Patch of Fog

Spider's Webs

I often stop by this spot on Crumb Creek looking for ducks but without my long lens I've given up camera birding for a while.  Now I have the opportunity to notice those up close details I've been overlooking. 

A Different Sort of Struggle

These Mallards had hoped for a bit of bread but the geese did a pretty good job of eating it all.  So they wandered of to other pursuits, a bit of a spring fling, so to speak.

Smackdown

I drove over to Crum Creek today to test out my polarizing filter.  I didn't expect to test it on anything so dramatic!  As it happens I pulled up about the same time as a man who'd come to feed the geese.  (This isn't strictly allowed but the powers that be hadn't thought to post a sign on the bit of road that barely fits two cars let alone a photographer, a guy feeding ducks, AND two cars.  At least they hadn't thought of it yet...) So wow!  I lucked out.  Who knew a goose could stick out it's tongue?

Good Day to be a Duck

The weather is going to be all over the map this week.  Yesterday I drove down to Virginia to see my parents in beautiful sunshine.  30°F felt warm.  Today for my drive home it was dark and dingy with the rain threatening to freeze at any moment.  I stopped by my favorite spot on Crum Creek Rd on the way home and got my closest look yet at the Hooded Mergansers.  The light was poor though so I can't crop the images.

Hooded Mergansers

Winter

So far this winter has been mild but still cold enough to remind one that it is in fact winter.  A little snow, a little frost, and a little sunshine.

Crum Creek

A little creek near my house runs into a small dam on one end and a reservoir on the other.  I've taken to driving along Crum Creek road to see who is hanging out in the water.  This morning there were a number of Hooded Mergansers mixing with the geese.  You can see a Hooded facing off against a Canada in the top photo.  I hung around long enough to see the Common Mergansers make their appearance.

Fog

The past few days we've been very busy with indoor activities.  And it's a good thing because the weather has been pretty dismal.  I took this shot at 1:30pm this afternoon.