An explanation of the long, thin vertical 'cloud' toward the right of the photo comes from our friend Dr. Bill Kreiger, professor of earth science at York College--
It appears to be a solar pillar. Sun dogs, solar rainbows, solar pillars, solar rays there is a variety of atmospheric optics. They are cool! Water in the atmosphere, ice crystals, snow flakes, dust, ash, soil particles under the right conditions produce all sorts of atmospheric optics.
It's that time of year again, when snow geese and tundra swans migrate back to their northern summer homes. It's quite a site. Thousands and thousands of these beautiful birds (the swans are larger, with longer necks and the geese have black wing tips) make a brief stop at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area north of Lancaster about this time every year.
Most people stop on weekends, pulling over to the side of the road and watching them swim around, some not 20 yards away. And that's a good feeling. But to see the massive numbers, wait until the sun goes down.
A few years ago, a photographer with a lens as long as my arm set up at the prime spot-- a point of land at the end of a paved walking path. He had all the tools-- tripod, monster lens, big camera. But he didn't have the one thing he needed most.
He didn't know that sometimes the best moments are after sunset.
He took hundreds of pictures of the few birds that swam around on the water during the day. But he was looking for the large flocks, sitting wing-to-wing on the water. He was terribly disappointed. Some days, the birds crowd onto fields near drivable roads. Often, like on this day, they were far away from roads. He said as he left "If they were here, they'd be here by now." Half an hour later, they descended.
If you visit, resist the urge to leave when the sun dips below the tree line. If you're patient, you'll see and hear huge numbers crossing in front of sunset's colors, leaving their feeding grounds for the safety of the water at night.
To reach Middle Creek, take route 30 to Lancaster, and route 501 north to Brickerville. Turn right, and follow the signs. It's close enough that York families can make the trip after school and still have the kids in bed on time. It's often windy on the point, so dress accordingly.
It's quite a sight.
Bil,
Check out the pond next to the Glatfelter plant at the edge of Spring Grove. Not great numbers of birds, but in the past week or two that pond has had cool ducks -- ring-necks, wigeon and canvasback. Neat stuff.