February 14 - 21, 2016

The starling above was enjoying a chilly mid February bath while the sparrow below was debating.



The birds are starting to sing earlier and earlier which usually indicates spring won't be too much longer.



The male cardinal above and the junco below are no doubt ready for spring.



I think the bird below is a yellow rump warbler with a piece of dried fruit in his mouth.



The mourning dove looks rather intent on the supplemental food I put out during a day of sleet and freezing rain.



Next a female rufous-sided towhee.



I could have used ice skates on my deck when I took the next shot.



This past week started off cold but by the end of the week was like spring.



The female cardinal was enjoying a pleasant day on my deck.



Next a stylish looking carolina chickadee.



The rest of the shot are from a Sunday walk today in central NC at Upper Barton Creek in Wake County.



The temperatures were very spring like.



Our average last frost date is in April and I'm sure it will turn cold again before winter ends but nice to have a perfect weekend for getting outside.



Nice to see running cedar making a comeback in the woods since over collection and and habitat destruction have made it less common than it once was in many areas.

January 31 through February 13, 2016

The last day of January was perfect for a walk at the NC Museum of Art Park.



It always takes me time to decide about new art installations in the park (at least a couple of years).



I still haven't decided how I feel about the one above.



I like the way landscapes look in the winter.



I particularly like grasses that are allowed to grow naturally and remain un-mowed when they die back in the winter.



I've photographed the next sculpture many times.



Same with the one below but they are both favorites of mine in terms of the outdoor installations.



A little tree is trying to come up.



It was nice to have a break in the winter temperatures before they started falling again.



I photographed the mackerel sky below at the beginning of February.



The rest of the shots were taken at my house during the first two weeks of February.



I only feed the birds during bad weather but it's been so cold lately I've helped them out some (male cardinal above and male rufous-sided towhee below).



I like the markings on the mourning doves feathers.



Winter is a good time for me to catch sunsets.



I enjoy watching the female cardinals (below) as well as the more flamboyant males. 



Carolina chickadees are the first to take advantage of free food but move so fast they're hard to catch with my camera.



Below is a female Rufous-sided towhee.



The blue jay was among the first to take advantage of fresh water once I got the ice out.



I'm starting to get quite a collection of ice circles.



The mourning doves look like one is look-out.



I get cold just looking at the female cardinal bathing.