OUR FIRST SNOW DAY FOR THIS WINTER.

 I waited for the snow to taper off before going for a walk up to the dam.  I had a few flakes come down but nothing to serious.  The white beauty has already faded and it looks pretty drab this morning.  Rain is forecast to start this afternoon so in a day or two we may be back to bare ground.

Oregon grape.

Flicker.

Pileated Woodpecker.

Willow.

Grass with Vaseux Lake as a background.

South end Vaseux Lake.

North end Vaseux Lake.

A SUNNY SUNDAY DRIVE.

 Continuing on from where we left off last post we explored some of the area surrounding Road 22 north of Osoyoos.  The Okanagan River which used to meander down the valley was straightened many years ago into a boring canal.  However, some of the old river channel is still semi functional and known locally as the Oxbows.  It is a rich birding area with a few of my finds included below.  After our glorious weather yesterday, we awoke to snow this morning and accumulated a little over two inches.  More on that next post perhaps.

Grasslands north of Osoyoos.

Kestrel.

Red-tailed Hawk.

Super telephoto shot to the west, south of Oliver.

The old Haynes Ranch barn.

Great Blue Heron.

Hooded Mergansers.

Hooded Mergansers.

Hooded Merganser.

Hooded Merganser.

Hooded Merganser.

Same Red-tailed Hawk, different location.

Same Red-tailed Hawk, different location.

Flicker.

The old Haynes Ranch.

The old Haynes Ranch.

Still a common scene ripping out grape vines killed in the cold snap last January.

I was impressed with how green the grass was on December 15!  It's covered in snow December 16.

A BIT OF FOG ON THE HILL THIS MORNING THEN A NICE SUNNY DAY LATER.

 We have been having some very dull days lately so today's sunshine was much appreciated.  It was mostly cloudy still when I went for my walk this morning.  After I got home the sun came out so I suggested a drive to see if we could find the sheep.  We didn't but did get to play with a hawk.  After lunch we took another drive which will be the subject of my next post.

Took this one yesterday when we took a couple of neighbours, Marian and Marie for a ride.

When I was making my breakfast this morning I looked up on the mountain across from us and saw some wispy fog dancing along the top.  It didn't last long but I played for a bit.

I never know what I'll come across on my walks!

I was intrigued by this leaf on our driveway as I returned home from my walk. I guess the halo is from frost.

And another leaf on the driveway.

My morning Red-tailed Hawk with the water of Vaseux Lake as the background.

Moving to another tree.

Here he's leaving the tree and heading for something on the ground.  

Heading back to his perch after being on the ground.  I don't know if he missed his prey or if he gobbled it up while on the ground.

Looking for the next morsel.