Winter has arrived.

Fresh snow on the ground today, and with the cold weather the last few days the open areas of water have frozen over.  The ducks have mostly moved on, just a few stragglers around, like this bufflehead.

It was pretty quiet today, except for what looked like a search and rescue operation about to begin at the far end of the dike.







Only one harrier today, several kestrels out hunting, and lots of larger hawks sitting around, including the three in a tree again just outside the entrance to the refuge.  Several bald eagles were sitting out on the ice, and occasionally flying; nothing close enough for a picture.

I believe I have seen more large hawks this year than in the previous 3 years of visiting the refuge.













At a distance this looked like two bald eagles sitting in the field; once viewed through the lens, I could see what they really were - two tires with snow on top!