A dark day in December

Oh sure, the sun is trying to peak through now, but it was still pretty dark at 8 am, when I figured I had as much light as I was going to get, and so off to the park I went. Despite the darkness, or perhaps because of it, depending on who you ask, plus the mild temperature and light breeze, there was quite a crowd this morning. People wise, there were multiple packs of runners, a group of birders, and all the usual dog walkers and anglers.

Happily, the critters were out too, and here’s a beaver stopping to check out a branch on its commute back upriver and home to its burrow for a good day’s sleep. “Sweet dreams!”

I was quite surprised to see deer finally, three of them, on the mudflats. I’ve seen their tracks there many times before, but this is the first time I’ve seen them there in the flesh, and here’s the most-obliging one of the bunch.

I also spotted our wily coyote again, but just briefly, and it avoided my best efforts to get a picture this time. “I’ll get you next time, Wile E!”

Also back again was our kingfisher, and since I’ve gotten a few good images of her recently, this time I tried to set up for getting a picture of her diving into the river. Instead, she just shot up stream, and this is all I got. She sure looks fast, doesn’t she?

On my way past the falls, I thought I saw a big bird over the islands far ahead, maybe a blue heron, but only for a moment, and then I lost sight of it. As good luck would have it, look who I found waiting for me on the northern island when I finally got there. Yup, a young bald eagle.

On my way back south, I found this cute pair of mourning doves just chillin’ on one of the guy-wires from a tower across the river.

Finally, back near the south end, it seemed that this male, red-bellied woodpecker was doing its best to promote his newest nesting cavity. It’s got a beautiful river view, so I hope he finds someone to share it with him.

Lastly, I see the forecast is for clear skies and temps in the low twenties for tomorrow morning, so let’s hope at least some critters come back for more pictures with pretty backgrounds this time, eh?