So even though the River is only at 14 feet at Sharpsburg (flood stage is 21 feet), the River seems really high with the water seemingly flow much quicker than normal.
The gulls have returned and the geese have reclaimed their place in the cold water. Its been a snow free month and since I count a sunny day as any day that the sun makes an appearance, its been pretty good overall. Of course some people want snow for Christmas and their wish may be fulfilled tonight.
The weather guided the beauty of the River this weekend. One of the earliest snowfalls on record brought a beautiful Saturday morning as the River welcomed the flakes and the shore collected the inch or so that officially fell in the neighborhood. By afternoon it was back to fall and the leaves are cooperating with beautiful colors and soft falls onto the ground.
This morning the fog and mist moved downstream along with the flow of the River. Even with gray skies all weekend, you couldn’t help but stare out at the River.
OK, so I know that Phil declared that winter was over but he must not have anticipated the fast moving storm that officially brought 8.5 inches to town but only 5.5 or so to our part of the River. Cars were strewn all over the highway but it our little stretch, it just made for a winter wonderland ( a term that is usually not used after Christmas, but can occur none the less)
Out on the kayak access rocks, the geese organized a mini conference where they would go between cruising the River and resting on rocks. No doubt their recent River respite on the Harbor ice gave them this idea that they could be on the water but not in the water. What will they think of next?
The ice thinned as it rushed down River this morning, continuing to raise the water level up onto the shore. By midday, a lone seagull stood sentry on the old post looking fore and aft to make sure no predators were nearby (or perhaps to get a better view of possible feeding grounds)
There was a recent new sighting recently of a Lake Monsters. Are they for real, photo shopped or something else.
In the River today, a beaver (perhaps) was swimming through the harbor and over to the marina. I tracked him until he dove under the water. Two pictures reveal his real nature and his monster like qualities…
It’s snowing…beautiful but.. I thought Winter is over!
Beaver in the Water!
Or is it a River Monster (would need a bit more photoshop)?
The snowy days run into one another. Snow shower here, a dusting there, 2-4 inches there. It piles up around and on the River creating a classic winter scene.
We usually report on two suns on the River…not today
This has been a snowy winter…for our friends to the east. Big storms in New, Philly, Washington, DC and Boston have left them recovering from storm after storm.
My cousin posted on his Facebook page from Washington that the lights were “twinkling on and off…they’re going, going, gone”. “Power lost”
We had our snowmageddon last year but this year has been the more typical 2-3-4 inches at a time. Enough to make the morning walk crunchy but the evening walk messy.
The view of the River is a snow-covered ice patch
This little video shows the tail end of that snowstorm. Didn’t bring us much more than an inch thanks to its southern path
Lake Erie is just 100 miles to our north and the Lake which is the smallest and shallowest of the Great Lakes is the first to freeze over. Usually accomplished by early to mid February, we may be getting a bit closer given the plethora of sea gulls that landed on little patches of ice in the middle of their winter refuge. They were difficult to see; their white wings flapping as they completed a gentle landing on the ice chunks in the middle of the River.
Nice little snow storm today forced me to clean off the bird feeder to make sure that the congregating doves, chickadees, sparrows and cardinals had their fill
Lake Erie gulls on the ice..pretty cool
Its another sunny day in Pittsburgh…for 15 minutes…really!
The geese just laze on the River overnight and seem to turn directions depending on where Clancy and I walk. When we approach they are facing where we are coming from (up River). As we walk past, they turn to keep an eye on us. When we walk past, they complete their 180 degree sighting of us by turning down River towards us. And then they repeat this action when we return.
I caught one of them sleeping while his/her partner stood guard.
Late snow today. EVERYBODY–Make sure you have your bread and milk!
I’m feeding the entire Mile 9 bird population. The snow was up to 5 inches or so and the doves and chickadees and cardinals were just sitting there (albeit patiently) but clearly waiting for their feeding. When I show up, off they go. When I leave, back they come.It’s like a family of teenagers wanting you to feed them but then not hanging around for conversation.
So I have to resort to trickery by extending my camera to where they can’t see me and taking whatever pics I can click. Sometimes they think they see me and those piercing black eyes seem to squint, checking out the movement in the house.
The River just keeps moving along, absorbing the snow, ice and cold.
So I was up in the middle of the night and heard the low roar of the barge engine working her way up River to the power plant. Her coal (I think it was coal) was covered by a blanket of snow that made it look like we were ferrying snow to another location.
Well, then later in the day, I see a Facebook post by Todd who captures a picture from his office (I think) showing a coal barge on the Mon and comments…”Apparently were now ferrying snow to other regions…”
How great was that or is it great minds think alike…or great minds don’t have much better things to think about….anyway I’ve included Todd’s picture with full credit due
Had to throw some bird seed out for the guys and then ice starts to form on the far side of the River. Will it meet in the middle?
