House Finch, Snowy Day, II

Another male House Finch from the snow we had last week.

 

House Finch, Snowy Day, I

This weekend we had spring-like temperatures making it hard to believe I took this photo only about a week ago.  This male House Finch made for a colorful subject with the snowy white background.

Junco In The Snow

A Junco rests on a snowy branch while out foraging in the snow.  How such a small creature survives the winter never ceases to amaze me.  Does it wake on such a morning wishing it could sleep a little longer, rationalizing that later the snow will melt and its burdens will be just a little lighter?

Colorful Fungus on Log

This fallen log, in Pocahontas State Park, near Richmond, Virginia, forms the basis for quite an ecosystem of colorful fungus and lichen.

Melt Off

As I hiked past this puddle of melting snow I stopped to look at the reflections in it.  Snow was falling off the trees in clumps and caused ripples in the puddle.

Steaming Stump

When I arrived at the edge of the lake, this stump was absorbing the sun.  As the dark wood warmed snow was converted into a small cloud of steam.  As a result, this photo shows all three forms of water:  frozen (snow), liquid (water), and vapor (steam).

Forest Sunrise After the Snow

Snow fell on Richmond Thursday night.  A few inches accumulated but it was nearly all gone within 24 hours.  I took the day off Friday and hiked through Pocahontas State Park.  This photo was taken as the sun rose over the forest.  The park was beautifully covered in snow and I had the place to myself.  I hiked for 5 hours and never saw another person the entire time.