I hiked up to the first bridge on Indian River Trail today. I wanted to check out the confluence of the West and Falls forks of Indian River. As I suspected, the Falls Fork was largely frozen, while the West Fork was running ice free.

In cold weather, the confluence of the West Fork and Falls Fork of Indian River shows a dramatic difference in the amount of ice.

The confluence of the West Fork and Falls Fork of Indian River is just downstream from the first bridge, which can be partially seen above the free flowing West Fork.

I spent nearly four hours at Swan Lake today, first with Rowan, then Connor and Melissa showed up as well.

Connor was pretty fascinated with the dead gull and wanted me to take his picture with it. He was trying to decide what kind of raptor killed it.

This Herring Gull had been dead on the lake at least since Sunday morning. The cold was preserving what remained quite well.

This Herring Gull had been dead on the lake at least since Sunday morning. The cold was preserving what remained quite well.

We could hear the ice cracking while out on the lake. Despite the disconcerting sounds, the ice was quite thick enough to be safe.

After several days of cold weather, Swan Lake was just getting frozen enough to safely walk on, so Rowan and I went to the lake to spend a little time at the edge of the ice. (We were a little more cautious than some who ventured out into the middle, despite the fact that the fire department had not yet declared it deep enough to skate on.)

Rowan thought the ice was pretty fun. I was beginning to regret making sure she was dressed so warmly, as I started to get cold and hungry long before she did.

This was the first time that Rowan was old enough to walk around on the ice by herself, as we did not make it down to the lake when it was frozen the last couple of years.

The lake was mostly frozen, so quite a few birds were close to the penninsula in one of the patches of open water. I took advantage of their limited room to roam and got some photos.

One of four observed 29 November 2007 at Swan Lake.

One of four observed 29 November 2007 at Swan Lake.

Cackling Goose observed 29 Novermber 2007 at Swan Lake.

I am uncertain whether this is a Greater Scaup or Lesser Scaup. It does appear to be a first year male, however. Observed 29 November 2007.

I am uncertain whether this is a Greater Scaup or Lesser Scaup. It does appear to be a first year male, however. Observed 29 November 2007.

Temperatures below freezing overnight resulted in most of the lake being covered with a layer of ice.