A walk in the woods

I like to walk in the woods during the winter just to see what's going on.  The ticks should be safely gone so a good time to go.  And I've tried to do on MLK Day.  It was supposed to be sunny today but was overcast.  No Bald Eagles and no railroad tracks.

The first thing I saw was a tree with unusual markings.  As I got closer, I could see the bark was stripped most likely by a fox squirrel....

 

 

 

I thought this was a Red-tailed Hawk flying through the woods but now think it is a Cooper's Hawk.  I had to be quick.  This is the best I could do...

 

 

I'm thinking my neighbor is responsible for this...

 

 

 

And down to the pond.  The Des Moines River is moving but this pond is definitely frozen...

 

 

 

And here is the river...

 

 

And looking back at the woods from by the pond...

 



 

And some interesting trees...

 

 

Looks like an ear

This tree is leaning (if you look closely)

And finally a look toward our house from the woods.  Seeing the feeder from a different perspective...