BRRR, it was a little cool as Bob, Paul, and I did a PSA boat patrol up the Duwamish River last Wednesday. While the temperature was in the low twenties it was a beautiful sunny day with no wind. The tide was very high so most of the stormwater outfalls were under water. The high tide also washed a lot more than the usual amount of litter and wood debris off the shore into the water.
 
The further up the river we went the more ice we encountered.  Fortunately our Capt. Paul served on real ice breakers in the past and handled it well. We turned back before the Turning Basin as the river was completely iced over.
 
There was a flock of surf scoters along the way who were very contentedly floating on the frigid waters in their ideal passive temperature control system. They stay warm without consuming any energy except from the sun and the food they eat. While we do not have feathers, we are slowly learning to do the same by layering and fleecing up to conserve energy.
 
A Happy Holiday Season to everyone!!!

(Picture and report submitted by Tom Foley)