...we like birds

Canada geese strut their stuff.

Pintail in flight.

Geese landing and a barge on Cook Inlet in the background.

We loaded our binoculars and cameras in the car again today and drove to the Kenai River Flats for another Sunday afternoon of bird watching. There were more birds than last week and a lot more open water. We saw Canada geese, white-fronted geese, mallards, pintails, and a lone swan which was way probably a quarter mile away. Our youngest daughter was snapping pictures as quickly as she could and had over 90 images at our first stop. We had to delete about half of them so she could take photos at our subsequent bird watching stations. When we got home she asked, "Did we take all these pictures because we like birds?" I had to chuckle and say, "yep...we like birds."

...a grand piano recital

The pianist at work.

Piano student and instructor.

All the piano students.

After another year of lessons it was time for the annual piano recital. We went out to dinner beforehand and then made our way to Soldotna for the main event. Twenty students took their turns at the keyboard and they all sounded great. Afterward we all took a few minutes to eat some cookies and drink some cranberry juice, a good way to end...a grand piano recital.

...the swans of Bishop Lake

It was an exquisite evening. The sky was crystal clear. The sun was shining. The air calm. It was difficult to stay inside and watch television.

So, about 9:00 PM, I took a drive to look for the swans we had missed the previous day. I pulled up to the creek that flows between Bishop and Mud Lake--and there they were. Both of them. Just paddling about in the open water. I watched them for about 45 minutes while several other swan watchers stopped to view them through binoculars and take pictures of them with cameras. Then a car pulled up and the driver jumped out and started walking toward them. I knew it was game over as the swans leaped onto the ice and started moving away. It wasn't long before they were airborne and gone for the evening.

I started the truck's engine and drove toward the bluff where Mt Redoubt continued to emit steam and ash into the evening air above Cook Inlet. Following a couple of photos, the light fading, it was time to go home and think about...the swans of Bishop Lake.

...it's happening

It's happening. The snow is nearly gone. The ice is melting. It's daylight until after 10:00 PM. And, the birds are returning. The change of seasons is underway in Alaska.

This afternoon we took a drive to look for swans, ducks, and geese. We found plenty of ducks and geese on the Kenai River Flats, which is one of the few feeding/resting spots on their way north to the nesting grounds. There were mallards, pintails, snow geese, and white-fronted geese to name a few. There's no question that some of them were in the lower 48 just a few days ago. Of course, the year-round residents were there as well. Eagles, gulls, and ravens all made themselves available for some good binocular viewing. We even spotted a pair of mergansers near the Kenai Dock.

But, no swans were to be seen. We looked at the creek near Bishop Lake where they have been for most of the week, but they were not to be found. We'll try again. We may not have seen them today, but they're around, and they'll be in the area for a while. They have important work to do over the next few months with raising a family at the top of the list

So, for now Spring has sprung and the work has begun...it's happening.

...typical Nikiski scenes

If you drove around Nikiski this evening, like I did, there are some things you might take a picture of using the camera in your cell phone: 1) the local fire department sign warning to be prepared for Mt Redoubt; 2) a moose; and , 3) a road exhibiting the signs of breakup in Alaska. It was a pleasant evening for a drive and I was able to see some…typical Nikiski scenes.

...the Swans of Spring

If you look closely at the center of these pictures--yes, very closely--you can see two swans. They are on a small stream which drains out of Bishop Lake and opened last week. I estimate they were about 200 yards from the end of my 400mm camera lens. So you can tell they were a long way off. I don't know if they spent the winter here (very few actually do) or if they are recent arrivals. In any event, when they appear on this stream they are definitely considered to be harbingers of Spring. Before long the snow and ice will be gone and these swans will be raising their young on one of the small lakes in the area. It is always good to see them, even if they are far off in the distance, because they are, after all...the swans of Spring.

...getting ready for Easter

We're preparing for Easter at our house. This afternoon we boiled and dyed eggs all sorts of different colors. Now they are drying on the counter waiting to be hidden...probably 12-15 times before it's all said and done. We'll also eat them in our lunches for the next week. They will be great reminders of an hour of fun we had on a Saturday afternoon...getting ready for Easter.

...Mt. Redoubt at sunset

The evening was clear so I got in my truck and drove to the bluff for a sunset photo session of Mt. Redoubt. In the first picture you can see fishing skiffs in the foreground. They are used seasonally at a setnet site for sockeye salmon. On the other side of Cook Inlet Mt. Redoubt continues to blow steam and ash into the atmosphere. The second photo is a shot of Mt. Redoubt by itself. It truly dominates the western horizon with its plume of debris being sent skyward. Both photos are very different from yesterday's which were taken in full daylight (see previous entry). I wonder what the effect would be at sunrise? I'll have to wait and see. For now I'm glad I took these photos of...Mt. Redoubt at sunset.

...ash is everywhere

Mt. Redoubt spews steam/ash this morning.

Mt. Redoubt, Cook Inlet, and trees.

Mt. Redoubt this afternoon.

Ash line in the snow berm along the edge of the driveway.

It is a beautiful April day here in Nikiski and one of a few that we have been able to clearly see Mt. Redoubt. That made it a good day for photos even though the light was too harsh. These pictures were taken in the past few hours and show steam/ash plumes spewing into the sky. The ash line photo was taken in my driveway and makes it easy to see the layer of ash that fell on Nikiski last Saturday and was then covered by snow. Ash in the air, ash in the snow...ash is everywhere.

...dreaming of camping

It's been a long winter. Even though spring is not far off I have been yearning for summer--and camping. So, I was looking through my photos from last camping season and came across this picture of my youngest daughter. It was taken during a camping trip we made to the Russian River Campground in Cooper Landing, Alaska. I remember it was a beautiful fall day and there were plenty of fall colors around the campground. It was a great day for pictures and the photo is a great memory. It definitely has me...dreaming of camping.