Finding nature where you can

After moving to the city, it became very important to find nature where I could. Fortunately, we moved near a lot that has been difficult for developers to sell because it has a little stream which drains the hill above it.  You can't see the water in the photo but you can see the little green plants still growing even in the snow.

I walk here often but because I usually have my dog with me, I stay on the road to avoid the burrs lurking in the grass.

But today, I decided I needed to get out on my own even though the snow was pretty deep. It was so much fun, I felt like a kid again.


Even the weeds were beautiful

I stopped long enough to notice there was still food left for the birds

and heard the cheerful singing of a little brown bird. It wasn't a sparrow and of course it wouldn't come close enough for a photo but I'd seen this little bird before by the lake.  It flicks it's tail like a wren, and every time I've spotted one, it has been near water.

After reading about the American Waterthrush, I thought I'd identified it but it shouldn't be here through the winter. 

Mind you neither should Red-Winged Blackbirds but one is still visiting our feeder.
This fellow has been staying through the winter for about three years.  I always wonder why some of them don't leave.

Well, that was it for my walk, it was short and not very exotic but very much appreciated.

Turtle Mountain

One beautiful sunny day after a week of rain convinced me to take a quick hike up a new trail opened up by a housing subdivision.                      
The trail runs along the edge of Turtle Mountain.
It was completely unplanned but I was fortunate to have my son and granddaughter come with me.   You can tell they are waiting for me to take my photos and grab a quick rest as the hike was quite steep in some parts.   I've been told this is an old volcanic crater and the rock formations were very interesting.  It was early afternoon so I didn't see any interesting birds or animals or even insects but that's okay the company was good and the sunshine wonderful.