Flames

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I couldn't decide which one to post so I posted all three.:) Which one do you like?

Waxing Crescent

Deck Chairs

Yeah, I guess it's still winter

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Snowstorm

Although not strictly a nature photo, it kinda gives a good idea of what we were driving in this morning.:)

Sunset

Running Water

It was actually warm enough today for there to be running water.:)

Cottonwood

It was 12º below zero this morning...

...but bright sun this afternoon made for some great icicles.

Sunset and Fresh Snow

A screech owl died of unknown causes in the barn last night. I found it this morning when I went in to get a hay bale. Though it was sad that it died, it provided a great opportunity to study the intricate feather patterns of this beautiful little bird.

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Frozen Flotsam

...or maybe jaunty jetsam?

Ghost of the Woods

Ruger, Single-Six

Barbed Wire

Entwined

Storm Sky

Carnation

More on Crossbills

....The pictures below show off the white wing bars that distinguish the White-winged Crossbill from its cousin the Red Crossbill and also showcase their singular feeding habit of hanging upside down while picking the seeds from pine cones that make up the majority of their diet.

....The White-winged Crossbill's migration varies and they will pretty much travel to wherever there is food (probably one of the reasons that I've never seen them here before). Their song is a series of loud trills on different pitches and was the first thing that alerted me to the fact that they were in the area.
....White-winged Crossbills live mainly in conifer forests but will live most anywhere that has an abundance of pine and fur cones. Their diet consists of anything from pine and fur seeds, sunflower seeds, and berries to aphids and caterpillars.

Hopefully this hasn't bored you all beyond any ability to endure, but I enjoyed watching, photographing, and researching this new bird.:)

White-winged Crossbills

Sorry the pictures aren't very good. They were only there for a second.

Some Ice Photos

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...and some photos of my assistants.:)

...and more rain drops

Rain-drops

Lilac Branch; Grey Sky

Bubbles In Ice