White sky

The moon was bright last night, fattening past first quarter, but this morning there is cloud cover.  Ruddy ducks are still fishing and mallards and geese are paddling around.  Titmice started on the feeder, then white throats, a junco, and a finch arrived.

There was some sunshine around noon but the sky stayed white.  Great blue herons were having turf battles along the creek and a few egrets passed by on the way to the lake.  A cormorant surfaced between a couple of ruddy ducks, to their consternation.  The Carolina wren came for lunch, along with the sparrows, squirrels, cardinals, and chickadees.

Finally, mid-afternoon I saw the first pelican since the snowstorm and creek freeze.  Then some pale ducks with dark heads started diving among the much smaller ruddy ducks.  I believe they were canvasbacks.  Gulls and buzzards watched from the sky while two herons continue to chase each other.

Sunset was tinged pink.