consworld

Two images, same bird, taken minutes apart but they look seasons apart. Conifers form a springy green background for the bird on the fence while the pond ice background gives the second image the feel of winter. 

Though ice still covers the ponds this week, the Canada geese, six of them,  have returned to Lower Lake Ranch to stake nesting claims at the fishing ponds. The one below hid from me in the tall grass the same evening I photographed the robin.  Same buck fence in the background but how different the color due to a passing cloud and  my angle of view which excludes the conifers in this one.  

I caught a glimpse at great distance of a blue heron on the creek the same day I made these photographs so know they’ve come back to us as well. If the high winds of the past week ever slow down I’ll get out to make more photographs of our spring birds.

Birds, Lower Lake Ranch, spring

At my house we love the aspen color in the spring. When the leaves unfold they are shiny and bright. As they grow into summer the color dulls, of course, so I have been trying to capture some of the spring color now.

spring, trees

Georgia, spring, trees

barn storm

Captured while snow shoeing on Lower Lake Ranch at Elk Falls during the storm. As I worked my way up the creek the snow fell harder and the camera only left the bag to make quick image here and there.

picnic, anyone?

To go or not?

Lower Lake Ranch, snow, spring

ponderosa

It was a bright sunrise after an April snow, but only for an hour or so. By late morning it was snowing and blowing again. Spring snows are much wetter than our winter ones.

 

more snow

spring, trees

spring snow

An overnight snow fall last week made a perfect morning for a walk on the guest ranch in the valley below my house. Light snow was still falling as I began my walk.

bridge over elk creek

Weak sunlight begins to filter through the clouds as I photograph the barn with lions head soft in the cloudy background.

 

at the barn

spring color along the creek

 

 

two geese on upper lake

two newcomers

The 2nd pair continue to circle and call,

circling pair

then land on the snow covered ice at the other end of the lake.

geese landing

The lead goose lands gracefully followed by a sliding partner.

still sliding

As the clouds lift and the sun rules the sky, I move up the creek to photograph lions head from a couple of other favorite locations.

Near crop rock:

ponderosas and lions head

And, from lion’s foot.

Lower Lake Ranch, snow, spring

Snowing again? Yes, this is spring, warm one day and snowing the next.  

Lower Lake Ranch, spring

When I was a child, my mother sang to me about a happy robin coming in the spring.

Though I was happy to see this robin a couple of days ago, I’m not sure the robin was happy about all the melting snow about.

The snow lasted a couple of cold days, but it’s warmer now and the snow is gone except in areas of deep shade.

This is April in Consworld, snow and melt, cold nights and warm bright days, anticipation in every twig and species, and spring fever in me.

I want to photograph the snow showers and melt, the winterbuds unfolding, and the early wildflowers. I want to walk along the creek and around the ponds in the mornings looking for spring birds and landscape views to capture. I don’t want to do any work. I want to play.

Birds, spring

fox, hummingbirds, spring