I find I have been busy this week trading bread-making stories with a friend. A lengthy email correspondence went on for the last few days, ever since I happened to give him an extra loaf of the Cinnamon Oatmeal Raisin Bread on Christmas Eve. I was vaguely aware that he baked bread, but I didn’t expect an entire forum of commentary to emerge.

So now I’m back to writing about December in local haunts. These are some photos from December visits to Riverside. As I haven’t been out every day lately and less around the river, there’s not much to report. On December 13, there was a lot of ice.

Mallards made use of open areas.

A female House Finch captured my attention.

And I briefly encountered a Mourning Dove or two.

The White-breasted Nuthatch, also at the top of the post, was the bird of the day.

Then, three days later, the temperature was 50 degrees. I was pleased to see a Great Blue Heron.

Just because it was warmer, though, didn’t necessarily mean I would see more birds, but I got a good look at a House Sparrow

A few Canada Geese flew over the river.

I crossed the footbridge where melted ice left some reflective puddles.

On my walk through Riverside Lawn, I spotted an American Kestrel.

Then a Red-tailed Hawk flew in, and back out.

On December 18 there was a lot of sunshine, but very few birds. I thought these two Mallards looked a bit unusual.

Here’s one last glimpse of the December 16 Canada Geese.

I’ll be back with a Portage update and then perhaps some more photos from earlier in the year, as we near the end of it. It’s too easy to be caught off guard in between Christmas and New Year’s. Maybe there’s something even more reassuring about Hanukkah lasting 8 days.