Gull-ible

Once again, the river had frozen.  By yesterday afternoon, several days of warm air and rain had melted the top of the river, fooling the gulls into landing.  They seemed none too happy.

Last night, even as the cold front moved in, I could hear the ice breaking up and flowing, and the ducks quacking their return.  This morning, the gulls were happily floating (& fishing).

Temperatures are expected to dip into the low teens tonight.  The river will likely freeze again soon.

Haircut

Guess who has a new haircut?

I hope it means someone will not be up at night panting and drinking water - and asking to go outside to pee!

23.5 Degree Tilt

Our house sits on a hill above the northwest bank of the Maumee River resulting in a southern exposure for our back yard. This situation heightens the effect of the gradually increasing intensity of the sun's rays at this time of year.  The snow melts there noticeably sooner than it does in the rest of the yard.  Plants will pop up there first, too.

Our situation also makes it easy to perceive how the sun shifts along the horizon as the seasons progress.  The sun rises more and more downriver (in a northeasterly direction) as spring approaches.  At the summer equinox, we are unable to see the actual sun rise from our back porch (see the January 5, 2013 post for a view of the sun rising almost directly across the river).

This Youtube video is one of the better ones if you need help visualizing the effect of Earth's 23.5 degree tilt.

Click on the photo to see Hudson surveying his kingdom (dogdom?).

Turning the Corner

     There are many more weeks of winter left, but recent warm air and heavy rains have melted the snow and opened up the river, which is swollen and not as likely to freeze again.  If it remains open, the Mergansers and Arctic Terns will be here in just a few weeks.

 Although I have not seen them, I know the Great Horned Owls are nesting.  The Bald Eagles will be pairing up, as well, although their chicks will not hatch as soon.  On clear mornings, the eastern sky is light by 7am and Cardinals and Carolina Wrens are sometimes fooled into singing.  The warmth of the sun is strengthening. 

     

These shoots of Snow Iris are always the first to appear.  They should bloom by the middle of February.  I place the new garden catalogs on my bed stand so I can look at them before I sleep and dream of spring.

Snowy men

The weather has turned warm the last few days, melting the snow.  If this keeps up, these fellows will soon be no more.

I strongly suspect this elegant snowman was made by the professional artist son of my neighbors.  I know he was visiting for the holidays.

This snowman is less elegant, but not too shabby for being made by children seven, five and two years old.

Winter Sunrise

The sun rises directly across the river at this time of year.

Yesterday afternoon, the ice was moving ever so slowly.  There is no movement this morning.