Birds return to the ponds

Mid February, the ponds are still partially covered with a thin veneer of ice, but the birds are back. Not all of them - no coots nor grebes or pochards (the diving birds that can disappear underwater), but the ducks, gulls and our loyal pair of swans (below). A zoom-in on the cob's leg-ring shows the identification number 2KC1 - he's back again.

It will be a while until nest building gets under way; the early arrivals are marking their territory for the season. Below: a mallard walks across the ice. Ducks' feet are adapted to the cold, blood circulation to the feet being slowed right down.

Below: a pair of mallards (krzyżówki) on (just about) open water. Top temperature today was 9C.

Below: the gulls are back in force, although the ones I saw today were mainly juveniles, probably born here and back to mature and mate.

Sunset, at 16:48, a whole hour and 25 minutes later than the year's earliest sunsets. The snow has gone, unlikely to return for anything but the briefest of visits now. Spring still feels a long way off.

Looking back at February 2009, there was much more snow cover than so far this month.

This time last year:
Bending the forces of physics with your will

This time three years ago:
Giving it up for Lent

This time five years ago:
North-east of Warsaw West revisited

This time six years ago:
Looking for answers

This time seven years ago:
Fresh powder in Warsaw's parks

This time nine years ago:
Another Lent starts

This time 11 years ago:
Okęcie dusk