Spring Swan

Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is the place to be in the spring, whether you're a migrating bird or a photographer!  The photo below was taken on April 16, 2012. Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese are among many species of waterfowl who enjoy the ponds created by the melting snow.

I'm linking up with Tricia's Watery Wednesday.

Rainy Day in the Skagit Valley

When we were in the Skagit Valley in mid-October it was cloudy and rainy.  I still managed to get several nice drive-by barn shots.  It's always a bonus to have the lovely mountains in the background. 

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See more old barns at Tricia's Barn Charm!

Morning Sun

I took a few shots this morning shortly after sunrise as we were driving down the road.  Sunrise is at 10:00 a.m. and the photo was taken at 10:45.  We have very low sun angles this time of year, and I got a bit a lot of sun flare as I took the shot through the windshield.

I did a little playing and got some interesting effects.

Water Garden

I took these shots at Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania on October 30, 2011.

I'm linking up with Tricia's Watery Wednesday II.

Strange Visitors at Creamer's Field

Things looked normal at Creamer's Field when I stopped at the front viewing area today for a photo of the old barns.

However, as you drive closer to the barns you see a few animals that you don't expect to see....

Mammoths!

It all started before Halloween. 

This year's Halloween event for the kids featured mammoths, and a few other critters, wolves and a saber toothed tiger.

Kids got to "hunt" the mammoths with the ancient hunting weapon the atlatl.  The mammoths were created by local artist Todd Sherman with the assistance of my son-in-law, Johnnie Williams.  Creamer's Field is now a wildlife refuge, and before that the Creamer family operated Creamer's Dairy for many years.  Although mammoths roamed this area long ago, I imagine the Creamers would have been quite surprised to see a couple in front of their barns.

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If you like old barns, hop over to Tricia's Barn Charm to see more!

The Fox Hunt, Alaskan Style

No Tally Ho or hounds for a fox hunt in Alaska.  The only red coat is that of the fox.  The American red fox is the same species as the European red fox, but the fox is the one doing the hunting here.  Their favorite food is voles, and I am happy to have a helper to keep the vole population under control.  A few days ago I spotted a fox on the hunt out the window.  Fox usually go through the yard very quickly, so I grabbed my camera and started shooting through the window.  All the while he was there I was wanting to get outside to get better shots, but I resigned myself to staying inside and doing the best I could.  He actually stayed around longer than I thought, digging in the freshly plowed snow, searching the area for any potential food, and then running off into the trees.  The white of the snow makes such a good backdrop for that lovely red coat!

River Reflections

Going back in time a couple of months to September 23rd, just a little ways from our house, the fall leaves were gorgeous reflected in the Chena River.  Now the water is frozen and the banks of the river are covered in snow.

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I'm linking up with Tricia's Watery Wednesday II..

Dream For Sale....

Traveling along I-5 in early October just south of Olympia, Washington, we passed this old barn, and I managed to snap several shots as we whizzed past.

 If you're looking for that special old barn to fix up, here's your chance, and you get 160 acres with it!

Of course, as with any drive-by on a freeway, other traffic can get in the way of the perfect shot.  Did I mention that it was very close to the freeway?

Of course, that was would have been the best shot of the series!  I've cropped the photo to get a better look at the row of cupolas, and because they were a little blurred, I added some ink outlines.

And one last look as we drove past the barn.....

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Find more old barns at Tricia's Barn Charm! 

Redpoll Lunchtime

Today it snowed and covered the sunflower chips with a layer of powdery snow.  As I watched the Redpolls feeding it appeared they were getting more snow in their beaks than seeds.

I went out and brushed the snow out of the cups on my ferris wheel feeder.  As I worked my way around the feeder, one of the cups tipped over as it got to the top, dumping all the seeds out.

I refilled the cup with fresh seeds.....

.....and wouldn't you know that one cup became the one everyone wanted.

As the snow continued to fall it soon didn't make that much difference anyway.

The Redpolls do like to quibble over the best spot for feeding, and the other guy always seems to be in that best spot!

Steller's Jay

Steller's Jay, photos taken October 8th, 2012, at Port Angeles, Washington.