Cold Wave.

1-21-19 SHORT HILLS: The snowstorm, named Harper, passed through the area yesterday, leaving about two inches of slushy snow and then rain, heavy at times. Judy and I shoveled the driveway without much difficulty between the snow and rain. I cleared the drain in the driveway and did the sidewalk. Vermont got at least a foot of snow. Today it’s very cold, zero at daybreak and now up to 8°, but, with an 18 mph wind, it feels much colder.

The birds are besieging the feeders. They need a lot of energy to stay warm on days like this. We have had a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker here this morning, totally fluffed up to deal with the cold. We haven’t seen one here for a few years. A few robins are still here. They are poking around in the leaves, but never go to the feeders. They do eat berries, of which, we still have a lot.

We are off to Costa Rica tomorrow.


Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker is not a frequent visitor, but has been around this morning, all fluffed up against the cold wind.

One of a few robins still hanging around.

Cardinal and a bit of a Junco under the feeder.

Sapsucker earlier in the day with ruffled feathers from the wind and cold.

Carmen.

1-18-19 SHORT HILLS: Nothing is happening in the gardens, obviously, there have no new bird pix, and no interesting weather. The birds have been back at the feeders for a few weeks.

Our family has a bunch of birthdays in Jan. and Feb. We did a Gramercy Tavern event with Val, Steve, Alison and Dan last week, and a DB Moderne dinner with Anna, Gardner and Lily this week.

Last night we went to the Met to hear Carmen. It’s a new production, well reviewed and well enjoyed by us. Carmen, Don José and Michaëla are sung by Clémentine Margaine, Roberto Alanga and Susanna Phillips. Louis Langrée conducted. We had dinner at Café Fiorello beforehand.

The days are slowly and slightly getting longer as we inch our way through January.


Chandeliers  in the lobby of the Met Opera.

The cast soaking up the applause.

Conductor Langrée and the orchestra in  the pit.

NY Phil.

1-5-19 SHORT HILLS: We were in the city for the NY Phil last night during the heavy rain. The drive in was a snap—light to moderate traffic only. Maybe the rain kept people home.

We had dinner at Bar Boulud with Ina and Marcel. The noise level wasn’t too bad, as three of us wear hearing aids. The food was fine, and we bumped into Elaine and Richard dining with friends after the opera matinee.

We got to Geffen Hall a little early because now everyone has to go through metal detectors to get into the auditorium.

The first half of the program was the Dvořák Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, with cellist Gautier Capuçon, a rising French star. The audience loved it, and we got a brief encore on the cello. Paavo Järvi conducted.

After intermission, Järvi conducted the orchestra in a short Sibelius piece, Lemminkäinen and the Maidens of the Island, Op.22, No.1 and Ravel’s Daphnis et Chloé, Suite No.2.

I liked the second half of the program better, while Judy loved the cello concerto. Today we dog walked with Bebe and Ronnie.


Geffen Hall before the concert....

At intermission with the fountain in the plaza...

Applause for the orchestra after the Ravel.

Orange Reservoir in the South Mountain Reservation, Essex County, NJ.

1-4-2019 SHORT HILLS: HNY Dear Readers. Not much is happening in the gardens now. We have had a ton of rain with more on the way tonight. NJ had a very wet year with more than 60 inches of rain, normal 40-45, but actual figures not available because of the government shutdown.

Since we’ve been back from VT, there has been only a little activity at the re-filled bird feeders. It usually takes the birds a day or so to realize that the feeders are full, but the dozen of birds we had had are not back after a week—very unusual.

We are in the forties most days and barely below freezing at night. There is not scrap of snow or ice to be seen. There were only a couple of inches of snow in VT when we left.

Driving through the South Mountain Reservation the other day, I noticed some waterfowl in the Orange Reservoir. Across the road from the reservoir there is a low area that fills with rainwater, creating a shallow pond, really a half-acre puddle. I thought I saw an odd duck there and went back with the camera.

It was a solitary Bufflehead, female or immature male, on the edge of a small flock of Mallards. In the reservoir itself there was a flock of ten or so Mergansers. Usually the reservoir has a lot of Canada geese, but not yesterday.


Bufflehead duck, female or immature male, is alone and hanging out near a bunch of mallards.

This 'pond' forms after every heavy rain, is about a half acre in size.

Two pairs of Mallards sharing the big puddle.

The Mallards are much bigger than the Bufflehead.

In the Orange Reservoir, across the road from the 'pond', there were a flock of Mergansers, about ten.

Male Common Merganser with dark black/greenish head and white body.

Female Common Merganser has a red head with a prominent mullet and a gray body.