No Business, Like Snow Business

Woke up this morning to a winter wonderland - there was snow all over the place.
This was not met with much joy in the Jon and Jenny household, given that we had to drive the hire car (pictured here, draped in the white stuff) back up to Parksville.
We had called to see whether we could return this Budget (surely a misnomer, given the hire rate) car to the depot in Nanaimo, thus saving us the half hour drive each way in the icy and snowy conditions.
Yes, of course we could, they said. For the small fee of $75. A bargain, I'm sure you'll agree.
We decided to risk life and limb on the roads instead.
Jen's employer, meanwhile, had kindly offered to lend us a car while our defunct money pit sits up in Parksville awaiting a replacement engine, so we dropped by to collect it before heading to Parksville in two car convoy.
I noticed, while we were there that the Eurasian collared dove I have seen kicking about has been joined by another, and some serious lovey-dovey stuff was going on between them.
Their continued expansion in the Nanaimo area seems assured.

Later in the day, we took a walk to Hemer Park, in Cedar. This is a great place for a stroll and is conveniently located within short walking distance from home.
The blue skies, low winter sun and snowy vista made for a lovely walk. While in the forest, the melting snow cascaded down from the trees, creating the impression of continual fine rain, while the damp ground and sodden logs steamed in the sunlight. Quite beautiful.
On the mainly frozen pool, a herd of 16 trumpeter swans were just about the only birds present, save for a couple of mallard and hooded mergansers.

Varied thrushes, golden-crowned kinglets, chestnut-backed chickadees, Pacific wrens and brown creepers accompanied us along the paths and the resident, almost entirely white, American robin was with a small group of its more typical congeners near the park entrance.

Red crossbills and dead car bills...

Jenny and I met up with Rich Mooney and Lori today before heading up to Little Mountain, just outside Parksville. I'd promised Jen a visit ever since going there for the first time on the Parksville CBC, and the day was suitably glorious.
We tried calling for pygmy owls but had no luck. A pileated woodpecker was yaffling away and knocking ten bells out of a tree, while red-breasted nuthatches showed well in the nearby trees.
Something of a surprise came in the form of a flock of 20ish red crossbills - otherwise thin on the ground around the island so far this winter.
Sadly the most notable vent of the day involved our car dying, and us having to rent a car while we wait to have the sickness diagnosed. This isn't going to be a cheap month. Happy bloody new year...