Wintering ducks

Prince Edward Island is surrounded by ice this time of year so where do ducks find open water? My husband and I have pondered this question for the last two months. On our recent excursion to the north shore of the island, at Stanley Bridge, there was open water with a flock of ducks in attendance. It was great to see them after months without a duck sighting.

At the Bridge, a flock of Common Mergansers floated in New London Bay, which isn’t frozen near the bridge. 

The birds had their heads tucked under their wings when they weren’t feeding. 

The water looked like it was boiling near the flock. 

Could this be smelts which people seek in winter too? Smelt shacks are on the ice throughout the province now. 

The ducks may have found the best location for smelt fishing.

We were a long distance away but the ducks were aware of us nonetheless. As we walked the length of the marina, they moved further away. 

They tested the limits of my camera. 

The females with their gray bodies are distinguishable from the black and white bodied males. The back of the female’s head has a shaggy crest of feathers as well. It was impossible to see the true colour of their heads from this distance.

It felt good to be outside again, bird watching, one of my favourite hobbies.

Winter light

Seasonal affective disorder, SAD, is a yearly visitor at my house. I miss the light this time of year and want to retreat from social occasions. I lack enthusiasm and energy for regular events, could stay inside for weeks and never feel the desire to venture out. But, in spite of myself, I have embraced the outdoors this winter.

On a gray January day, light has a quality of twilight which has always been my favourite time of day. However, it feels wrong all day long. This winter though, I have spent more time outdoors than in recent years and appreciate winter light.

The quality of the light, depends on the cloud cover, or lack of it.

 

The light reflects off the whites of the environment, the snow and the ice on the harbour. 

 

With massive blue-gray clouds, reflected light creates magic.

 

Further down the boardwalk on this day, the young man who owned this smelt shack, had to dig his shack out of the ice. The quality of the light was unusual, but beautiful, for the mid morning hour.

 

 

We are six weeks from the time change which heralds the approach of spring. The vernal equinox is less than two months away. While we can have a great deal of winter in that time, I can see an end to SAD and a return to the fullness of life outdoors. Meanwhile, I'll appreciate that winter light in spite of myself.