WHITEOUT and A VISION OF SWANS

Even though the sun was bright, the day was cold and very windy, creating shifting and whiteout conditions. I turned from the keyboard and sat with my elbows on the little side table, watching the white swirls and eddies at the window. Out on the lake the sky was losing blue fast as the wind whipped the loose snow upward. Something caught my eye - several dark spots, navigating the blank space in tandem. I followed them, wondering if they were some small dark birds being buffeted around, trying to stay together. Then, as the snow thinned, I saw the hint of much larger white wings, and then the dark birds I’d been watching revealed themselves to be the heads and feet…of swans! For a brief few seconds, I saw them bank a turn and show me their full out-stretched splendor, and then, just as quickly, the wind veiled the entire scene, and the swans disappeared as they flew.

Even if I’d had my camera right there at the ready, I doubt I would have been able to capture that fleeting moment, so the photo above of the tundra swan is from Wikimedia Commons.

Also, I know there are some places not too far away from me that have open water all winter, even in a cold spell such as we’ve been having, and swans do stay there, so I know the swans I saw could certainly have been "real." At least I think so...