A cold east wind, 19 degrees and a light skiff of snow on the ground.

It’s time to bundle up and head to the Virginia Lake Trailhead on Sauvie Island.

Two loops around the Lake are good for about five miles, although it took the first mile to get warmed up.

A few songbirds are my only company for awhile.

Fields nearby are populated by majestic sandhill cranes.

The winter season has begun.

It’s winter

Song Sparrow

Cottonwood Leaf

Snow-covered trail

Low winter sun trying to break through the clouds

Young Bald Eagle silhouetted

Fresh snow on the Blackberry bushes