A problem ...

 The cascade is flowing well, but around the corner ...

The Skunk Cabbage thinks it is the end of February and are looming.

Grenville turns the corner ...

 The biscuit is just behind his front foot as he passes over.

Threw a biscuit for Grenville which he went over then turned (top pic) and came back passing over and continuing passed me.  NOTE: Click any image then use your scroll wheel to view the action sequence.

Yes, Virginia, there is No in snow ...

 Yes, Virginia, there is No in snow for Christmas around here.  Even the ski slopes are having a hard time making snow because of the warm weather.  I think we have set an all time record for the lack of snow to this point.

My friend made this cookie for me.  Freehand no less!  I just love it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS  TOO ALL!!

Beaver

I finally got a shot at this Beaver on the Auburn Trail.  I have seen his work (Look at 15 Dec 011 for his dam) but never him.  He didn't leave me a clean shot, but this shows the environment and actually around this spot is no picture at at all.

Cardinal

This male Cardinal was basking in the sun on a cold morning.  I wear a blaze orange toque that I think he has mistaken for another male Cardinal because he was making a lot of noise.

The Starlings gather

 The gathering

 Decorating the wire

I think they have seen the Christmas lights and are trying to Be-the-Light.

Just before Christmas ...

 A small plant still thinks it is fall.

 A Blue Bird.

 The sun is shining today (yesterday)

An engineer would curve this dam into the current  ...  what do beavers know that we  do not.

Moon rise

The moon was rising and added to the Christmas scene.

First Snow fall that showed

 Snow on the path

Hangin' high

 Pilated Woodpecker checks out the hole he made.

A Canada Goose sits on the log, but I have not seen the bright blue feathers before.

What season ...

 Great weather for ducks - more rain.  These Mallards were not here the last time around and I thought they might have gone south.

A local Poinsettia .. for the season.

Pictures from the last couple days

 Thursday the Cardinals were out.  Here is Mrs Cardinal

 Not far behind was Mr Cardinal

 A frosty morning but holding the promise of Strawberries to come.

 These are either raisins in the sun or Ice Wine to come

 Friday it rained and these Canada Geese lined up on this log sheltered from the rain.

 Take off on saturday

Another frosty day which seems be the norm.

In the swamp

 Mr and Mrs Mallard may stay the season if this Beaver dam doesn't freeze too long.

Just trying to see if I could hand hold this 400mm  lens at 1/400 sec.  I think it works.

Sunset ... Sunrise

 Not sure what this means but we have gotten the best sunrise/sunsets that I have seen in years.  This was sunset last night.

Sunrise this morning.  And I missed the best as I went for my camera. It was the full sky east, west, north, south horizon to apex.

Tree Spirit

The Tree Spirit watches over the trail.

Taughannock Falls and White Deer

 Taughannock Falls is running full after the night of rain tues. into wed.  All that rain also created fog in the cool morning air.

The White deer were out, but only these 3 out of 5-6 groups of 5-7 deer each.  This seems unusual to me - there should be more in the other groups.

We had rain

 We had enough rain to make about 1-11/2 feet of of snow.  Missed that bullet

It did ramp up some of the creeks.

Blue birds in the frost

 This Blue bird was flying around about the only bird still around.

 It was great to see him because I have seen very few in the last few years.

It was late in the morning but the frost was still hanging on.

Boughton Park

Not everyone was out hunting on opening day of gun season for deer.  Mike was out fishing on this beautiful Indian summer day.

 Goose checking on the 1st snow of the year.  I took these pictures just in case this is the only snow we get this season. (Probably not a problem)

These Geese seem to be cheering on the Blue Heron as it takes off.

Geese

The Geese are still hanging around the pond.