The Walk, to Newcomb Hollow, Wellfleet.

An injured female Common eider. All along the way there were sea ducks (mostly White-winged, Surf, and Black scoters) and loons offshore. With some Gannets diving.

A pond hidden behind the dunes.

 More clay cliffs.

The Walk.

Low tide.

 Another peat layer exposed.

 Surf clams, all empty.

Flock of gulls flying up from the beach.

The Walk

 Peat? An ancient cedar bog? with logs embedded in it?

 Looking back to Coast Guard Light.

 Heading north.

Eroding oak(?) forest.

Great Beach walk Dec. 22, 2013. In Thoreau's footsteps.

 Dawn in Eastham.

 Nauset marsh.

 Cliff at Coast Guard Beach.

Looking South, Coast Guard Beach.

South beach, Chatham

 Sand drifts over dune grass.

 Lands end.

Solstice sunset.

Crowell's bog

Compass grass.

Winter sun.

A frigid day on the Cape.

 Boat meadow ice pack.

Sanderlings sheltering from the north wind.

Woodcock/Timberdoodle

I was pretty surprised to find this partly scavenged woodcock, dead on the road. It's distinctive head, beak and tail were missing so it was hard for me to identify. Its legs and feet are thinner and finer than I remembered. Sad to see one of my favorite birds like this, but good to know they are still around. Its three outer primaries are much thinner than the others, and I think make the winnowing sounds during their spectacular and mysterious breeding displays.

More Snowy owls Dec. 17 &18

Snowy owl, Crowe's Meadow

Portal

Winter energetics, food web, amazing

Winter textures, tidelines

Low Tide

 Eiders on rocks offshore

Ocean and Bay

 Atlantic at Truro (east shore)

Cape Cod Bay at Truro (west shore)