First day of winter

So here we are, it is finally, 'officially' winter!  Seems like it has been winter for weeks now.

we got over to Harrison Bay today and what a difference a week makes.  Of course there is still snow but now it is walkable. 

We set out along the dike....

found a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets down in the brambles and actually managed to get a phot that even shows the 'ruby' crown!

There was a frustrating flock of....

House Finch that just kept flying along ahead of us.  This was the best I could get.  Also, lots of ....

Dark-eyed Junco. 

and as for Bald Eagles.....well they were everywhere!

perched on a stick....

perched in a tree....

perched in pairs.....

and then there was this....

don't know what the attractant was but think there are 18 of them out there, and that wasn't all....oh and then .....

there was this one, back to working on the nest!

Swans you say, well yes there were swans....close to opposite sides of the bay...

probably 40 or so on this side and a mix of Tundra and Trumpeter.....

and a hundred or more along this side and again, a mix....and then there is this line up of Double-crested Cormorant, with few on top of the pilings as well.

a lot of assorted ducks but all way out so hard to see just what....closer in...

this is one of two Common Loon we saw.

Back up our end, today was also the day when we finally were able to walk over to the park again....

and what a difference.....where did all the water go!

We'll maybe concentrate on this area more tomorrow but I will end with this....

Great Blue Heron in the afternoons rising mist.