Breaking Up

 

No, not us. We're in it for the long haul.

But the river is another story. It was frozen a long time this winter compared to other recent, warmer, years. It rarely freezes solid in front of McDonald's down in town, allowing for great opportunities to observe Bald Eagles, multiple species of gulls including some nice rarities, and lots of ducks and geese. 

This year though, for weeks there hasn't been so much as an open pool to entertain a stray or two.

However, over the past three warmish days the ice first darkened in streaks and puddles, then the streaks ran together, and by yesterday afternoon the whole expanse was greenish, bluish, darkish, and wettish.

Will breakup today? I wouldn't be surprised. Or maybe tomorrow or the next day. But soon, very soon.

Here's hoping the resulting jumble doesn't bring ice jams and flooding. 

Meanwhile, as the waterfowl congregate at Lock 12, where there are several nice reaches of open water, so do the Bald Eagles. If you want to see some hunting and herding of waterfowl flocks numbering in the hundreds...and if your vehicle can handle mud and ice....the little lock road on the north side of the river leading west offers a great vantage point. For the county birders among us Redhead ducks are pretty reliable also.