As I left for my morning walk yesterday, I saw a very well-fed looking robin (photo above) foraging in front of my building. Robins are supposed to be a harbinger of spring; does this one know something I, and the weather forecasters, don’t?
Spring seemed far away when I got to Pier 5 in Brooklyn Bridge Park and saw two ducks swimming past ice floes in the embayment between Piers 5 and 6.
As I reached the end of Pier 5, HMS Justice was heading south, out of Buttermilk Channel. “HMS” does not mean “Her Majesty’s Ship” but rather “Harley Marine Services,” her owner.
Here’s another view of HMS Justice heading up the East River toward the Brooklyn Bridge.
Here’s a view from the north side of Pier 5, looking toward the park and the BQE.
Two chilly looking ducks in the channel between Pier 3 and the shore.
Seagull chillin’ on a floe between Piers 2 and 3.
More ducks on the kayak launching platform at Pier 2.
From the south side of Pier 1, I saw old friend Dorothy J. towing a barge “on the hip,” i.e. “The tug ties up alongside the tow, typically aft of the midpoint of the tow.” (Thanks to Working Harbor Committee and the late Capt. John Doswell.) An NYFD fireboat is in the background.
Looking across to Manhattan and the South Street Seaport Museum, I saw the Gloucester fishing schooner Lettie G. Howard tied abeam of the lightship Ambrose. Lettie was covered with a protective tarpaulin which was in turn covered in snow. Aft of Ambrose was a New York Water Taxi ferry.
As I sat on a bench on Pier 1 taking a break to check my phone, I saw the pretty Coastline Baystar.
These two romped in the snow at Hillside Dog Park.
