The long term below freezing temperatures has caused the Chesapeake Bay to be filled with ice. It is a rather unusual for the bay to be iced covered and hubby doesn’t remember the bay being frozen like this since 1976.
The wildlife have been looking for open patches within the ice in order to rest and forage. One such patch is right in front of the manor’s dock. A group of Hooded Mergansers have been showing up this week diving for fish and looking for love. This Hooded Merganser caught a Sunfish and wasn’t sharing with his friends.
A Bald Eagle had been sitting on the ice eating something, of course by the time I got down to the water he flew off for other hunting grounds.
Three Great Blue Herons flushed out and flew over to the other side of the river.
The Hoodies continued to entertain. This time with three boys trying for the affection of one girl. While two did their mating dance, the other boy sneaked in there all sweet like and ran off with the girl.
See sometimes it’s the quiet one that you have to watch out for.
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The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be.
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Marvellous, stunning photographs.
Wow Victor ! Thank you so very much.
Beautiful as always đ the bay is breathtaking but those ducks made me chuckle, they look like they are doing synchronized swimming lol cute!
I had heard of their mating dance, but had no idea what it was really like. It was really super cool and indeed, synchronized swimming.
lol who says nature doesn’t have a sense of humor eh đ
Great post! Love the photos. And I remember the winter of ’76. The bay was frozen over all the way to Solomon’s Island that year!
Oh wow, and you remember that too. Fantastic Judy.
Outstanding!
Thank you so much Nia.
The hoodies are fun to watch, the shot of the eagle is fantastic!
LOL ! Nothing like Bald Eagle butt right?
Any shot of an eagle is a good one. You may have gotten that one from the rear, but you could see an eye and its beak, so it wasn’t technically a butt shot.
Beautiful photos !!
Thank you so much Susan. Appreciate your visit and hope to see you back soon. Bella
Emily — “Cool” post with the usual great, great photos.
Thank you so much Tom. Great to see you as always, truly a pleasure.
Those ducks are pretty wild looking! Looks like the boys were attempting some line dancing to impress that chick… boys are so funny when they are wooing. Ha!
They really do the stupidest things don’t they?
It appears that the Great Blue Heron is trying out for the Olympics – How graceful of an ice skater đ Great shots as usual!
Thank you so much Cynthia ! The ice began to melt in earnest today. While I’m glad it’s a little warmer, it really made photographing birds on it so much fun.
That Blue Heron makes a great ice-skater!
That reminds me of me watching one of the Canadian Geese yesterday on the ice. He kept slipping and sliding away. :-0
Beautiful shots again Em
You are too sweet on this one Mark. Some lame iPhone shots, but what amazing scenery. The ice is starting to melt now.
Sometimes the camera itself doesn’t matter……it’s what you do with it that counts. That first shot is lovely.
You know what..I forgot I had bird pics on this post too. Ok..I’ll accept your kind compliment. đ
Discerning girls always like the quiet ones, Emily đ
That’s why I like you so much Robert. đ