Snow rollers

Snow rollers, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

How many of you have had a chance to see such an interesting winter phenomenon? We've had some very unusual weather this week. Subzero temps, snow, and high winds = perfect conditions for nature's snowballs to form. Chunks of snow dislodge and start moving across the surface of the snow. This only happens if the ground is already covered with ice, there's a wet snow, and high winds.

This scene is down the street from where we live - at a park that is exposed to the wind. I took the photo right before sunset, and, I assure you, it was very cold. The temp was around 0°F with a windchill of -10°F.  I had on my winter layers, so only my fingers got cold, but winter photography can be a bit of a challenge.

Pickerington Ponds - winter teasel

Pickerington Ponds - winter teasel, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I love the early morning light in winter, but I'm not crazy about the low temps and wind chill factors.

Today's weather calls for another blast of Arctic air. I wouldn't mind this so much if I didn't have such a long walk to where I teach my midday class...

Snow bunting

Snow bunting, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

These birds are pretty amazing. They're currently in their non-breeding plumage, which I actually find more attractive than their breeding outfit. Steve said they remind him of budgies - they do seem rather comical with those faces, I suppose. From watching them for a couple of hours, they seem to be quite intent on eating as many seeds as possible, and only in the safety of the flock. There were some Cooper's hawks in the area, so I suppose this safety in numbers thing probably is a good defense strategy.

Winter birds

Winter birds, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

I would have used the title, "snow birds," but that has a different meaning around here. Yesterday, Steve and I joined some friends to visit a farm up in Delaware county that is owned by an enthusiastic nature lover and his wife. Each winter they feed the birds with corn from their fields. There are literally thousands of snow buntings, horned larks, and lapland longspurs in a mixed flock gleaning the fields and taking advantage of the kindness of these folks. I've never before seen so many of these birds in one flock.

The weather was very cold with a very strong wind. I was dressed in winter layers - smartwool and capilene for the long underwear, fleece and hiking pants for the next, down and snow pants for the outer. I had my winter boots on, my windstopper hat, and a scarf, plus gloves. I was actually quite comfortable except for my fingertips, which always get cold doing winter photography.

To make this photo, I was kneeling in the snow, just waiting for the flock to get spooked. I wish I could describe the sound that they make during take-off. It's a lovely winter serenade....

Click on the image to see a much larger view. These birds are very beautiful.

Walnut Woods Metro Park

Walnut Woods Metro Park, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

New Year's Day - has time really gone by so fast? It seems as if this semester has been so busy I've not had time to do other things. Four more weeks to go, and then, perhaps, I'll have some free time again.

I am ready for some warm weather now. This has been a very cold and long winter for us - especially compared to the abnormally warm one we had last year. All-in-all, I much prefer having a real winter, but I am ready for spring flowers, sunshine, and shedding long johns.....

Mirror Lake

Mirror Lake, a photo by andiwolfe on Flickr.

December 22, 2012; Ohio State University.

This is a view of Orton Hall from Mirror Lake. Camera settings: 8 sec exposure, f22, ISO 500, 85 mm. Canon 5D III; EF 24-105 mm f/4.0 L.