Ferdinand & Ned

These two Hereford bulls were added to Bob's herd this year. I got to name them, Ferdinand(left) was named for the bull in Munro Leaf's "The Story of Ferdinand", and Ned(right) was named after a professor/friend's Newfoundland with similar markings. 
Ferdi and Ned are just babies in this picture, but have grown tremendously in the months since we brought them home. They're good buddies and are never more than 15' from each other. Wherever one goes, the other follows.   

Ted

Theodore "Ted" sits prettily in Bob and Janice's living room near the Christmas Tree.

Christmas Birds

We started Christmas morning by filling the bird feeder at Erin's parents' house.

Pine Siskin

Northern Cardinal

(right) Red-bellied Woodpecker, (left) Downy Woodpecker, (back) American Goldfinch

Tufted Titmouse

2012 Christmas Picture

Rick and I hiked around Palisades Kepler State Park for a while before deciding to take our Christmas photo on this sandbar stretching more than halfway across a very low Cedar River.  

Backbone Camping

Rick and I spent a great weekend camping at Backbone State Park!

Yellow-shafted Flicker

adorable Mouse!

view from the scenic overlook near the Backbone trail-head

female Pileated Woodpecker! First time we've ever seen one!

Rick at Backbone Lake

Geese at Backbone Lake

Golden Crowned Kinglet

Carolina Wren singing

Rick's hand vs the holes drilled by Pileated Woodpeckers

juvenile Red-tailed Hawk

White Pelican Migration

Rick and I heard that the White Pelican's were migrating, so we packed up Rocinante and paddled around Lake Macbride until we found their staging area. SO MANY PELICANS!

White Pelican

White Pelicans

Great Egret 

Great Egret

White Tailed Deer

Cedar River Kayaking

With the Cedar River at super low levels, Rick and I felt confident taking Rocinante out on a river we normally wouldn't even consider paddling. The water was so low we had to get out and pull Rocinante over sandbars three different times.

Pied Billed Grebe

Belted Kingfisher

Snapping Turtle