It Had To Happen.................

Chicago is known for its horrible winters, endless weeks of sub-zero temperatures, lots of ice and gritty, lake-effect snow. I didn't really appreciate the difference in types of snow before moving here but trust me, lake-effect snow just feels like a total rip-off. It doesn't float down in big, downy flakes, it is tiny and hard. Not 'fun' snow at all. We don't usually get big snow storms, just almost daily bothersome blusters of this nasty old lake-effect.
This year has been quite amazing, we have watched as the east coast of the US has been pummeled with one monster snow storm after another. I think New York City is well over 50 inches so far. Even down in the far south, states that never normally see snow have been belted. We were in our usual state of permanent freeze but there was a definite lack of snow, a couple of inches here or there that quickly turned into ice but that was about it.
And then, this weekend the media started talking about the monster storm that was headed our way. A big blizzard that was going to envelope us for at least 24 hours. The hype built and built, names like 'snowmagedon,' 'snowpocalipse,' 'snowtorious B.I.G,' and even 'snowprah' started doing the rounds. Of course many people were very skeptical about the impending onslaught. My husband told me on a daily basis that the weather people didn't know what they were talking about etc, etc. And so we waited. Well it seems that the weather people did know what they were talking about after all because Tuesday at 3pm (exactly when they said it would) the storm arrived. And my oh my what a storm it was. I left work at 4pm for my short walk to get home and by the time I got in I was exhausted. I am usually totally wrapped up whenever I set foot outside at this time of the year anyway, with just my eyes visible peeping through the layers but as I struggled through the storm, the wind and the driving snow was so bad I actually got an 'ice cream headache' by the time I got home. My eyes were burning from the snow being blown so hard and it was a good job I knew my route by heart because I couldn't see the path at all.


So, safely ensconced at home we let the weather do its worst.
The main road along Lake Michigan in Chicago is the legendary Lakeshore Drive and by 8pm it was a parking lot of unimaginable magnitude.


Hundreds and hundreds of cars stuck in the ice and snow and the poor drivers unable to get out or go anywhere.



Then the thunder snow started - yes really a snow storm with thunder and lightening - quite impressive. The monster storm beat us hard all night and when we woke up next morning it was still howling with 70 mph winds whipping the snow into huge drifts.
Well my spoilt animals at work don't really care what the weather is like outside, they still expect their servants to come in and tend to their needs so, although the Museum was closed and no other staff would be coming in, I had to get out there and find my way into work! 'Oh joy - why am I not a librarian!!??' I put on as many layers as I could manage and set out to do battle with the elements.


The road outside our building was deep in snow and there were several buried cars


My first hurdle (quite literally) was to get over the massive wall of snow that the ploughs had pushed across the road junction.


Once I had swum/waded/waddled through that, there was only one route and that was straight down the middle of the road. Usually at this time of the morning this road would be a constant flow of heavy traffic.




When I had trudged down the road I was presented with this! Oh goody - another drift for me to swim through to get to the door of the Museum.


The wind had sculpted the snow into some beautiful dramatic shapes so when I needed to stop to catch my breath I got chance to appreciate them.


When I finally got inside, my first task was to go back outside - we have bird feeders which are used for various programs and there were some very desperate birds who were pretty pleased to see me. I filled all the feeders and then because I felt so bad for them I scattered a few scoops of seed on the ground too.


As I went about my daily tasks I carried my camera everywhere and tried to get pictures from all the windows. It was so peaceful having the Museum to myself :)








And then through the blizzard came an arctic explorer!


Actually it was my husband dropping by to say Hi as he made his way into work.


It was a perfect photo op'


Looks pretty dramatic doesn't it?


Back to work and snapping shots as I go along.



I worked through the day and tended to all my charges and by the end of the day as I set off home, the weather had cleared and the snow looked really beautiful.


The skies cleared and the beauty of it all was quite stunning.


The ducks even managed to find the aerator in the pond and looked quite content.


When I got home I was surprised to see from the window that Lakeshore Drive was still closed and there were still over 200 cars to be dug out.



As the sun set the high rise buildings cast shadows onto the snow on the frozen lake


The calm AFTER the storm.


We ended up with 20.2 inches of snow but because of the hurricane force winds it drifted in many places to be several feet deep. Definitely one for the record books, apparently the third worst storm in Chicago's history!


Photo Credits - CJT & DominickV

PATTERNS OF MOROCCO - PART 2

I started this series last year and so here is a somewhat overdue second installment. I always over use the term sensory bombardment when I talk about Africa, maybe it is just a personal feeling but seriously I just didn't know what to photograph first when walking around Fez. No further commentary needed, just enjoy these exquisite patterns.



















Photo Credits - CJT

The Winter Gymnast

Who is the winter gymnast swinging on the suet feeder?


Those pointed tail feathers are a definite clue


a flash of yellow under the tail and a red crescent at the back of the head


The beautiful speckled breast and black bib


Of course! It is the handsome Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker.


Photos - CJT

Was it something I said?

Hi Lisa from Laughing Orca Ranch, I hope you get to read this at some point because I can no longer access your blog and I miss reading about all your wonderful animals and life in NM.

Whitewater Draw

We were down in Tuscon over Thanksgiving and as our own personal revolution against the endless hype surrounding 'Black Friday' we decided to do something as far removed from the materialistic madness as we could so we packed some snacks and drinks into the car and headed south to Whitewater Draw. This is a beautiful area that was recommended to me by my dear friend Kathie from Kathie's Birds.


In the autumn Whitewater Draw fills with thousands of beautiful Sandhill Cranes. These magnificent, elegant grey birds stand between three and four feet high and their main distinguishing feature is the bright red forehead patch. At the time when we visited there was believed to be somewhere in the region of thirty-two thousand cranes in the area.


We parked up and walked down to the main wetland area. It couldn't have been a more perfect day, the sky was a spectacular clear blue and there was a slight chill in the air. The sounds of the cranes carried across the water towards us and although they stayed on the far side of the reserve from us we could see hundreds and hundreds of them strolling through the reeds and picking up morsels as they went. Other groups were resting up in small groups, feathers fluffed up against the cool air.


In amongst the cranes were a group of Snow Geese and also several Tundra Swans. The geese are the smaller white shapes further back in this shot, the swans are the bigger white blobs in the foreground :)


A little closer to the viewing areas there were numerous other waterfowl paddling around. A personal favorite of mine, the Northern Shoveler was very much in evidence.


This is a wonderful area that has been maintained very much with the avian population in mind, large areas are not accessible to the public. However because it is very flat with predominantly low wetland vegetation, with powerful binoculars or a scope it is easy to view all the birds without disturbing them. (That little blue dot is me!)


We watched the cranes for a long time, it was such a treat to see and hear these beautiful birds in such huge numbers it was hard to tear ourselves away and explore the rest of the area.


A vivid speck of red in a low bush caught my eye and as I drew closer I was thrilled to see a glorious Vermillion Flycatcher watching me.


In true flycatcher fashion, he had staked out his hunting area and flew repeated circular forays out to grab a flying insect before returning to the same spot.


We made our way round to a small cluster of trees marked with a large sign which read 'Great Horned Owl Roosting Area - Quiet Please!' We walked quietly along the path, I was staring into all the trees and Dominick walked on ahead when I spotted an extra woody lump on a branch.


I was trying to attract Dominick's attention whilst being quiet (not easy) lots of jumping up and down and hissing!! Eventually he got the idea and turned around. He came back to where I was standing, I said 'look at the owl' he said 'what owl?' Eventually he spotted it though.


In spite of all our walking back and forth and stage whispers the owl refused to be disturbed! I am sure he was thinking 'pesky humans!'


We had one more treat in store before we got back to the car, a Loggerhead Shrike. These ferocious birds are great hunters and their somewhat gruesome habit of storing captured prey by impaling it on thorns or even barbed wire fences has earned it the slightly daunting name of the 'Butcher Bird.' I was thrilled as this was the first shrike I had seen since leaving Africa.


He followed us along the path towards the car park before finally alighting on top of a post.


Who needs to queue for hours outside a big box store to fight over bargains anyway? This was my idea of a perfect day :)

My Bird List for the day:

Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Cinnamon Teal
American Widgeon
Tundra Swan
Sandhill Crane
Snow Goose
American Coot
Vermillion Flycatcher
Says Phoebe
Lesser Yellowlegs
Virginia Rail
Black Phoebe
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Loggerhead Shrike
Great-horned Owl
White-crowned Sparrow


Photo Credits: CJT & DominickV