My First Winter In Arkansas

Spring is only 38 days away, and I’m wrapping up my first winter in Arkansas with a sense of appreciation for this new landscape and environment.

After spending so many years in Utah, I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect, but I’ve quickly learned that winter here has its own rhythm—one I’ve come to enjoy. The landscape may not be buried in deep snow, but that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in seasonal beauty. Instead, the softer, more subtle changes make every day worth watching.

Rusty Blackbird walking through snow in Arkansas – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/320, ISO 1000, +2.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 371mm, natural light

The birdlife has been a highlight, especially seeing new winter birds I never saw in Utah, like Purple Finches. I’ve also been able to photograph birds I rarely saw there, including Rusty Blackbirds, White-throated Sparrows, and Fox Sparrows.

Carolina Wrens have been as bold and energetic as ever, darting around the yard and filling quiet mornings with their big voices. Eastern Bluebirds and Northern Cardinals add splashes of color to the more muted winter scenery, and I never get tired of watching them.

Rusty Blackbird in deep snow – Canon R7, handheld, f7.1, 1/250, ISO 1000, +2.3 EV, Canon EF 100-400mm II at 371mm, natural light

The weather has been different from what I was used to in Utah. There’s less snow, but the cold feels different because of the humidity. Temperatures have ranged from cool and pleasant to very cold, but it’s the dampness in the air that makes a difference.

It’s been a season of discovery—new places, new birds and wildlife, new patterns in nature that I hadn’t experienced before. With only a little over a month left until spring, I know there’s still more to explore and enjoy, but so far, my first Arkansas winter has been a great one.

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see my Rusty Blackbird photo gallery plus facts and information about this species.