Sunday, January 28, 2007

A Very Slight Thaw on the Charles River

Yesterday, January 27, at about 2 pm, I was on the Boston side of the Charles River.

It was still very cold although the high was supposed to be in the 30's. You can't prove that high temperature by me.

The Charles River White Geese were visible in unfrozen water next to the goose meadow. Further out, on the ice, were visible the Charles River White Ducks, Andrake and Daffney.

I drove into the parking lot at Magazine Beach. Construction equipment and fencing is still present on the rise / park area at the far end of the playing fields. The Charles River was frozen with varying degrees of thickness whereever I could see. Resting on top of the ice were a number of sea gulls and, separately, two Canadas. One of the Canadas was calling out in the manner of a bird who is trying to reconnect with his flock.

I walked over to the goose meadow, just on the other side of the BU Bridge. Most of the Charles River White Geese were present there. They came to greet me, perhaps half of them flapping their wings half flying. I have had winter days in which the gaggle has actually flown to great me. It scared them silly. The goose meadow is quite small for a number of large birds to be flying all at the same time.

While I was there, a number of Canadas and mallard ducks came out of the water and joined the whites. The two Charles River White Ducks remained on the ice toward the middle of the river.

They essentially recreated the group which had been getting fed by CRUWI last Monday when I went by.

When I returned to Magazine Beach no Canadas were visible.