…followed by deer and a Stewy ending.

Pileated Woodpecker – Dryocopus pileatus

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers has claimed the woods in front of the house as part of their territory. They stay together year round defending their space so I’m guessing this is the same pair I saw last year. They’ve made several appearences this winter but this is the only decent photo I’ve been able to get so far. They are flighty and take off as soon as I step out the front door. I usually curse the Basswoods but since they’re attracting these woodpeckers I’m having a change of heart. I suspect their actual nesting / roosting site is in the woods across the road. Every time I’d disturbed them they headed in that direction. Too bad, the land there is posted and off limits to me. Pileated woodpeckers are about as big as they come, at least woodpecker wise in North America. If you’ve never seen one before their size will surprise you when you do. If you spot a OMGTABFW (oh my goodness that’s a big freaking woodpecker) it’s most likely to be a Pileated. I guess when my grandpa called me a little peckerhead he must have been thinking of the smaller sap sucker.

Down the road a group of deer were out in a hayfield. I was surprised to find so much of the snow melted the last day or so. I live in a wooded bowl on the north side of a hill and the sun doesn’t quite have the strength to melt snow at home yet.

The ice jam may have been flushed downriver but if you look between the trees you’ll see a few remains on the far shore.

Downtown Morley Traffic Jam
I just wanted to photograph the ice on the river bank but catching a Deere running down the road made the photo worth posting.

Stewy was waiting for me at the end of the driveway when I returned home. So was the snow.

My outing wasn’t over yet. Dog wanted to go for a hike and we took off out back. But that’s a subject for another post. I don’t want to mix my lichens and deer up.

Being trapped indoors can make a basket case out of any outdoor enthusiast.

Stewy is no exception

Last night might be the last of the near zero F temps for a while. These I hope are the last frost pics of the season.

The snow is still skull deep on (another) stone slab on a stump.

I drove to the ‘dump’ today and checked out the Grasse River for ice jams along the way. There was next to nothing below the dam at Madrid. At Chamberlain Corners there was a slight build up but nothing to write home about.

I’ll have to see once the ice breaks up on the flat water sections what this turns out to be. Will this mini jam hold long enough to catch the ice that will soon be here?

Ice was arriving at Chase Mills as I drove by. There’s a good chance this will turn into a nice jam. I’ll probably miss it. I’m planning on taking a hike this weekend to the ice jam downstream of Morley.

Stealth Kitty? Shadow Cat?

Yep, that’s Black Jax
faster than a speeding bullfrog, more powerful than a dust bunny, and able to leap shoulder high in a single bound. She’s a sneaky little kitty with a big surprise. She likes to jump up onto your shoulder if you stand around. Take your eyes off her and she leaps. I think it’s her way of saying ‘sit down and show me your lap’. I’ve got to get visitors seated quickly or they may have to leave right away in order to change their pants. I’ve heard some good shrieks out of both sexes over the years too.

Sun on Friday. Rain on Saturday. Still raining at 4:30 AM Sunday. I go to bed thinking I’ll be able to go hiking in the woods but wake to find my hopes smothered in snow Sunday morning. Monday brings no relief, another 6 to 8 inches of snow got dumped overnight. ARRGH! I never thought I’d be going steady with a snow plow driver.. March Madness has once again replaced Spring fever.

The deer have been making their move. The winter is getting them down too. I caught this one sneaking around in the side yard on Saturday. The more brazen deer have been coming to the house and snacking on the shrubs. Soon as those are eaten I Imaging the deer will ring the doorbell and ask for handouts.

Monday afternoon – the sun is out again but I can’t hike to the river in all the snow. I know the ice jam must be formed by now so I dive down the road to Morley and check the river out. Yep, ice is jammed at the ‘cedar cliffs’.

There’s no hope of getting down to the river anytime soon. Temps are supposed to bottom out around 2 F tonight and just short of freezing tomorrow. Wed – Fri looks promising with temps pushing 40. I might be able to try hiking down on Saturday if lucky.

Tomorrow I’ll do something to match my mood. I haven’t been to the dump (waste transfer station) in 3 weeks.