Warming and an expedition

The creek was ice at breakfast.  A swarm of songbirds came to the feeder and patio: cardinals, house finches, white throated sparrows, juncos, and a yellow rumped warbler. Later, when I got back from my meeting, much of the ice was melted but I didn't see any wildlife. 

In the afternoon, I went on a bird watching trip to the tunnel islands on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel.  To my surprise, we went to all four islands with a police escort.  The school bus was painful to climb into and the seat was worse, and the wind on the islands was harsh despite the sun.  But I'd do it again. 

I believe I saw a common loon, surf scoters, harlequin ducks, and great cormorants, all new to me.  But the highlight was about two dozen harbor seals sunning on the rocks.  Other people saw a purple sandpiper and a razorbill, but I did not. 

The temperature rose all day and got above 50°F.  Smeary clouds did little to tone down the sun glare on the water.   The low sun, as I drove home, colored the clouds and silhouetted the trees.