"Not the Little Red-Headed Duck That I Remember"

I don't know where I saw red on this bird, or maybe it is a different one. The West side of the pond is unfrozen but I got this close because the pond was surrounded by cats when I walked up (okay, two cats, but they were big and fast).

Distance Based Ponding

This is as close as I got before the crashing and banging (what walking across this ice sheet sounds like) scared the little duck away from the water. Have decided to not go any closer today and let the wilder animals have the pond to themselves.

Visitors

A small, redheaded duck was swimming in the pond this morning but I couldn't get close enough for a picture. Just a while ago this roadrunner left the pond and walked by my fence. I was barely quick enough to even get a bird image.

Interesting

I noticed that the bittern landed at the pond last night, so apparently this is his permanent Winter home, but nothing else was around. The pond appears kind of forlorn.

It's Here!

It was raining when I went outside to take these pictures but has started to snow heavily now. Bill filled the pond yesterday so the fish are set for the blizzard.

More Snow, Still Cold

The ice is thicker today and I can now see that it wasn't a complete sheet yesterday. Nothing is moving and not even any tracks in the snow.

Deeper Freeze

There is a thin sheet of ice over the entire surface of the pond today. I don't remember that happening before. It's still below 30 degrees and nothing is moving around the pond, not even the little unidentified grey birds that usually rummage around the reeds even on the coldest days. The water is lower than I'm comfortable with but I can't use the improvised (until I fix the waterfall) flow-line until we get above freezing.

The gophers are back, but I have 1/2 bottle of the mint oil left. I'll saturate a rag with it and stuff it in his house. It's strange, but for whatever reason that's the only thing that will cause him to leave. Everything else just makes him mad.

Cold and Colder

These pictures are from the weekend since I haven't been outside yet today.

Frozen stuff around the Pond

A Pond-Free Day

or, I Didn't Invade Their Property. Mr. Bill was 64 today and my gift to him was, I didn't bother him or mill around in his back yard.

A Few Days Later

Have been around the pond every day but just to keep it clean. At this time of year it's like a magnet for tumbleweeds and Camron occasionally tosses in some type of wrapper. Today I found a wrapper from his new gun and the paper plate from yesterday's snack. I would never bother him about it, which is why, I guess, it seems like an endless chore. The water is turning darker now and it seems that decaying leaves might be the main cause. Still beautiful.