Snow Tracks, and Owls in the north woods of Vermont

Walking down to my lower field this morning I discovered a set of tracks in the freshly fallen snow. At first I could not identify them. The snow was still falling and they were partially obscured, not really something to photograph and I assumed they were perhaps a weasel. After I put out the hay and grain for the sheep and pony I looked closer and realized that the tracks did not continue. They started at one spot and ended at another. That rules out a lot of animals. Also, came during the night. So looking closer I could see some of the wing marks. I enjoy solving the small puzzles  on the farm, an owl had flown down almost caught a mouse or mole, done a little exploring then lifted of into the night.

Barred Owl on a winter afternoon in Vermont

In walking my lower fields in the winter I occasionally come across the signs of the night time hunting activities of these owls as they catch their prey under the snow. As I was returning up my hill off in the distance I spotted my night visitor.

Barred Owl in February snow storm in Vermont

A barred owl off in the distance watching me. It is nice to see these birds in the woods and the fields. I look forward to hearing their hoots as they start their courtship this spring.

Creating with moonlight

One of my passions is photographing moonlight. Magic happens when the full moon rises above the horizon .  It can be the winter moon or the supermoon, of last year.

Full moon rising

A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world. ~Oscar Wilde

And then there is the full moon rising over the ocean in Maine. This is from York Beach, a moonrise to remember.

Full moon over the Atlantic, York Beach, Maine

Baltimore Orioles and other visitors to our Northern Woods

In sorting thru images I came upon a picture of a Baltimore Oriole that visited with us last spring, in early May. I was quite taken with this beautiful visitor from the southern lands. I am an avid watcher of the birds around our farm. Now, in late February, we mostly have chickadees and the woodpeckers, but soon others will start to arrive. I have heard that robins are around.

And here is a picture from some other visitors soon to return.

Canada Geese and the Beaver Dam

I am  looking forward to all the birds as they return to our part of this amazing world of diversity and beauty.  Another one of my favorites is the hummingbirds that start buzzing around when the flowers appear.

Hummingbird with the garden flox

Amazing flyers, especially when two males are squabbling over territorial boundaries.

I am very sobered by reading the article about the loss of habitat and the changing climate conditions that are threatening these amazing fellow species. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216094724.htm

“Birds are perfect canaries in the coal mine — it’s hard to avoid that metaphor — for showing the effects of global change on the world’s ecosystems and the people who depend on those ecosystems”.

 

Thinking of Spring

Sitting here in Vermont, it is feeling as if mud season will be upon us any day now.  The sap is starting to run, time to start sugaring season. I have many images of both mud and sugar to share with you so stay tuned.

Today , before I start another project I was looking through some images from last years spring, preparing them for stock and fine art usage and came upon this group of images from the annual visit of the Canada Geese to the beaver pond that borders our property. In the background is the neighbor’s Scottish Highlander. Very interesting fellow.

spending my day in the company of dogs

On these winter days of late February in Vermont, with the dearth of snow, I have found more time to sit and reflect. Consequently sharing my thoughts in this blog. I have decided to use this as a way to show my day-to-day life. The daily part is shared by “the boys”, our pack of dogs.

I will start with an introduction to Cyrano. He is 3, from Tennessee and is a golden retriever/hound of  humble and unknown origin.  As a matter for the historical record, I too was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, hence my ability to spell it.  Although, my roots are really in Virginia(a good topic for a future post).

I live on a small farm in Vermont with my wife Jennifer and daughter Gabrielle. My writing is about life in the country, taking care of the livestock , the poultry(a mixed bag of chickens, geese, ducks and turkeys) that are kept as a self-sustaining year around flock , our gardens, fields and the woods. The boys always accompany me as I do farm tasks, so they are frequently captured in my images.

Continuing with Cyrano, he is a rescue pup, who was saved the day before his demise, and shipped to Pennsylvania. Living in the pound is a difficult way to start one’s life.  Cyrano has risen above the start and is a good and loyal boy obsessed with his balls, and did I say, quite fast? We picked him up on our annual journey down to  the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where I grew up, for Thanksgiving.

Later, I will introduce Quinn, our Golden Doodle and Laddie,our Scottish Border Collie. I know many of you have been following the  pictures of the pups on Facebook as they grow and play. I would like to use this space to further explore the small details of my life on the farm. I look forward to exploring the transitions of the seasons, the weather, the gardens and animals from my world in a lovely part of Vermont.

golden retriever plays with a goose

Golden Retriever running

Cyrano, side portrait, winter 2011-12

Into the sun

When I was growing up one of the first photo tips that was given to me, was to never photograph directly into the sun. I suspect this fomented a certain rebellion within my being. It impressed me to such a degree that I can still remember it all these years later. I also remember my kindergarten teacher telling me that my coloring technique was not correct. I had gone outside the lines and had not kept my coloring lines orderly. I really tried to toe the line, but when the spirit of coloring possessed me it was very hard to keep my colors separate, within the lines and orderly.

So perhaps it is these early reprimands and directions towards a more orderly drawing technique and the correct way to take pictures that helped create my personal

style. I find I am always photographing directly into the sun. To me that is where some of the more interesting light occur.

Fox on a winter morning

Living the rural life here in Vermont it is always good to have a camera handy. I have found owls, hawks, foxes, deer, moose, skunks, raccoons, porcupines, weasels, mink , otters, herons, crows, ravens, beaver and a multitude of birds on my journeys around the farm. One morning going down to the Jericho General Store there was a moose in the middle of the road . On other occasions I have had to help a large snapping turtle across the road as it backed up traffic. In Vermont drivers stop for a turtle. This fox was watching from the edge of a field as I was bringing my daughter back from school.

A light snow falling in early february

I find the deep winter months  a time of reflection. The dogs all sleep behind my chair with hopes of a walk through the ice encrusted woods. A substantial snowstorm to cover all the recent ice from yesterdays rain would be appreciated about now. It has been a warm winter, a real disappointment as far as snow is concerned. On the other side of a lack of snow is the thought that it will be an easier year for the deer after the deep, deep snows of last winter with a snow cover of 48″ in January thru march. But I do miss the snowshoeing and skiing that keep me in shape through the winter months.  So time to get back to work, or perhaps it is time to take the snoozing dogs out for their daily walk. I will put on my crampons for all the ice and perhaps soon it will be a time for snowshoeing and romping in a layer of freshly fallen snow.

Pastured Poultry

Pastured Poultry. I have my chickens down on the lower pasture. They spend the day eating grass, bugs, establishing the pecking order, resting under shelter during the heat of the day. Living the life that a chicken should. I have an acre of my lower pasture inclosed with a solar electric fence to keep them safe from predators.