Whiteout to Sunshine

I left for work this morning and it was calm and warm.  That scenario changed by noon.  I drove home in near white out conditions.  Snow and a very blustery wind created some very poor visibility.

The rain that fell the night before didn't help matters either.  It created slippery sections on the road that were becoming snow covered in the blizzard.

The birds were having a difficult time.  They would attempt to fly forward and the wind would push them back twice as far.  A couple of magpies were caught up in the wind.  You could see them fighting to keep moving forward.

When I got home, there were a number of redpolls, pine grosbeaks and a downy woodpecker at the tray feeder.  It is in a sheltered spot so they were able to eat without being blown away.

The wind and snow lasted for a few hours and then disappeared as fast as it appeared.  The clouds parted and the sun came out.  I'm hoping that the sun keeps shining and the sky is blue for the next few days.  The Rocky Mountains are calling and my suitcase is packed.