Winter Storm Cleon has moved east and it’s finally possible to get out of the Stone House and get back to work. It’s still unseasonably cold, and today I got my first mail delivery in almost a week. During the storm I worked from home and stayed warm and mostly dry by the fire. By day two the symptoms of cabin fever were starting to set in. I was getting up every thirty minutes and walking up and down my hallway several times. I constantly stocked the indoor firewood pile. I starting to feel restless and cooped up. I decided that to clear my head that I would take a walk outside over my “lunch hour”.
I put on my Carharts and tucked my weatherproof camera and lens inside my jacket. The activity around the house was extraordinary. Cardinals were hanging onto the branches of the crepe myrtle for dear life. A fallen tree limb over the pergola was a lifeline to a small woodpecker as winds blew snow almost sideways. Birds that typically dart away held fast in hopes of spotting fallen seed below on the patio.
I came in almost soaked through and freezing, but invigorated and ready to focus – on work.
Shutterbug notes:
Shooting birds in the snow can be tricky. Your camera’s autofocus wants to focus on the nearest object in your field of view – I found that if I made my focus point as small as possible and tried to get it to lock onto a bird’s eyes or beak that I could eventually get a focus between flakes. I took all of these shots in shutter mode at 1/400 second and an ISO of 1000. The white of the snow added ambient light that made a moderate ISO setting sufficient. A slower shutter speed would make the flakes look more like streaks – a faster one would require a higher ISO and would create unnecessary noise in a limited light situation.
the eff stop 
wow beautiful little birds 🙂 great captured 🙂
Thank you so much!
i am in love with these pics ❤
We had such fun watching the birds line up along the icy fence. I was surprised how many hung out on the frozen fountain waiting for a turn at the feeder. The Cardinals pop against the snow.
It was like a Hitchcock movie on the porch at one point – I was stunned at how active they were in the snow. I couldn’t get a good vantage point but I spotted the 6 make cardinals at one time in the crepe myrtle. The were taking turns at the feeders and were unconcerned about my presence.
Business lunch. 🙂
LOL – that about sums it up. All in their red business suits.
You certainly found a great outlet for your cabin fever. Beautiful!
Thank You – I am so glad the sun is shining again, but that was a fun time at the feeders.
I love the red birds against the white snow.
Thanks Elizabeth – those are our cardinals – much beloved here in the states, especially in the snow 🙂
These are wonderful. And the snow effect on your blog (and mine) made it even better. Because the snow was blowing!
I agree – this is the second post that that long forgotten snow effect has seemed fitting. I honestly forgot to turn it off last year 🙂
Hi Lorri – Aren’t the birds a treat to watch – but I may need to get a part time job to pay for seed 🙂 I was back to work Mon – Bob took me in the 4wd truck and I drove myself in today. Roads here are clearing off quickly with the sunshine even tho it is still bone chilling cold! And I love the pic of the downie with the titmouse – so great! K
Boy Kathleen, they were a treat to watch and I went through about 10 pounds of songbird food during that weather. All the roads in Eureka are finally open as of today – it’s been tricky getting around. Looks like more on Sunday.
Those cardinals are so colourful. Wish we got colourful birds here – well we do have woodpeckers and kingfishers, but I never see those. Excellent photography as usual Lorri 🙂
Thanks Jude – we do love our cardinals here in the states, especially in the snow. Most of my colorful birds are here in the summer – cards stay red all year long. I do love woodpeckers though – what intricately patterned birds.
These are really beautiful..
Thank you so much!
They’re gorgeous photos! I’m wondering what a photo focussed on a snowflake in the forefront would look like!
Oh, I have a few of those – they look like a blurry bird behind white blobs 🙂
LOL when you say it that way, it doesn’t sound intriguing anymore!
The are not blog worthy shots for sure!
I suppose if you could get close enough to the snowflake, but darn they just won’t hold still!
This group of birdies are so wonderful! I love my juncos, they are so fun to watch. 🐤🐥
Juncos are s much fun, they winter here. They are normally hard to shoot because they dart around so much – the storm slowed them down.
Fantastic and beautiful photos. The snow falling makes them look like christmastcards, wonderful!
Thank you so much. For a couple of days the whole world outside looked like a Christmas card. 🙂
That’s taking full advantage of the weather! You really made good use of the snow in the photos – great effect.
Thank you Lyle. It was amazing how many stayed so close in the snow.
Lovely series of bird shots – I’m amazed that there are so many birds through the falling snow. Maybe they were seeking shelter near the Stone House. I used to love the snow when I went skiing up in the ‘high country’ 25+ years ago.
I’ve had a little of that ‘cabin fever’ myself recently, but it’s been because of the gusty winds and intermittent rain in the city. Haven’t been out much for nature walks at all recently. We’ve had only a few bright sunny days this Spring (& now Summer). I think we might even get a wet Christmas down under. Rain is welcome, but it does cause a surge in grassy undergrowth which can signal bush fires late Jan, early Feb. I have friends who’ve been bushwalking in the ‘high country’ and got caught in a light snowfall which made for some very cold bushwalking. Yes, we’ve had some very cold summer days indeed.
Thanks Vicki, I think because I have so many feeders they stayed nearby – but the feeders were covered in snow too. I had to scatter food on the snow. It’s too bad you’re not getting great summer weather, it seems a bit unfair after being holed up for the winter. I have seen snow in July in the Cascades – just a skiff – but it was surreal.
Beautiful pictures Lorri! It’s been so cold here I haven’t seen any birds except the Magpie. Poor things. I haven’t even been able to get out and feed the birds, but it’s suppose to get above freezing this weekend so hopefully I can get out there.
I had to go out and spread some seed on the snow – the feeders are completely covered. I’m hoping for a thaw soon too.