The Winter What Wasn't

Been a mild one this year - very little snow, no real cold snaps. Lots of rain, freezing rain, drizzle, freezing drizzle, fog, freezing fog, flurries, wet flurries with hail and freezing fog or rain,  and the odd capful of wind...but nothing that would pass for a  good old-fashioned, half-decent winter...

Notice the lack of white stuff - there's only been snow enough in the woods to use the snowshoes twice this winter, and we didn't really need them either time. Haven't even bothered to wax the XC skis...

 

This is the view from our daughter and son-in-law's deck, taken Boxing Day - really, Boxing Day - not enough snow to make a  snowball...

 

We did have a few dirty days, which was great - got to do at least one short snowshoe run when the wind was driving a few flakes across the Bay...

The one big storm we had dumped about 30 cms., which was enough to make it worth getting the new-to-us snowblower out and running. It ain't no Honda, but it does the job - and just as well it does...

 

Booah seems to have the best approach to this sort of weather...

when it's fit to be out...

Get dressed and get out...

  

 ...And enjoy while it lasts,

'cause there's a  time coming when it won't be fit...

 

To put a dog out....

Look Who Dropped By

A few seeds, a sharp-eyed friend drinking tea, a Christmas camera with lotsa zoom and a lady who knows how to use it - voila, you've got yourself a very nice pic of a very rare bird.

This Chipping Sparrow isn't supposed to be here in the Gullies. Both The Birds of Canada and Birds of Atlantic Canada show its range no further east on the island than the Codroy Valley area, which is about 900 kms. west of here as the sparrow flies; Birds of Newfoundland doesn't even list it.  Thanks to Rod for the initial I.D., and to Tony for confirmation.

(Photo: C. Mousseau)