Today was finally a beautiful sunny day. Just -8C and actually very inviting for a walk in the forest. The landscape was still dusted in white from yesterday's snowfall.
Right in the parking lot there were 4 woodpeckers working on the same tree. After watching them for a short while I started my loop through the forest. It was a very calming walk I have to say. I enjoyed the silence and the trees, didn't see many animals though.
I encountered a very curious squirrel that didn't seem to be able to make up its mind whether it's more scared or curious of me. Once it settled on a sunny tree branch I took a few pictures but moved on once it looked like the little guy was about to run off.
I also liked the back-lit fluffy cattails in the bog.
The chickadees were curious of course but settled in the afternoon sunshine once they figured that I came with empty hands (ok ok I felt bad about that but what can I do...). The breeze was quite cold but they looked very handsome with their fluffed up feather coats.
In order to return to the parking lot I decided to choose the grassy, brighter path on the west side of the trail system, rather than to follow the trail back through the forest. I also wondered whether I might see any deer there since I did not see a single one throughout the forested part of the loop.
Out there in the open the wind was biting quite nicely (as I figured out at home, windchill was -19C) and I quickly made my way through that but not without stopping for a few minutes to take some pictures of 3 deers! I was actually really happy to see them.