Winter solstice

The actual solstice occurs at 6:03pm EST here.  This year, the shortest day coincided with the dark of the moon.  And dawn was overcast.  A very brief beam of sunlight gilded the top of the pines.  A pelican and some egrets flew high over the creek.

After a late start, all sorts of birds showed up.  Chickadees, titmice, woodpeckers, and a pine warbler took an interest in the new feeder.  A Carolina wren, juncos, white throats, and a blue jay foraged on the ground.  The regulars visited the feeder and a cardinal snacked on beauty berries.  More pine warblers* ate something in the camellia. 

The sky finally began to clear after noon.  Ducks, including mallards, pintails, and ruddys, paddled on the creek while egrets hung out above the bulkhead.  A hawk circled and a flicker landed on the oak. 

*News flash!  The birds in the camellia this morning were female Baltimore Orioles!  They were the very first orioles I ever saw in the yard.