Surprising day

A heron was on the dock at breakfast, but cloud cover made it too dark for the camera.  
As I was planning to travel to Cape Charles on the Eastern Shore, I checked the weather prediction early in the morning.  But the day was much warmer and drier than forecast. It set a record: Norfolk had a high of 77° and Cape Charles of 76°. Plus, instead of the predicted thunderstorm, there was sunshine.  

I took my camera but mostly got photos of the sky.  On the way over I saw a half dozen dark birds floating next to one of the islands that anchor the CBBT tunnels.  They might have been coots.  Fog shrouded the last mile or so of the bridge and I saw some dark birds perched on the lights.  They were probably buzzards but might have been birds of prey.  

On the way back, around 3:30pm I saw a gannet plunge into the water.  Then a pelican flew past.  There were numerous great and lesser blackback gulls perched on lights and railings.  Herring or ring bill gulls floated in the air alongside the bridge. 

I got home in time to watch the sunset and see the crescent moon.  

Boat excursion

Again everything was frosted and the birdbath a bowl of ice when I got up.   Since yesterday's Winter Wildlife trip was on land, I picked water for today.  At 8am, a fishing charter boat took about two dozen people out to the tunnel islands of the CBBT.  There was heavy equipment on the first two where a second tunnel is under construction.  The Northern pair of islands were less disturbed. The sea was quite calm. 

The sun was bright but it was freezing when we started.  The temperature rose and clouds formed as the morning progressed.  Gulls and cormorants perched all over the rocks.   A few ducks bobbed in the water.  I recognized the buffleheads but the long tailed ducks were new to me.  Gannets were impressive in flight.    When we came back by the Southern islands, a deck hand tossed fish heads into the air over the wake to attract the birds.  Several pelicans appeared. 

At home in the afternoon, the sun was gone and it seemed chilly even though it was much warmer.  Maybe I was still chilled?  Downy woodpeckers, titmice, warblers, juncos, a nuthatch, and the seed feeder regulars visited.  They scattered frequently as though a hawk was around.  A goldfinch popped in but didn't see anything to suit a vegetarian.  Pelicans fished on the creek.