Icy

Posted By on January 25, 2016

It was freezing last night. In the morning, the grass was dotted with frozen sections. They looked like early fall snowflakes on the ground.

I donned several layers of clothes and went outside, and sat on a cushion to wait for the backyard to come alive. I particularly wanted the otters, but they did not show. Yesterday’s exciting account is still not written.

Soon.

Otters on the bank
Otters on the bank

 

A leaf clustered with ice
A dried leaf covered with ice

As I waited in the coming dawn, I realized something. This small bay|inlet|cove across the water most probably explains why the creatures that frequent the backyard do so. That bay is actually the inlet for a small tributary that feeds off the waterway. And in there, there are two chairs blown down from a storm, a flower pot, and many fallen branches, effectively creating a micro-environment. That is why the myriad of birds hang out and the otters scamper there. It is where I have seen deer and raccoon and where the birds spend the most time.

A weed at sunrise, water still clinging to it.
A weed at sunrise, water still clinging to it.

I came the realization of what that cove was after witnessing the heavy fog (for here) rolling across the water. The cove doesn’t show up in either of the photos below, but where they would meet is precisely where it is. I took these to show the drift of fog to that single nexus.

Icy shoreline before the sun rose.
Icy shoreline before the sun rose.

In both photos, the fog is thinnest near what would be the center. That is because the heaviest parts were pushing thin trails of the stuff directly into the cove. If shown, the cove is would be on the right in the image above and on the left of the dock in the image below.

Looking out over the fog covered dock and water as the sun comes up.
Looking out over the fog covered dock and water as the sun comes up.

We are indeed fortunate that the house is positioned where it is. And below is a solid record of the icy landscape, weeds and all.

Ice on weed beads up into droplets as the sun rises.
Ice on weed beads up into droplets as the sun rises.
Patches of ice, seen close up
Patches of ice, seen close up
Patches of ice on the lawn.
Patches of ice on the lawn.
Ice on grass
Ice on grass
Just more icy weeds
Just more icy weeds
Limpkin preens/grooms twelve feet from me.
Limpkin preens/grooms twelve feet from me.
Weed sheds its icy cast, and lifts its head as it warmed by the sun.
Weed bent with the weight of cold.

And, though it was only just above freezing, still the animals woke up, stretched their limbs and came out to stake their claim. They were abundant. In fact, this as soon as the sun rose the backyard exploded in colorful Eastern bluebirds, the yellow breasted Eastern phoebe and many others.

Eastern bluebird looks around for food from its perch at the top of the patio screen
Eastern bluebird looks around for food from its perch at the top of the patio screen

These may be the very last produce from the vegetable garden this season. They were left unclothed last night and the plants|vines may have died. Blue tells me the pepper is a volunteer from last year. Bet it’s saying to itself: “won’t be doing that again!”.

Perhaps the last of the peppers and tomatoes from the garden. They were left exposed to the elements last night.
Perhaps the last of the peppers and tomatoes from the garden. They were left exposed to the elements last night.
Say what now? Great why heron confirms what you just said.
Say what now? Great white heron confirms what you just said.

Unseen in todays photographic evidence are two woodpeckers, a muscovy duck, a snowy egret, a blue heron and a kingfisher. At least. I may have forgotten some.

The reward of exhaustion.

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon PowerShot SX510 HS
  • Taken: 25 January, 2016
  • Focal length: 6.585mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/8s