![](win24-425.jpg)
February 12th. Fresh ice on the marsh.
|
![](win24-432.jpg)
February 15th. Back on the trail after heavy snow two days ago.
|
![](win24-440.jpg)
Speckled Alder (Alder incana) fruits.
|
![](win24-441.jpg)
A male Midge (Family Chironomidae). Some insects get active around 32 degrees and show up atop snow.
|
![](win24-443.jpg)
February 18th. Too cold and windy for a morning walk but got out to the Cook Hill Road section midday.
|
![](win24-444.jpg)
Animals took an interest in me.
|
![](win24-447.jpg)
The horse came over to have his nose scratched.
|
![](win24-451.jpg)
Lots of Rock Doves or Domestic Pigeons (Columba livia) soared around the farmyard. The small birds perched in the tree are European Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris).
|
![](win24-455.jpg)
The Doves perch atop the silo and can get inside for shelter.
|
![](win24-456.jpg)
Starlings perched on one of the roof vents.
|
![](win24-457.jpg)
I got a glimpse of the dark spot on this Song Sparrow's (Melospiza melodia) breast before I took this photo where it can't be seen.
|
![](win24-458.jpg)
There were a few American Crows (Corvus brachyrhyncos) around too.
|
![](win24-459.jpg)
Heading a bit further east.
|
![](win24-461.jpg)
February 19th. Snowmobiles in the last couple of days packed the snow for better walking.
|
![](win24-462.jpg)
Some Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) found a patch of open water.
|
![](win24-465.jpg)
Snow figures, one with a heart on its chest, the other a bunny.
|
![](win24-468.jpg)
The geese took flight as I was walking back.
|
![](win24-470.jpg)
February 20th. Thirteen degrees and still. Trail still in very good shape.
|
![](win24-472.jpg)
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).
|
![](win24-473.jpg)
Showing its colors.
|
![](win24-474.jpg)
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis).
|
![](win24-475.jpg)
Lots of them around, as usual.
|
![](win24-476.jpg)
Closeups of a male Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens).
|
![](win24-479.jpg)
I could use some ID help on this. My best guess is a Thrush.
|
![](win24-480.jpg)
Thanks to Russ Smiley for identifying this as a Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus). He notes that other birds called thrushes all overwinter in Central and South America.
|
![](win24-481.jpg)
Despite the cold, several male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelius phoeniceus) were calling.
|
|