Red-bellied Woodpecker
I ended up having enough time before work to go snowshoeing and birding at Pheasant Branch Conservancy. The stream corridor is always so spectacular right after a snowfall - it was nice to finally get out and breathe some fresh air to clear my brain. The dominant bird sounds belonged to Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Cardinals and Black-capped Chickadees; heard so clearly through the calm woods. I didn't hear a Carolina Wren sing this morning (perhaps they were offended by so much new snow?), but I'm sure they're still around. I only had about an hour, so I used the time to enjoy views through my binoculars and also test a wide-angle lens I recently purchased for my Nikon Coolpix 8400.
All images © 2008 Mike McDowell
