"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer."
— Albert Camus
Sometimes you just have to get outside and embrace winter's worst, as facing the harsh bite can be invigorating and rewarding. Whether it's a hike through snow-covered woods, a brisk birding session, or simply feeling alive in the icy air, there's something to be said for defying the cold and experiencing Nature at its rawest. Well, it would be nice to have some snow for snowshoeing. Still, the frozen water made for some fun photography along the Wisconsin River on Sunday.
As I'm writing this, it's even colder outside—a bone-chilling -14°F. But honestly, there's a point where I can't really feel the difference if it's another 10 or 20 degrees colder. Probably because I'm bundled up in REI's finest winter gear, especially my Hestra Alpine CZone Mountain 3-Finger Gloves. They're super warm and still allow me to handle my binoculars and spotting scope with ease. My decades-old Mountain Hardwear down coat keeps me toasty, too. You can venture out in this weather, but you have to protect yourself. Layering up is key—keeping your core warm and your extremities covered is a must. Without the right gear, even the most beautiful winter scenes can quickly turn miserable or even dangerous.
Ice lined both shores, forming a stark contrast to the open water in the middle—a feature known as a lead, where the current is too strong for ice to form. I was a little surprised to find around a dozen Northern Flickers in the adjacent woods. Their vivid plumage and flickering movements brought a spark of color and life to the otherwise stark winter scene. It's moments like this that make braving the cold so worthwhile.
There were fun ice formations to photograph ...
Even on a frigid day like today, the American Crows couldn't resist leaving their mark—literally. I spotted a trail of their tracks crisscrossing the beach sand, like little footprints in the snow but with a bit more swagger. It was as if they were saying, ‘Yeah, it’s cold, but we’re still out here making mischief!’
Beyond the ice there were Common Mergansers and a few Common Goldeneye. Unfortunately, they were too far off to get a decent shot with my digiscoping rig, but it was still a treat to see them cutting through the open water, their bold markings standing out against the stark winter scene. Several Bald Eagles soared overhead and occasionally Dark-eyed Juncos flushed from the shore grasses. It wasn't a very birdy winter outing, but it was still an outing nonetheless.
All images © 2025 Mike McDowell