Frost on a leaf

The air was crisp and cold on this day in January.

The air was crisp and cold on this day in January. While on my morning walk, I noticed that the grass and dried leaves were still covered in frost.

The monochrome catches the intricate details of the frost on the leaf and the grass surrounding it. The leaf is the star of the frame, and the frost emphasises its venation patterns with a delicate layer of ice crystals, giving it a textured appearance. The blades of grass are covered in frost, with each blade becoming individually distinguishable.

Natural freshwater stream?

The fallen leaves, twigs, and dead vegetation suggest the season could be either late fall.

This image captures a small, natural freshwater stream meandering through a forested area. The stream's flow is characterised by its clarity and how the water cascades over and around moss-covered rocks and stones, forming a rugged mini-waterfall.

Except, none of that is true. This is just a creative framing of the roots under one of the maple trees on Blue Spring Road. While doing my early morning walk, I noticed how the frozen water, gnarled tree roots, pebbles and moss reminded me of something much bigger. I intentionally framed the photograph to make it seem that way.

The fallen leaves, twigs, and dead vegetation suggest add to the feeling of late fall or early spring when the woods have not fully recovered their lushness and the streams are just beginning to thaw.

23 December 2023 · Apple iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro back camera 6mm f/2

I think the focus and lighting draw the viewer's attention to the centre, where the "water" flows brightest and the rocks are most prominent. The slightly blurred background, with its earthy tones, contrasts with the sharpness of the foreground, creating a sense of depth.

The photograph evokes a peaceful meditative environment, where the only sound one might imagine is the gentle sounds of the "stream".

Carolina Chickadee or Black-capped Chickadee?

Due to climate change, the range of the Black-capped Chickadee and Carolina Chickadee overlap.

I was uncertain about the identification of this bird, so I uploaded the image to ChatGPT, requesting identification.

Me: Please identify the bird in this photograph. Please describe the scene.
ChatGPT: This is a photograph of a Carolina Chickadee, identifiable by its black cap and bib, white cheeks, and soft grey back, wings, and tail. It is perched on a bare branch amidst a network of similar branches against a pale blue sky, likely in a deciduous woodland during the non-breeding season when trees are leafless.

For verification, I uploaded the same image to the Merlin ID app. Merlin also identified this bird as a Carolina Chickadee. However, after additional reading on All About Birds, I learned that this individual could be a Carolina or Black-capped Chickadee. They are very similar in colouring, and identification can be challenging. The calls of the Black-capped Chickadee are different from the Carolina Chickadee. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the presence of mind to use the Merlin app for an audio identification.

However, Merlin ID mentioned a 2014 study by Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Villanova University, and Cornell University that indicates that the hybrid zone between Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees is shifting northward in alignment with rising winter temperatures.

This is the first time I have heard and photographed a Chickadee. I heard this individual's distinctive call when I was outside, about to leave on a short walk. The bird was in a tall tree in the small wooded area between two streets near my home. Despite the challenges of backlighting, I enhanced some of its features using Adobe Lightroom, drawing out the finer details that aided in its accurate identification.

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) · 30 December 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR