It was 5*F when I arrived near the main entrance to the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge this past Friday. When I left my house some 80 miles south it was a tolerable 24*'s. Couldn't believe I left the comforts of a warm bed at 5:30 am...who in their right mind would do this?

Anyhow, approaching the entrance, was delighted to see an old friend. This weathered post has served this particular Bald Eagle well over the years. He/she has been returning to this perch for the last several years and seems to delight in posing for us fotogs. Mornings first light had just crested the mountains illuminating the Eagle beautifully. And, as luck would have it, this was the only bird photo I got that morning...the whole refuge was frozen solid!

However, good fortune did strike as I ran into Utah Mike a few minutes later. After chatting for a while, we decided to check out another frozen location. No luck there either so we headed to a little lunch counter for coffee and make some future plans once spring arrives.