New Views and Old Views (Night Moon,Winter Scenes, Blue Jays, Bohemian Waxwings, Canada Geese, Goldfinch, Redpolls and a Fox) of The Vermilon River. A Post to WBW.

Most of the photos in today's post were taken earlier in the week after our first snow fall that stayed. It is cold about-14C, perhaps 10 above F. That's why the frost is still on the trees, and it is overcast as shown in the first photo. The light is weak, and that's probably being kind.

We're hiking the west side of the River on the abandoned Railway track. If you want a view of the trail go back to the previous post. The hike is an easy one because the ties and old tracks are gone and the trail borders the River.  The first photo is trail end at the old abandoned bridge abutments. Opposite a section of the rapids.

This photo is of the Island that bisects the rapids. Remember this is not a game preserve or park; we're on our own and could go farther into the wilderness.

You can see the effect of the grey light on the Blue Jay's plumage. 

The grey light is even more obvious on his tail feathers which are bright, but not shimmering as they would normally be.

Again his colours are muted.

The Bohemian Waxwing was shot on a bright day, and it's obvious.

This is a Female Common Goldeneye Duck, the first that I've ever seen. I was lucky to catch her as there's lots of floating ice in the River.

Apparently, they move towards rivers or lakes with open water, and are therefore slow to migrate. They're excellent divers, diving up to 12 feet to feed. She did exactly that once I got some shots and I couldn't see where she surfaced.

These may be the last of the Geese, although some may still be moving in from the far north.

 The Redpolls are here now. I'm always amazed by how hardy these little fellows are.

These are both Male Common Redpolls.

This little guy really had something, and was enjoying it.

Living in virtually in the forest always makes feeding the birds a bit risky. Bears in the spring when they're starving, and in the fall, when they're trying to put on weight, will go after the seed or suet. Similarly other four legged creatures will do the same as well as hunt the birds or squirrels that feed there. I caught this fox last night helping himself. This was about 2 A.M. I shot him through the window. The light is from a parking lot sodium vapour light, which I guess accounts for the reddish colour. I just cranked up the ISO to 1600. This is the first time, I've even considered night photography.

The strange quick weather changes have been mirrored in the full moon which is bright but surrounded by a halo. After moon one and three we got snow. After moon two we got a warming effect, with wet flurries, and deep grey skies. A Post to WBW @ http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/