A cold late afternoon in early February drew me out to the boardwalk in Summerside. I’d been waiting for that perfect window when the air was still and the sky was clear. I was wrong about the clear part. When I arrived by the bay, the sun had disappeared into a cloud bank, but the blue of dusk felt magical.
The bay, after many false alarms, is finally frozen this winter. I’ve watched daily for the progression of the ice in the bay but it wasn’t until the arctic blast in the -20s C and colder for two days, that the bay froze and stayed that way. Now it is snow covered. The convergence of white from land and sea always gives me pause. Snow is the great equalizer.
There were few vehicles in the car park since sunset is around 5:30 pm now and most people are home or headed there. It was quiet on the boardwalk and in the distance, the lighthouse did its job, but looked no brighter than a flashlight amid the remains of the day. Then I heard crows in the distance.
I headed west along the boardwalk towards the sound. I could see the black shapes on the bay, hundreds of them. Other crows flew in from various directions and landed where they were greeted by other birds. Then they broke into small groups. They looked like friends meeting up at the end of the day to socialize.
At the first bridge, I paused and observed for a time. Some birds congregated on the rock revetments
while others had a drink at the outflow from the sewage treatment plant. Eventually they started to fly away again, groups flying off in different directions into Summerside. Some landed in the nearby trees first and left from there.
As I walked back towards the car, they flew overhead on their way to their places of rest.
A visit to photograph a sunset turned into another birding experience. Yay!
41 comments:
It looks like a very nice winter outing. Yay!
The canal hasn’t frozen over sufficiently to open safely tis year. Too bad, but WInterlude is still going on in Ottawa, not that we shall see it.
Your first photo is a beauty!
The frozen bay.. the birds.. it is all so stunning..
You're an intrepid photographer, and this series is as always, lovely. I didn't know crows were seaside birds.
Absolute beauty.
a sunset...birding, both are good for the soul!! beautiful representation of the evening, everyone is home with their house lights on!! i like the picture of the lighthouse, with the evergreen acting like a frame!! i'm glad you got out for a walk!
I bet it is just eerie to have that walk be so quiet with the bay frozen like that. I can almost envision the silence as I read your post.
When do you start getting warmer temps. We have bounced back and forth all winter long. Brr, looks cold out there.
very atmospheric!
This is nice that you got out chasing sun who though hided behind clouds but yet you were able to see some blue sky :) after long gray cover, looking at blue sky must feel like a meeting with old friend :)
Snowy season give views a baren look which also has unique beauty and a weirdly attractive sadness within.
Enjoyed all images so beautiful
“Dusk on the bay” is another beautiful post. Thinking back to the time when I first got interested in photography, decades ago, I recall reading a book published for one of greatest photographers of all time, Ansel Adams. He was quoted as saying photography is all about the light. That is so true and perfectly illustrated in this post. The “blue of dusk” in your photos wonderfully conveys that magical feeling you had when you arrived at the boardwalk that late afternoon in early February. Congrats on your photography!
Your photos are magical. The time of sunset made amazing lighting for the shots.
I especially like the first one with those wonderful shades of blue and the brilliant contrail.
I can hear the peace and silence, of course before all the crows had their conflab...
Sue
Surrounded by beauty, so much to see and enjoy. Have a wonderful new week, Marie.
Good On Ya - You Simply Brought Smiles To Many
Well Done
Cheers
Time marches by and the weather makes sure we do not forget it.
Stunningly beautiful look at winter on the island.
Freeze up on the bay sounds like point that says this is real winter. Nice blue hue to the coming evening.
This is a lovely series of pictures.
Beautiful. I love winter's beauty, and you captured it perfectly.
You live in such a beautiful place!
That is so interesting, so many crows socializing in groups. I know they hang out together, but like that is amazing to see.
Great photos. The snow cover has an elegant vibe.
Hello,
Lovely series of photos, the frozen bay and the pretty sky and the lighthouse are all beautiful. Neat sighting of the crows, they must have found something yummy to eat there. A lovely outing. Happy Valentine's Day, have a great day!
Very nice! I'm impressed with your willingness to head out in the cold to get these beautiful photos. I'm such a wimp.
on my revisit, i thought about how much i enjoy the name of your blog!! i hope you are out for a walk today!!
What a beautiful time of day to be out taking photos. I quite enjoy watching birds congregate before they go to bed - usually starlings in trees, or seagulls at fresh water spots. They always seem to make lots of noise - as you said, like they are meeting up with friends and discussing the day's happenings. Love nature :)
Marie, you write so beautifully that I was filled with the wonder and joy you must have been feeling on this afternoon walk.
These winter scenes are a magical blue, captured so perfectly by your camera.
So many birds and frozen bay! Beautiful photos. The last picture is my favorite.
As they say: it's too beautiful to be true.
Enjoy it while you can, as Nature might play some cruel pranks on us (quakes,tzunami, floodings, freezing...).
Hi Marie! Wow, you have full on Winter there. We have our first crocuses in bloom. It’s in the 60’s F. I had to dig in my archives to remind myself that we have had real winters in the past. That one lighthouse photo spoke to me… a tiny speck in the distance…a beacon of hope for the future. ❤️
...this beautiful blue. The many crows in the snow are magical.
Greetings to you and thanks for the wonderful photos.
Hug
wow that is amazing. we are sweltering here in a hot sticky summer so snow looks delightful. and all those birds! marvellous.
So wished I had a great place like that to walk. I have two lakes but really nothing like this. A beach would be amazing. Enjoy your walks.
I think the first and last pictures are my favorites. I love all of the blue in the first one, and I love the lights in the last one. It's always weird to me to see snow on a beach. I always associate beaches with warmth. Your photos make me want to do at least one winter beach trip.
So beautiful!
You "do" winter so well there, Marie, like the way it's supposed to be done...with snow and ice-covered lakes and birds enjoying their life together. And that pinpoint of light from the lighthouse is the cherry on top!
Your photos are just beautiful, great and magical...amazing!!
Love from Titti
Beautiful relaxing photoes!Still winter but the light show signs of spring:)))
Isn't it wonderful to enjoy the beauty on the bay, so pretty seeing it frozen over! It has been a strange winter for us here too. Cold, and then very warm, and now we are getting another arctic burst of air this coming week. Your bird sightings are lovely, and always so fun to watch their antics! Stay warm :)
Great photos!
I especially like the first one!
Always so many birds there on the water. I love a pretty sunset.
love all those birds! Crows are so intelligent. and wow that snow ...
I love the frozen bay and the birds. I can almost feel the cold. Great post.
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