On The Waterfront . . .

Went to the Willow Park Ecology Centre at Norval this afternoon. The sun was streaming through the undergrowth, but it was just a deception - the windchill was at minus 8 C and it was biting cold.

So cold that even the geese on the half frozen Credit River were huddled together for warmth. Hundreds of 'em, packed on the water, honking like maniacs in a Rome traffic jam as their relatives splashed beside them every few moments. Could be the gathering point for a delayed flight South, we mused, or maybe they were having a film show later - anyone for Donald Duck and the Great White North?

Didn't hang around to find out - I found myself on a frozen pond, only realising when the ice began to groan and crack. Just stepped back before it shattered. Well, bugger this, thought I, no wet feet for me - so we abandoned nature and went for a coffee instead. Warmer and safer . . .

PS No, there aren't hundreds of birds here; my picture of the whole group looked like crap . . . in fact, several hundred pieces of crap floating on a river . . .