December 2023 Birds

I haven’t updated in a while here and I am sorry. So much has been happening and I have found myself really getting into the thick of things with my new role at Cornell. Our team at Freedom on the Move received several grants that required some all hands on deck type sprints, so this resulted in me being slow to update.

In December I did a bit traveling for work. For one, I drove down to Suffolk, VA on December 6 to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. While there I made sure to stop at Chincoteague and bird my way back! I took the Chesapeake Bay way back up to Ithaca and some fresh looks at cool birds. Some lifers!

I even stopped in Delaware at Prime Hook. Amazing place. You must visit there!

A few days after my birthday (December 15) I had a work trip in Worcester, MA. While there I took a trip up to Provincetown, MA and got some bountiful photos of the Common Eider (male) and Red Breasted Merganser at Herring Cove Beach. MY GOD IT WAS COLD. The wind was 40mph and the temps after wind chill were an icy 19F. It was not an easy time to be in the wind! But I persevered for the birds.

Christmas Day in Ithaca was nice. The sun came out after being absent for some time. I hurriedly jumped in my car and got some photos!

As with all things my constant companion, grief, was there along the way and sweet and sometimes bittersweet memories crept into view of my son, my daughter and I at Christmas in Laurinburg, N.C. at my parents house, a place they both love/d. There were times of intense prostration crying out to God for peace and for grace.