First Snow

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It was snowing quite hard when I returned from my trip lat night.  As I turned off the highway and headed south into town, the snow had eased up to a flurry.  I assumed we would not have any snow in the morning, but I awoke to a powdery coating on everything.

I knew the sun would melt the snow, so I jumped into the kayak for a quick paddle.

Already, the snow on the northern bank of the river was melting as the sun hit it.  In the sunlight, the mallards were congregating by the northern bank.

I wondered what will happen under the water as the water cools and ice forms.  I expect the underwater plants will die back.  Right now, the weeds are prolific.

Mallards, mallards, everywhere.  I mean them no malice . . .

. . . but they don't seem to understand that.

I headed into Sucker Creek.  There is hardly any flow there, and the shade may prolong the slim covering of snow.

Ice was starting to form on the surface.  It was more like a thin, slushy surface, but it was freezing. I expect this creek will be the first place I will see any freezing.

I paddles out of Sucker Creek and startled some more mallards.  The only sign they were there was a lone feather.  The beads of water on it attest to the effectiveness of their waterproofing!

All is quiet, except for the rustling of the cattails in the wind.

The bushes by the water are loaded red berries.  I see the squirrels filling up on them.  I need to figure out what they are . . .

I cam across another hornets nest.  Wow!

Within the 90 minutes that I had been out, the snow was mostly melted.  At least the ducks are still around.

I look forward to more snow!