Yesterday, the day after a snowfall, clear skies, low 30s was a fine day to be out. I rarely have a plan about which trail I'll follow - they all can hold some treasure, but the woman in the office told me people had spotted a barred owl. There was a family trip and I got there just in time to hear a little girl say, "I SEE IT!" My enthusiasm was only a little quieter. I had never seen an owl in the wild. To be able to watch it slowly turn its head one way and another was a gift.
I like to observe tracks and imagine the story behind them. Most tracks were filled in yesterday, but I did see some deer. Some hopping creatures had been out as well. Another day or so and I'll go back to see if anything new has appeared.
The usual assortment of chickadees and nuthatches were busy. At this sanctuary, they are used to feeding out of people's hands and one of them briefly landed on my hat as I walked along. A chickadee once perched on the end of my lens as I was trying to photograph a cardinal. Very cheeky. The sensation of having a bird cling to my fingers is like nothing else I have ever experienced.
