Plum Island, January 2012

We were hoping to witness this year's historic irruption of snowy owls, but strong winds kept the owls away from their hunting grounds.

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	Sand blowing in strong winds.
	Deserted beach.
	Boardwalk I
	Boardwalk II
	Boardwalk III
	Boardwalk IV
	Boardwalk V
	Boardwalk VI
	Smaranda can't visit a beach without playing in the sand...
	...even when it's too cold to enjoy it.
	That's a white-winged scoter (Melanitta fusca) in the distance.
	A flock of sanderlings (Calidris alba) flew away as we approached.
	Sanderlings and surf.
	Waves and windblown spume.
	More waves in the wind.
	This next boardwalk was easier than the first, but...
	...we couldn't believe this visitor's choice of footwear.
	This is a female bufflehead (Bucephala albeola).
	It was barely in range of my camera, but I took a few shots anyway.
	I got another shot from the top of the observation tower.
	And one more by sneaking down from the tower while it was underwater.
	This is a male bufflehead.
	Another male bufflehead in flight.
	Beach at the south end of Plum Island.
	More of the beach.
	Beach detail.
	Half-buried lobster trap.