently. “I’m the prettiest! Pick me!
How can I resist??
So I continue to traipse about for hours on end, encumbered by multiple layers of hats, scarves and sweaters in happy pursuit of the ‘prettiest one’– all the while wondering how these tiny little creatures manage to stay warm with their skinny bare feet and tiny feathered bodies, while I, on the other hand, am barely staying warm.
It’s just one of the many fascinating mysteries of nature, I guess. Mysteries that keep drawing me in –and sending me back out for more!
Love seeing your pictures! My new backyard and dogs do not work well w bird feeders so I get to “watch” vicariously through your photos!
Love the Nuthatch. Tiny snow flakes. We have had a lot of cold weather but almost no snow. They just recommended that the farmers in the northern half of New Mexico not even bother to plant any crops, there just isn’t any water. Very sad. But we are getting 2 warm days so we are going to do a window visit with mom. I will take one of the little photo albums we have been making. We bought a bullhorn and I think she heard better but she did not like it. We sent it back. Glad you got a wonderful snow walk, I like snow too.
Your photography is beautiful! But you are a much braver woman than I, traipsing through the frozen tundra in search of the next pretty bird 🙂 I admire your tenacity that is for sure! Keep doing what you love and love what you do!
Linda – Hollys South Carolina ZPDK friend 😀
Oh, the lovely little sparrows. In your close ups, I can see the differences. Thanks for sharing! And teaching!
As ever a beautiful array of birds. I certainly appreciate your determination to capture the ‘prettiest’ one, and I’m very glad I can enjoy the result from a more temperate Seattle area. My pick for prettiest – the blue birds.
Thanks, Lynette! I love the bluebirds too!
Beautiful photos! A wonderful variety!
Thank you!