Fresh snow

 So the heading 'Fresh Snow' could be almost any day lately as we seem to wake to fresh snow on a regular basis...but it actually refers to January 4th...when we headed out for a short walk.

we stopped for a minute at this side of the river, opposite where we normally walk (you can see the dyke over the other side)

the reason for stopping was to get some pictures of the Double Crested Cormorant that have been perched on these and another set of pilings on a regular basis the past while.

we set off in a different direction....

the vegetation was still 'frosted' with a coating of snow

including the trees on the opposite shore.

there hadn't been much to see in the way of birds, although there were a few Bald Eagles about, like this guy...

but then we spotted....

Robins???  Yes, Robins.....not what you expect to see in early January.  They were eating the fruits of the Pacific Crabapple 

further along, in a different section there were some of the thrush you more typically expect to see in January, the Varied Thrush

here is a closer look at one of the Varied Thrush - this one a female.  They have been found regularly in this particular area because Pacific Crabapple and Hawthorne grow here although their fruits in this section are pretty much gone now.

back where the robins were, there is still a pretty good crop which just shows the important roll these native trees play!