Tough Snowshoeing with a Reward Near the End

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and I had the day off of work and was able to get in one more hike. I've not been out snowshoeing in probably 2 years now but today I decided to do just that. I first hiked out to the middle of the park where there is essentially an "island" of overgrown Buckthorn trees. It can be kind of a spooky place actually. When Buckthorn gets this big it becomes kind of twisted and gnarled looking. The tops become so dense and intertwined that they'll catch and hold snow and even create a bit of shade without leaves! Not that sun was a problem today though. It was very overcast when I set out and I even tried taking a photo of the sun itself as it looked more like a pale moon behind the cloudy winter sky. I thought maybe I'd see something interesting out here but every step I took on my snowshoes was loud enough to wake the dead. The snow was just crusty enough on top to be crunchy and loud but not hard enough to support my weight. I broke through on every step, my feet falling nearly up to my knees every single time. Having the snowshoes on made it only slightly more tolerable during an otherwise exhausting hike. I actually had to stop multiple times to catch my breath, it was so much work just to walk. I could hardly wait until I got back to the trail and I removed my snowshoes as soon as I did. The only wildlife I'd seen by this time was a Squirrel who had adopted a Wood Duck house high up in a tree along Shingle Creek. I decided I'd check the spot where I accidentally scared up not one, but two Great Horned Owls yesterday when I hiked in closer to watch a Pileated Woodpecker. Turns out the Pileated was hammering away just mere feet from a GHO who bumped and flew off before I even realized it was there. Then I spotted a second one, only feet from where the other was. I tried to get a photo but it was totally obstructed by branches and dried up Oak Leaves still clinging on from last season. But today my luck was better. I spotted one of the Owls from the path and he looked to be relatively out in the open. I stepped up onto the hard packed snowbank to get a little distance but didn't hike in any further this time. I'm fairly certain there is a mated pair here who are likely nesting now and I don't want to disturb them too much. To my surprise I had to wait quite a while before the Owl even turned around to look at me. When it did I quickly shot my pics and retreated. I've not spotted the nest yet but I'm certain it is close. Shortly after this I spotted a decent flock of Cedar Waxwings –maybe 25 or more. I watched them picking Buckthorn berries and also eating snow from the crook of a tree; a behavior I've witnessed once before. They are quite fun birds to watch and can be quite yellow on the undersides as shown by this pic.