Rondeau Ric

looking for spring in all the wrong places Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Above average snow fall, below average temperatures and to many grey days. I'm looking for spring.

Bird condo Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur No one was home the day we were there. Usulayy it is full of swallows.

Squirrel in a can Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur 'm sure I can get to those peanuts if I go up here. He kept trying for the better part of an hour.

Feet Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Check out the feet in large, amazing bit of adaptation by nature. They look like little clamps.

...and right over there is Santa's workshop Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur and just beyond that is the North Pole. While birding in Ohio it was cold enought to be the North Pole. Anybody have a different caption for this photo? Have fun.

Have nest will travel Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur After searching a stand of pines for long eared owls, Anne realized I had nest building material in the hood of my jacket.

Give me a break!! Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur There we were birding in south eastern Ohio, minding our own business whe a camel wandered by in the background. Now it was cold, VERY cold and my brain may not have been working normally, but, CAMELS in Ohio. Really! We were at the Wilds, a reclaimed coal strip mine. As well as rehabilitating the area they have a few wild animals. Camels, cheetas, African painted dogs and rhinos. The camels are from Mongolia and don't mind the cold.

Holy pileated Batman!! Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur We have had pileated fly through the yard before but this is the first clear photo we've been able to get. Anne saw it fly by and realized it had landed in the willow tree. She grabbed the camera and quickly took two shots. This one work.. Photo by Anne taken through the Wonderful Wildlife Window.

Shattered Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur We had a flood a few weeks ago, then it froze. When the water receeded the ice was left hanging from trees and bushes.

A bird and a frog go into a bar... Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Okay lets hear how you finish the caption.

Tanks a lot Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur I don't know why they have it or what they do with it, but what a Christmas present. No excuses for not getting to work on a snow day. Uploaded by

Pine siskin Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Pine siskins have turned up in fairly large numbers in the last few days. They mix in with redpolls, sparrows and juncos.

The redpolls are coming the redpolls are coming Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Anne was able to get a photo of the common redpoll that showed up Thursday. They have been in the area but this was the first time we noticed them. photo by Anne.

Noooooo It's still winter. Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur

Tired of ice and snow Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur It's only January and already I'm tired of ice, snow and grey.

Banana Belt Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur South western Ontario is often referred to as the Banana Belt. Usually we have milder weather due to the lake influence moderating the temperature. This is Point Pelee, the southern most place in main land Canada. Pelee Island is a few miles out in the lake. Not so much banana this year. In the spring there is a great migration of birds. My favourite is the wood warblers.

The icy edge Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur The lake doesn't have layers but it has sharp teeth.