Snowdrops

Snowdrops are blooming! I saw the first signs yesterday, just the tips of green spears pushing up. I took the photos in this blog this morning. You can see white petals. These flowers are also called Candlemas Bells because they traditionally bloom in time for the Christian feast of Candlemas on February 2. They made it just in time this year. Click to enlarge.

How do they do it? They have strong leaf tips that can push up through frozen soil and snow. They produce proteins that act like biological antifreeze to keep their sap from freezing. They reproduce asexually from bulbs growing underground. Later in the season, their flowers also can be pollinated by insects and produce seeds.

It's nice to have flowers again. Even if I almost froze looking for them. As the poet Charles Algernon Swinburne said, "blossom by blossom, the spring begins."

Winter Robins

 

There are a lot of robins around my place today! Click on this photo to enlarge. See five? They were among a few dozen that were feeding on fallen holly fruit amid a noisy flappy fluttering of wings. 

 

There were more across the street under another holly tree, also eating berries. I estimate that I saw about 100 robins on my morning walk.

Contrary to popular belief, our robins don't all fly south for the winter, nor do they all suddenly return in spring. They do disappear from our lawns when worms and insects become scarce. They switch to dry fruits and berries. Some may fly to other locations seeking food. Want to read more about it? Click on this sentence to go to an earlier blog with lots more details. And do not worry, spring will come. Fifty-two days and counting.

Waiting for Snowdrops

I photographed these snowdrops in bloom on January 14th last year. Read about them by clicking on this sentence to go to that blog. When I went out to look for them on the 14th last week, there was no sign in any of the places where I usually find them. Disappointing. I will look for them again soon. Click to enlarge.

Meanwhile, as I was walking along the icy river, I saw...

 Canada geese on the shore.

So, the cold continues. There is no sign yet of winter flowers. Stay warm.

Winter Ducks

 

I visited Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge this week, to look for winter ducks. It was windy, cold, and lovely. Click to enlarge.

There were lots of ducks. I saw norther shovelers.

Pintails.

Buffleheads. 

 

A male bufflehead with some food he caught dangling from his beak.

Ruddy ducks!

The two pictured above gave me pause because they were swimming together, and seemed at first to be a couple. They turned out to be two different species. In front, a female bufflehead. In back, an immature male hooded merganser. Tricky!

It was worth the trip for beautiful scenery and abundant interesting ducks. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge has an 8-mile one-way wildlife drive. Click on this sentence to visit the refuge website for information and directions. It's a nice place to visit, even in the cold. Stay in your car or wear your warmest coat.

Creature of the Year Awards, 2024

 

There was a lot of drama at the Creature of the Year judging for 2024, which resulted in the first ever tie. White squirrel was a co-winner. Seems to be saying "who, me?" right? Congratulations, 2025 Creature of the Year! Click to enlarge.

A latecomer to the race, but a popular favorite, was the beloved reindeer. She is co-Creature of the Year, 2025! Cheers, reindeer!

The upset was caused by a substantial number of write-in votes for this stunningly lovely clear winged moth. Insect supporters had been outraged when moth was left off the ballot due to an oversight. Moth is the official runner-up. In the event that both winners cannot fulfill their duties, moth will step in.

The look on katydid's face (spokesperson for the insect contingent) says it all.