Some Nature

 

We were walking at Scout Island and ran into enthusiastic (and patient) birder Lubna, who pointed out this northern shrike in the distance.  

Meanwhile in our yard, a downy woodpecker

a Cooper's hawk,

And a mule deer.

Winter arrived.

 Snow finally arrived after Christmas.  There's not a lot of snow but conditions on the cross-country ski trails are surprisingly good.  Since we went for our first ski on December 29 we skied every day except New Year's Day.  

I looked be on track to complete my New Year's resolution of 10 skis this year in order to pay off my season's pass, but Leo needed a rest yesterday and today the temperature is above zero so our streak is over at 7 days.

That may not seem like a very ambitious resolution but last year I never skied at all (no snow) and the year before I only skied once on the day I caught covid and that was it for the ski season.

Worse, the club's fancy new ski lodge was completed last year and then there was basically no season due to the lack of snow.  We've popped in twice so far this year to chat with friends and warm up.  

Anyway the forecast is for snow tomorrow and colder temperatures so we should be back on the trails by the end of the week.