Cloudy

A broken overcast greeted dawn with clouds streaming East.  Great blue herons, a buzzard, and three white geese (snow geese?) flew over the creek.  Gulls and crows also flew around.  A heron perched up in the pines across the creek.  Yellow rumped warblers were up early.  White throats scurried over the patio and the regulars visited the feeder.  Snow and ice persisted. 

The overcast congealed to a solid white by late morning.  The warblers continued to compete for the suet.  Several pelicans flew over and numerous great blue herons perched here and there.  One that landed on the bench back was speckled with blood.  Ducks returned at last.  A flock of ruddy ducks swam around mallards.  I glimpsed buffleheads and possibly a kingfisher.  A couple of blue jays were courting up in the trees. 

In the afternoon hooded mergansers paddled by.  A song sparrow and a titmouse came for a late lunch. 

I was advised to contact the wildlife rehabber about the heron that perched on the bench.  The consensus was that it was injured.