11:30 AM, Athens, Georgia - The cold has again returned, this time giving us a thin blanket of snow and my kids a few days off from school. Awakening in the morning, I filled all the bird feeders knowing the birds would appreciate an easy meal on such a cold day when all the grass was covered. Toward lunchtime I bundled up and sat near the feeders waiting for a good snow-shot of the Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) and a few others.

​The Dark-eyed Juncos are often referred to as "Snow Birds." Perhaps it is because they often arrive later in the winter than the other migrants. But others have said it is because their plumage resembles a winter landscape: white snow on the ground and grey skies above. Whatever the reason, they showed up in my yard with the coming of the first snows!

When I review some of my first shots on my camera’s LCD, I quickly realize that snow doesn’t come often enough to the southeast, for I had forgotten to make my adjustments. All that white on the ground tricks your camera’s metering in to darkening everything to an ugly grey. I forgot to give my exposure a little boost. You can keep your snow scenes white by adding one-third or two-thirds exposure compensation.

The other area that snow fools your camera is with white balance. Although it sometimes works to keep that “cold” feeling in the photos, the camera’s auto-white balance can sometimes make the photo too blue. You can try shooting in the “flash” white balance setting, or shoot in RAW to adjust later.
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Of course, shooting in RAW is probably the best option as you can adjust the exposure, white balance and many other aspects of a shot later. Besides, there is snow on the ground and “baby its cold outside”. So you have plenty of time to stay inside with Photoshop and make all those edits!

​On a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and I can’t help but keep my eyes open for wildlife. I can only imagine how many tens of thousands of wildlife photos I would have if I lived in Florida. There are beautiful birds everywhere all year round.  This Ibis and Roseatte Spoonbill were close enough and accustomed to tourists to afford a good photo. 

​Orlando, Florida

On my drive home from work I caught a glimpse of at least five Turkeys in the woods just of Highway 186 near the Hanson Quarry entrance. Turning around in the quarry driveway, I drove back by and got a few shots from the window of my truck. 
​Walton County, Georgia

​Several Redhead ducks began showing up on the shelter pond in late December; a few months ahead of last season. On January 2, I counted 21 male Redhead, 10 females, and 3 male Hooded Mergansers.
 
Then it happened:  COLD!  Friday, January 3rd – low of 20 degrees; Saturday, 24 degrees; Sunday 33 degrees. Then the plunge! Monday, January 6 – low of 10 degrees! Tuesday, 6 degrees! Wednesday 15 degrees! Thursday 28 degrees!  I had never seen every pond I passed totally frozen over before. Even the large pond behind the shelter froze over with a 1 inch thick layer of ice. 
 
The Readheads all scattered; perhaps to ponds further south, perhaps to open and flowing rivers. Our five resident Mallards and three Mergansers were confined to a ten-foot wide opening in the ice right out the back door of the shelter affording me some great close up shots of the Mergansers that I had never been able to manage before.

The Mergansers were obviously nervous and agitated being confined so close to my presence. They normally move to the far end of the pond away from any human activity. But the little ice whole only gave them two choices: fly off to look for other clear water, or sit tight. They nervously paddled back and forth in their little ten foot opening, frequently dipping their heads in the water to vent their nervous frustration. I got some great shots to add to my life list. Within a few more days the ice melted, the Redheads returned, and the Mergansers had the full pond to once again avoid my presence. 
Walton County, Georgia