As the year draws to an end and this blog moves to a more irregular status (Some Days on the Allegheny River), its amazing just how calm and easy-going the River is today. She continues to be high, at least in our neighborhood, and the action has slowed to a goose pace. The geese were just lazing around this morning and gathered around this pair before heading off to feeding grounds nearby. The Consol Barge moved slowly up River with her load of coal for the New Ken power plant. And while I did not see any people on the River, one of our readers saw a bunch of kayaks on shore looking like folks were enjoying the warm December days. Enjoy yours!
Archive for the ‘Winter’ Category
They’re Back!
December 19, 2011Excluding the early snow, the action on the River is all on my deck. The doves, finches, sparrows and even a bright red male cardinal have returned to the feeder. With it the River is a backdrop for the ongoing meals that are helping sustain our feathered friends.
The shortest day of the year is approaching and by the end of the week, we’d have turned the corner on daylight and will be moving towards the vernal equinox. Spring isn’t too far away!
How’s that for optimism!
“You see, winter in Pittsburgh is…”
November 23, 2011I’ve stopped offering advice as my new spiritual discipline so yesterday when I mentioned to someone new about how much I love being on the River and that I’ve been keeping a regular blog about life on the River, he told me that it must get pretty boring in the winter since all our days are gray and nothing except rain, cold and snow predominate.
Okay, I thought, nothing like an unsolicited piece of advice…I referred him to my blog address and asked him to keep track of gray vs sun and that on the days when we have 2 suns on the River, we get to count the sunny days twice!
Anyway the River has been busy with blustery winds whipping the whitecaps into a near frenzy and the rain is making patterns on the water. All the boats and piers are out of the Yacht Club except for those who are taking on the winter. You know that their electric circuits are plugged in for sure.
Got my cranberries and am going to try out Susan Stamberg’s (NPR radio)grandmother’s recipe this year. Will let you know how it turns out
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- Rain driven patterns on the water
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- All boats are in for the Winter
And then it was Winter
November 21, 2011
Spring Like Weather Takes Your Eyes Off the River
February 27, 2011After a chilly morning, the temperature warmed so that everyone got outside to enjoy it. Me…I went to work on my golf game and am proud to have gotten out to the course in February…and there was still snow on the ground.
We’re having an abundance of bird life in our midst and a refill of the feeder brought back the doves. Their piercing black eyes look back at you, waiting for a movement that tells them to fly on. A baby duck swam alone looking for her parents while the first sign on a budding leaf made an appearance and the last bit of snow waited for its inevitable demise.
PS…We’re posting our blog on my Facebook page as well!
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- Who is checking out who?
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- Making good ripples
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- woo hoo…spring is not far away
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- The last of the winter snow…we hope!
Quiet Day on The River
February 26, 2011A transitional weather day. Temps in the 40s, snow melting and the ice on the River holding on to its crystallized state.
A partially seen sun in the morning brought out a muted color. The gulls sang and flew.
A warming morning
Climbing Water
February 25, 2011Rains were expected to raise the River but their bark was worse than their bite and the River saw just a little bit (if any of rise). We’re back to using the KARs as a marker for River rise and they framed a nice view of the water on this gray Pittsburgh day.
Our neighbors moved out today returning to Germany for their new job. We’ll miss them but they dropped off their hummingbird feeder reminding us that the hummers return on May 2nd and getting us to promise we’ll have the feeder up and ready for the little guys…Let’s see…May 2…just 70 days or so…can’t wait!
They all gathered
February 24, 2011Our little part of the River is becoming increasingly popular with the birding community. Today the gulls, herons, geese and finches were all gathered like clans staking out their sacred ground.
The geese were all sleeping near the KARs (kayak access rocks) blended in and looked as if they extended the rocks along the shore. Their face stuffed into their feathers kept them warmer and even Clancy’s walk in the crunchy snow did not awaken them.
The gulls return to their place on the ice pecking through little holes for some food; huddled together like an army waiting for orders.
The finches were, of course, by the feeder, frittering away whenever I got too close, only to move into the nearby tree where they could disguise themselves in the branches
As I almost turned away from the River, I caught Fred (or Bill) sitting on the pier post surveying it all and no doubt catching a few zzzzzz’s following his afternoon meal.
A full day of River Life
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- By the KARs
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- Sleep
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- Finchy
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- The Lake Erie Gull Colony–Home away from Home
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- or…the huddled masses
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- Fred or Bill?
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- Winter Landscape on the River
Ice or water
February 19, 2011The River begins to rise as the ice that has coated her for the past few months dissipates. This is another preview of Spring which has left as quickly as she made her first appearance with the River reflecting the change with the sound of waves lapping against the shore and the wind rebounding off the trees and houses.
You can find the site of our River blog on any map of the Allegheny by observing finding the big “cut in” the River just a bit west of Blawnox, PA. That cut in is the harbor that once must have been a boat launch (there is some evidence of that) and now forms a body of water for bird protection and feeding during the day and night.It is our own bird sanctuary.
During the past few weeks we’ve seen the GBH ice fishing and today the geese got to choose between standing on the ice or sitting in the water…like so many choices we make, we often don’t know why we make one or the other. Perhaps default, perhaps common sense, perhaps just one more for old times sake.
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- Last years grasses still show beauty
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- One of the many Lake Erie Gulls
You can be the judge
The Red Tail
February 18, 2011In the winter, there is a much greater interplay between nature and the River. The pace of the River is determined by the winds and temperature and the actions of wildlife, which are more predictable than the summer River.
The Lake Erie seagulls return here once the Lake is frozen and set up shop on and above us, their calls alerting us to their presence.
Today for the third time, I saw the red tail hawk who works the harbor but scoots across the River as soon as he senses the vibration of my walk or smells the scent of my dog, Clancy.
We saw the first early transition of the season today and the last few days. As the sun moves north in her continuous dance with earth, warm winds were welcomed.
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- Trust but verify (Is this really a red-tail)
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- The sky gives up her final color to the River
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- Evening settles
