This afternoon, as a snowstorm approaches central Missouri, my wife and I made a final trip to Phillip's Lake for the year. High clouds, cold air and a steady, southeast breeze made for a chilly walk and the lake's surface was almost totally frozen.
Nevertheless, a trio of ruddy ducks and a lone beaver were observed on the open waters while a ring-billed gull circled overhead. Other birds were relatively few and far between, dominated by flocks of white-crowned and American tree sparrows. An American kestrel was the only raptor to grace the scene though a group of crows argued from a lakeside meadow.
In a way, it was a fitting final excursion for 2020, a year we'd just as soon forget. Then again, nature has always provided welcome escapes during this difficult period, regardless of the weather conditions or the variety of wildlife sightings. Whether our predicament improves in 2021 or not, we can always count on her wondrous ecosystems to offer solace and inspiration. Happy New Year!
