January 18th. Domestic fowl near the East Hampton trailhead.

 

 

 

Heading east, great icicles in the rock cuts.

 

 

 

Dark lichens reflect just enough heat to melt circles in the ice.

 

Lichens thrive in cool damp conditions.

 

My destination was the Rapallo Viaduct, where emergency erosion repairs are now complete.

 

January 22nd. Sunrise.

 

 

 

January 26th. Sunrise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 3rd. Grayville Falls two days after heavy rain.

 

February 9th. Sunrise.

 

 

 

February 17th. At least three male blackbirds in the marsh, displaying and calling. 13 degrees at dawn. (This year I first saw a male blackbird on the marsh on February 12th at 15 degrees.)

 

 

 

February 20th. Sunrise through trees.

 

 

 

February 21st. More red-winged blackbirds each day. No photos, but yesterday I saw my first male hooded merganser of the year, and today four wood ducks.