Oko Nunpa

Monday, Mar 5 to Sunday, Mar 11, 2012: high 77, low 23

Tuesday afternoon the temperature reminded me of last year when by chance i caught the turtles stretching out from their hibernation (see Oko 3, 2011). And incredibly, Tuesday there was a snapper just visible under the ice layer. Below is a telephoto shot of the same turtle. It was warm enough that there was a narrow strip of open water between the bank and the floating ice sheet.

Two days later the temp had fallen considerably, especially at night, and the strip of open water froze into a thin clear layer of ice. In the picture below a snapper is nuzzled into the bank. The ice is so clear that it is difficult to see. But if you look close, there are air bubbles trapped beneath it.