Crisp, bright, and cold by the river early this morning. It's late enough into the year now that it's gotten possible to actually sit in the sun, which at this point rises above rooftop level, if only barely, before it heads west.

A gull flapped by with something in its mouth, dropped it with a splash in the water. It floated, and another gull swooped so fast the original guy lost out. Whatever it was, the other alternately pecked at it, and pecked at the guy who found it when he tried to get near it. He finally gave up and flew away.

Meanwhile three Brant geese flew low over the pier. The Brants have been gathering in larger and larger groups these past few weeks, getting ready to head north. A pair of buffleheads were fishing out at the end of the pilings, but they won't stay around much longer, either. A lone male mallard, his head feathers shiny green, swam by, nibbling. A robin sang very loudly, taking early possession of a still-bare tree.

It was still too cold to sit for long, but clearly spring, calendar notwithstanding, is just around the corner.