What's as cute as a bug's ear? How about hummingbird eyelashes!

Rough-legged Hawk banks to the west after kiting over the prairie in the cold, blustery winter winds. The 2nd image (pano) illustrates well how this hawk acquired its moniker. The name "Rough-legged" refers to the feathered legs . . .

This Great Blue Heron from a couple of days ago is probably wishing that it had continued flying south instead of stickin' a landing on the log. We'll be getting up to 8 inches of snow around here today, and with upcoming temps dipping below zero, hoping it will find warmer waters soon.

The goldfinches now have their winter colors, but it wasn't that long ago they were brilliant yellow, just beautiful. Here's a goldfinch lifting off from a sunflower. And a little while before he took off, a big ol' bumblebee winged its way up to look the goldfinch in the eye before heading off to the less crowded flower field.

"Do I know you . . . ?"

A Ruby hovers over to a Spotted touch-me-not (aka Jewelweed) in the morning light for a little fuel for flying.