The Canada geese were raising such a fuss on the lake to the north of our house and west of the town pond, that I could hear them at our house as the meathead and I set off.

Not sure why they were fussing, so but I could easily hear them a good half mile away.

A hawk, looked like a Cooper's hawk, flew low between buildings in downtown.

Surprisingly lively morning for wildlife again.

I say surprising because I was out well behind dawn. But it was already growing light on one of those high sky, crisp Arctic mornings.

A mourning dove fluttered off as the meathead and I crossed the side rail track. Another dove flew out a tree by the southwest corner of the north old clay pit.

Crisp enough overnight to have ice skim over the open water to the south of the bridge over the neckdown between the two clay pits.

The ice cap on the south end of the south pit was easily thick enough to walk, so we did.

I thought the ice fishermen might pull their ice shanty out there again yesterday, but it was still sitting by the old boat launch. Better do it today, rain is coming tomorrow.

Another lone dove flew off by the south end of the south pit.

Not sure why all the doves are showing up again.

Another one fluttered off (I didn't see it, only heard it) from the alley near our house.

The bank clock read 14 degrees. I had 5 degrees behind our garage.

Winter giving one last kick. Well, maybe the next to last kick. There's talk of a blizzard coming at the end of the week.

Wonder if the doves know that?