Digital edit note: distracting branch removed.
It was looking like a good day today when I headed out. We'd had some snow and even though it was cloudy, there was a lot of light reflecting around. So, a far superior day compared to the miserable rain we've had lately. The sun even started to come out as I got closer to the forest I often photograph at.
I started my hike very optimistic. But it started to warm up and even though the sky was perfectly blue, melt water literally rained from the trees. Chunks of snow and ice started falling too, occasionally pelting me, so I cut my hike short. Almost no animals to speak of, too. They must know better than to be in the open when there's debris unpredictably falling from the trees.
Back near my car, I'm about to pack my gear when I spot this woodpecker. Still clumps of ice and snow are falling but I point my camera up hoping I can get a couple of shots before I push my luck too far. I think it turned out ok, afterall.
