January 21

 Back out this morning and it was cold and bright. The South Flats looked desolate and there was little to see.

I walked out the Overlook path  and saw a full crew of Tree Sparrows at the old feeder. The sparrows intimidate the Chickadees and keep them away from the food. A little ways further and the Robins were still hanging around. The Sumac fruit is enough to keep them in the area. I did see a Blue Jay which is not an unusual bird in most places but they seldom turn up along the thickets at Belle Isle. At the Overlook itself, I had just climbed the stairs  when a Harrier swooped up over my head and then veered off. I swung my camera up but didn’t get the focus set.  Still it was a surprising sight. It’s just this sort of thing that rewards the time spent all those other less eventful days in the marsh.

From the Boardwalk, I saw my own twisting tracks across the flats where I passed on the way over.

On the other side of the Boardwalk, you can see coyote tracks. It seems that the wild canids and I are the only ones walking across the empty flats.

Bob wanted to remind us all that he has been here.

Except for the Harrier, it was a very quiet day at Belle Isle. The wind started to pick up as I left the park and I was glad to get home for a cup of coffee and some snickerdoodles.

Ciao!

-Jorge

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