On Christmas Day, Nolemana and I drove up to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge which seems to be our yearly adventure. We always take the back road in so that we can see if that old house on the way is still there. It was, but it’s looking more sad every time we see it. To think that it once housed a family here, and now it’s collapsing walls will soon be gone makes me sad.

No trains. We just missed it! If we’d been here a minute earlier, we could’ve taken its photo.

Crossing the river:

We’re here!

We had no idea how rough the road was going to be. We’ve never seen the road so bad and were very glad to know that they’d soon be working on repairs. There were almost as many potholes as geese!

This was at the beginning of our drive around the refuge…so pretty!

We began to see swans right away, which was unusual. Usually they’re further along the drive.

I was so happy we’d come on Swan Day!

And we’d never seen a rainbow here before, either! This was at the first curve of the drive.

Once we began driving through the refuge, we saw more Tundra Swans than we’d ever seen before!

They were calling to one another, and it sounded like music to me.

(Volume up!)

The abundance of water brought them here, I’m sure. It was cold outside, but I kept the window down in order to hear them.

We drove a little further, and could see ducks as well. Lots of ducks!!

Are you tired of seeing swans yet? Not me!

Seven swans a’swimmin’…..♪♫♫

It really was a thrill to see so many of these lovely birds. And watching them glide through the water created a very peaceful feeling in me. Always before we’ve only been able to see them from quite a distance, and this time I felt as though I could reach out and touch them.

Trees reflected in the water.

Do you see what I see?

How about now?

One out in the open.

More swans!

It was about 4:30 by now; usually we’re not here quite so late. When I took this video, I didn’t realize that I’d caught a flock of geese flying by!

Along one stretch of the road, there were a whole bunch of Golden-Crowned Sparrows in the grass!

We rounded another curve, and saw a Great Blue Heron!

And though I didn’t know what it was at the time, I found out it was a juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron!

And then we saw some Northern Shoveler Ducks!

And some Canada Geese close up. I did wonder if they were Cackling Geese, though.

Geese and swans.

This is what the road looked like all the way around. No matter. The drive was still worth it.

And last, we saw several deer on our way out.

These days our Christmases are very different from the large family ones of the past, everyone gathered around the table and eating all the yummy food. It isn’t easy being just the two of now, but we’re very grateful that we can spend part of the day enjoying this beautiful, always changing place.