A Morning of Thaw

I spent some morning time on the pier. It was sunny, super calm, waterfowl mostly moved on. An eagle rested in an osprey nest. A thin sheet of ice surrounded the pier to the bulkhead. When a distant boat passed the waves caused the ice to sing. The sound was electrified soft rain on a tin roof. By the afternoon the ice was gone.

Chickadee

Tiny, busy and vocal ... a regular visitor.

♫California Dreamin' ♫

♫ ♫"On.such.a.winter's.day"♫ ♫

That's the feeling I get from this photo of a lone Warbler on a icy cold day.

Even more ice

Monday the ice spread across the whole of the Sound as far as I could see. A couple duck hunting parties plowed their way about 7 a.m. but didn't last long. It was truly a dangerous situation. And the few waterfowl that were around clung to small "islands" of water in the ice. Here a few local Mallards and some wild cousins fill up one of the few liquid spots.

Ice on the Currituck Sound

The Sunday morning paper featured an article warning newcomers to the County about getting onto ice over water. That was a good warning for newcomers but also for locals. The water does not have be iced to create a deadly situation in the winter, as the records will attest. It is bitterly cold, you can see the rough water beyind the ice due to the north wind. I ventured onto my pier for a look and a few photos. Nary a living wild soul to be found save one seagull flying near the bank. Did I say bitter? Time to go back inside and watch all the finches, wrens, cardinals, doves, sparrows, etc. and Yes! our winter hummingbird come to the feed we provide. We have a heated water source for 'bigger than hummer' birds too and it is a hit.

A Post for Sunday

From a Richard Purdy Wilbur poem: "Outside the open window
The morning air is all awash with angels."

When you watch these fine birds you cannot help but assign an angelic quality to them: the grace, the feathery wings, the beautiful white color.

Here a couple of my Angel Birds land amongst my Buddy Ruddys.

January Snow Geese

A flock of snow geese pass overhead. The black tipped wings are an identifying feature but the raucous honking is the alert to look up. These geese were headed north to feed.