Ice Feets

Never a dull moment around here. These oddities of nature were dangling in the creek formed during a cold snap here.

Magical Mystery Diving Bird (solved: American Dipper)

This little dear was splashing around in one of our ponds today. I grabbed the binoculars to get a better look.  At first I thought it was a duck, no, too small. Then I thought it was a wren bathing  but it seemed too big.  Then It dove under water.  Wha? 

I quickly got my camera and a sweater and scooted out in my slippers to see if I could snap a few.  The body colouring was plain, grey-brown body dappled with some light streaks and the head and breast were a warmer brown.  It had a pale cream-yellow beak and flesh coloured legs.  It bobbed almost constantly and liked to keep it's tail perked up like a wren. It was about the size of a towhee without the tail.

I was watching it stick it's head under water and swim for short but energetic moments and then it did the most curious thing: It dove under water, flapped it's wings and flew under water for about four feet before hopping back up on a floating branch.  A swimming, diving, flying under water wren?  It later flew into the creek and hunted about for food there as well.

I couldn't get close enough to get any good shots and the telephoto setting pretty sad on my camera

Orb Update

New photos of the Orb-1 in Starfire glass.  This is the smallest version (so far) of the Orb vase.  I don't think Guido could even turn around in this one. Yes, he's grown.  

Orb is created from two pieces of kiln formed glass which are hand lapped, polished and laminated together.

They are available at Dr. Vigari on commecrial drive and through my studio.  Dimensions are 7.5"tall x 10"wide x 3"deep.  $395