Three or four days ago we received 3 or 4 cm. of snow. It was gentle and fresh.
There was lots of snow to shovel and it was pleasant to be outside. What was extra special were the flocks of geese flying south.
At this time of year we have many local geese flying out to the fields to feed. The ponds have many geese. But these geese meant business. They were fairly high up and flying directly south. These are northern geese. The ice has frozen solid where they have been hanging around. They will fly south until they find bodies of water that are ice free and empty of other geese that they might have to compete with.
Only very small ponds are frozen over here. Anything bigger than my yard is clear of ice.
Now it was pleasant to see these geese fly over , but I know that there are millions more hanging around. The big migration happens when we get the first deep freeze. Temperatures about the minus 20 C will persuade most geese to move south where they will find food and open water. I remember one boxing day when the flights of geese were almost continuous.
We do not have cold temperatures in the forecast so geese will be here for a while. Some geese stay here all winter using spots in the river that don't freeze over.
Sorry! No photos! I have replaced the card in my camera and ready to take photos.
Growing up in Oregon we used to see great V's of geese flying south. Now here in Washington State, they are just flying from one corn field or lake to another. They stick around all year here.
ReplyDeleteSome of them stick around all year here too but most of them go south.
DeleteSnow....oh my gosh.
ReplyDeleteWell...let's switch the subject! I saw something I have never in my life seen. I saw a flock of geese flying together in their normal 'v' pattern, but the strange thing? They were flying backwards. The open part of the 'v' was facing forward, the tip of the 'v' was one lone goose bringing up the rear. We both just gaped at the sight.
I would gape too. Sometimes the vee gets a little ragged when they are changing positions.
DeleteIt is too warm here to snow, I do not miss snow.
ReplyDeleteTake care, have a wonderful day and happy week ahead.
I hear you. Snow can create some nasty problems. It's alright when we have learned to live with the snow.
DeleteIt seems no time since you had snow last
ReplyDeleteIt is a while . I can't say the specific date that we last had snow but I would think April.
DeleteOur geese have stayed around the last few years too. Our winters are milder than they used to be!
ReplyDeleteMore water stays open now so all they need is open water.
DeleteNo photos were needed, since you painted such a wonderful word picture. I could see the geese in my mind's eye.
ReplyDeleteBut there's nothing like seeing them and hear them talk to each other.
DeleteI can just picture them!
ReplyDeleteFunny how they always fly about the same height.
DeleteWe usually have some that over-winter as some parts of our river don't freeze.
ReplyDeleteNot surprising. They're a very tough bird.
DeleteThe first light snow always seems pretty and shoveling is an exercise of fun and an easy workout. After that, it gets slippery and icy and annoying. I won't risk my daily walks when there is ice outside. Stay safe this winter, Red!
ReplyDeleteI also have to be very careful with ice . Since it's milder we get much more ice.
DeleteI enjoyed this and even without photos could picture it all in my head. Beautifully written Red! Geese formations are an incredible sight. We get smaller 'Vs' down here but I love to see them and hear them honking.
ReplyDeleteYes, they are talking to each other. I like that sound.
DeleteVery rarely do we get snow except in the hills occasionally.
ReplyDeleteWell, you're really unfortunate not to get snow!!!
DeleteSounds like the geese are busy while you're busy with the snow. About twice a year, I'll hear geese honking loudly, as they fly over my suburban Kansas City, on their way to the correct location. But we do have a Sam's Club pond with a huge live-in flock, and a pretty park pond with some geese. It's so fun to watch them land into the pond, with their feet out like water skis, then gliding into a slow sit-down on the water. Linda in Kansas, with no snow yet.
ReplyDeleteWhat's really fun is to watch them come in to a partially frozen pond. As they're landing , they beat their wings to break the thin ice.
DeleteThat makes our UK weather sound tropical.
ReplyDeleteI remember flocks heading south in my childhood, but no more. Our winters are more open and the geese stick close to the river.
ReplyDeleteHere they used to leave but not so anymore.
DeleteI'll be keeping an eye out for the flying Vs as they go over Seattle. What an interesting comment by Debby about the backward V ... Thanks, Red, for keeping us posted. John
ReplyDeleteoh you have got serious winter begun in your area dear Red
ReplyDeletebut it's nice that it' does not feel to bother and you are enjoying the flights of migrating geese
your description made me feel as i am looking so many to fly :)
We saw fields full of either snow geese or trumpeter swans last week, they like the corn fields that have been harvested:)
ReplyDeleteI'm not short of geese flying here either so I can happily forgo a photo.
ReplyDeleteYou can have all the snow but I would enjoy seeing your geese. Actually I think some of them do make it down this far to our nearby urban lakes.
ReplyDeleteI love looking at snowy scenes though these days I only like walking in certain kinds of snow and I'm glad I don't have to shovel it.
ReplyDeleteSnow? Hmmm... My daughter hasn't mentioned snow in Illinois yet. As I recall it was mostly in December though. I remember seeing a lot of your Canada geese in Illinois in July.
ReplyDelete