January 19

We’ve had two snowfalls in the last three days. The snow blower has been very busy and much appreciated. It was cold this morning but not windy for a change. That meant that all the smooth limbed branches were covered with snow. I walked into Rosie’s thicket and (still no wind) the sun seemed to trigger a release of pixie dust. It was a delight. I only wish that my granddaughter had been along  to see it.

There were very few birds about. A large hawk cruised past while a Harrier was coursing far out above the marsh flats. A few gulls wheeled past but no smaller birds and no ducks since everything was well frozen up. Along Palermo St., I admired this landscape shot.

The Overlook Path through the thicket had plenty of Chickadees, Sparrows and Starlings. Further along a small flock of Robins was busy foraging. They are no longer the harbingers of Spring. Some spend the Winter here. They feed on all sorts of berries and seeds. In this case, there was plenty of Sumac fruit (the little red bits) to keep them busy.

The Overlook was snowed over and the flats were empty on the way over to the Boardwalk. I came across this snowy scene and tried to make sense of what I saw. These prints were in the middle of nowhere with nothing leading up to them. I think a bird landed,  then walked or hopped over to catch something (hence the  bigger disturbance in the upper right corner) and then hopped back with prey in beak before flying off.   A sort of snow story written in prints.

Just past this small scene, a Harrier crested over the reed covered Long Dike and startled me. This was the closest that I have ever been to one of these birds before. It was just magnificent.

The park was deserted and the lack of foot traffic was clearly evident in the untrammeled snow. I recently was watching the BBC Earth DVD and was blown away by a scene of Cherry Trees blooming across the side of a mountain. I have never seen such a sight before. Then along one side of the park, I found this long stand of Sumac covered with snow. It might not be a Japanese mountainside but it is also a sight to see.

It was great to be out and not shoveling. There is a calming still to be found and enjoyed in a new snowfall even with all the jets roaring overhead. I’ve found it in some strange places, snowy nighttime alleys between Newbury and Boylston Streets or the great empty plains of North Dakota in January but today it was here in East Boston.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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