Up Close

After breakfast we headed to the river again to see what treasures we could find. It was another cold day but without yesterday’s wind, making it more tolerable on the face and hands • Ring-billed gulls were out in force, with a few common mergansers mixed in. All of the mallards were sunning themselves on the opposite shore, much too far away for me to attempt a photo • Most of the gulls stood on the ice facing the morning sun on my side of the river with a few braving the cold water for a bath • This fellow perched on the railing next to me. I took a few shots for fun but once I looked at my photos it became my favorite for the day. I never realized they have an opening in their beak that you can see through. These are nares or external nostrils. So cool! • Stay warm and Be well!