For about two hours on Friday afternoon I pretty much had the park to myself - no one anywhere on a sublime winter's day. Brilliant sun and blue sky, very little wind, brisk cold, perfect footing with a layer of fresh snow over the ice on the trails. Two gorgeous coyotes for company - vanishing into the underbrush and dead weeds and reappearing as if out of nowhere to trot along the trail in front of me. Jumping straight up and pouncing down on small prey under some fir trees. A young Snowy Owl sat and watched from a distance. Eventually it saw/heard something and in absolute silence drifted off above our heads, landing on the Whimbrel pole.
There was a massive raft of scaup off the end of the marina opening - for sure over 2000. A Northern Shrike was hunting. All sorts of ducks including a White-winged Scoter. Fascinating pancake ice forming, clacking and rattling away at the edges of shore. A lovely start to the New Year.
