GEESE, SWANS AND MOONLIGHT

     Two evenings in a row, February 24 and 25, 2024, I saw the moon "rise" beautifully over a low, wooded hill, and the lake at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in southeastern Pennsylvania.  And, immediately, the brilliant moonlight reflected on the water created a straight, bright path across the lake. Groups of darkly-silhouetted, elegant snow geese and tundra swans swam through that illuminated pathway, creating a lovely spectacle in the midst of beautiful scenery.

     But each breath-taking moonrise occurred under different conditions because of the time of the moon's rising each evening.  On the twenty-fourth, the moon appeared about 6:10 pm, when there still was lovely, brilliant, but fading, sunset in the western sky.  The geese and swans' white feathers were easily seen on the dark water.  

     On the twenty-fifth, however, the moon rose about 7:05 pm, when the sky was dark, and the geese and swans were silhouetted black when their gatherings flew in front of the moon, and swam through the moonlight roadway reflected on the water.      

     I was able to enjoy those evenings of snow geese, tundra swans and moonlight because I knew those water birds were on the lake, and when the moon would "come up".  I saw each moonrise by live camera and our large home-computer screen.  

      We don't see the moon rising every evening.  Cloudy skies, the moon not in  position, not knowing when it will come up, and daily commitments keep us from that magical sighting.  Therefore, seeing the moon rise is an unusual, natural treat.  And seeing large, white, constantly-calling snow geese and tundra swans flying swiftly and silhouetted darkly before the rising moon and swimming darkly through its sparkling reflection on water are special and rare beauties.

   I enjoyed seeing those majestic snow geese and tundra swans in the moonlight.  They created beautiful pictures that are rarely seen, and well worth remembering.    

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