Well, I was out sliding around on the ice again this week. I made two trips up to the tiny reservoir north of Aurora to search for photo compositions on its frozen surface. I was not disappointed.
Some recent windy days had blown seeds of both dogbane and milkweed on to the ice, where they’d ended up perched on their comae (their fluffy parts). Wasn’t that fortuitous! They look really pretty when they do that.
Both times I visited, there was a small duck hanging out on the ice. I approached carefully and it seemed amenable to being photographed. I’m pretty sure it was my soft, comforting voice and non-threatening hat.
It was good to see I wasn’t the only lunatic walking around on the ice. Several raccoons had also been around, based on the numerous tracks I found.
The highlight of my two trips, of course, were the ice bubbles. Most of the ice looked like frosted glass and wasn’t transparent enough to show the ice bubbles that were surely trapped within it. Around the base of some plants, though, it looked like the ice had melted and refrozen, and that’s where the bubbles were. The rest of the photos here are just a few examples of the many, many bubbles I enjoyed photographing. I find them mesmerizing to stare at – like little galaxies of bubbles.
We’re in the middle of a big cold snap as I write this. I’m hopeful that I’ll get some more chances to photograph ice bubbles, seed comae, frost, and other winter wonders soon. Stay tuned!
The Prairie Ecologist 
Is that Ice Duck a decoy? Sure looks like one to me.
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I love the ice bubbles! Thanks for braving the weather.
Love these!
Great photos! You are funny, racoon didn’t wipe his feet. Curious where he found mud to step in.
I long have struggled with making comments on your postings…..Not being particularly techno savvy I thought I needed to hit the Comment button at the bottom of the email. Repeatedly it takes me to some membership necessary page, and tho I’ve tried from time to time to join, so I can tell you how much I appreciate you photographic esthetic and enjoyed your wit and wisdom, it becomes a dead end rabbit hole, and I’ve wasted 20 minutes. So, I hope you see this and have pity on an octogenarian and read that I thought this post of Ice bubbles was magical, living in Arizona, I never see such loveliness, so I’m glad you save me from the making of it (ie slugging around in the cold, wet, etc) and allow me to be awed by such Nebraska beauty. Best regards, Gay Gilbert
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I’m very grateful for your persistence and those very kind words! Stay warm down there. I’m more than happy to share photos of cold beauty from up north!
gorgeous!
The ice bubbles remind me of Volvox slides from my non-vascular plants class many decades ago! Lovely.
Often, when we look at prairies, we’re looking for that spring and summer splendor. Thank you for helping us see the beauty of our dormant prairies.
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