Often times on the weekends, Philip Odum heads to the U.P. to meet up with friends and do a bit of "winter birding", today's photos are a result of his recent trips UP North.

We start out just north of the Big Mac where the birders spotted a Snowy Owl having breakfast on the ice. I'm not so sure about fish for breakfast and raw besides, but for an owl I would guess this is a feast.

The next capture is a male Evening Grosbeak. Don't you just love how birds can clamp on sideways to a branch and make it look so easy to just sit there looking pretty?

Here's something else I can't figure out. That's a Gray Jay sitting at the tippy top of that tree. How on earth does that branch hold him up like that? I have the darndest time getting my treetop star to stand straight on the top of the Christmas tree without bending that branch right over, yet this good size bird can lightly sit there without making it budge.

In the next photo, Philip captured a female Pine Grosbeak, who is almost hidden in the branches of that crab apple tree. With the subdued colors on the female, she has a natural camouflage effect.

Even though it's not a birding shot, I think the Snowshoe Hare photo is my favorite here today. Philip said they stood on the road watching this guy run right towards them, then he turned and hightailed it south. I love how he captured the bunny in mid-leap.

Last but not least, Phil wonders if any of these beauties in the bottom photo look familiar. No? Well, these are the horses that may have pulled you around Mackinac Island this past summer, as they are taken to the mainland for the winter. While many folks head south for the cold months, these guys are spending their winter break UP North, near Barbeau.

The weather wasn't the greatest for driving north to the U.P. for his most recent birding run, but Philip says coming home with photos like these here today make it all worthwhile. I'm sure glad he feels that way, so we get to enjoy his adventures, too

Will somebody please pry my jaw off the floor? What AWESOME images, Philip! Thank you so much for sharing!

Nice captures of the birds. I was surprised at the Snowy Owl eating a fish. I thought at first that it was dining on leftovers. A quick google though told me that they do indeed catch fish. It took me until 4 minutes before midnight but I did learn something today.

Lovely animal and bird photos.

Horses having the opportunity to be horses, does a horse good!

These photos are fabulous!! I so love bird
pictures, and all of these critters so remind me
of Shirley. How she would love these shots today.
I, too, love the rabbit. It's a great shot.

Happy Hump Day to all of you out there. I think
we're above zero today. Hooray!!!

WOW...simply breathtaking!

These are fantastic photos, Philip! The snowy owl is my favorite, but all of them are amazing! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

I love every single one of these photos. Thank you Philip. Oh yes,
Shirley would have loved them all too.

Simply amazing shots - all of them!!
Basked in 70 degrees today here.

Thanks so much everyone for your kind
words i always love being were time comes
to a standstill and the wildlife abounds
its enchanting,and it allows so many great
photo oppratunities..all the travelling
did catch up with me and im gradually
recovering and gaining strength everyday
from pnuemonia,thanks phil