Maybe they prefer the grey skies…

The dark grey skies have returned, with a vengeance, but I am happy to report that so have the critters. I don’t mean to say that today was the most amazing day ever, but it sure was a whole lot better than yesterday.

I’ve been seeing this muskrat, who appears to make its home on the southern island for a while now, but it also visits our riverbank from time to time, and this is probably the best portrait it has allowed me so far.

I had hardly taken a couple pictures of the muskrat when I noticed a bald eagle high above the north island had attracted the attention of a few crows. They never got very close and gave it not nearly as much grief as they gave the third great horned owl last week. Here they are seeming to look the other way as the eagle tries to keep its balance as it digs into a big fish it has under its right set of talons.

Here’s a second eagle that was perched over our riverbank and that I only noticed after turning around at the far north end and started my way back south.

Here’s the one on the island again after it moved and attracted the attention of a herring gull who made a few passes at it. Sheesh! Everyone’s a critic.

Meanwhile, our male belted kingfisher ignored all the action overhead and continued his fishing just over the water.

As if two bald eagles were not enough, both horned owls were back in their usual spot, and this one was even pretty unobscured.

Finally, on my way back to the pond for a second look, I found the big flock of cedar waxwings, which has been visiting the pond lately, high in a tree across the parkway and just south of the dog park.