Ice On The Big Lake

Grand Haven Pier

Even though it was in the teens along the lakeshore and very cold with a slight northerly breeze, the sun finally came out today. I have been wanting to do some ice and lighthouse photos this winter but it has been almost constantly cloudy here and at the lake. Today was cold but perfect for light and the lake affect clouds stayed out over the lake making for good lighting and contrast, something we don’t always get with snow. You will notice in the photos that the ice extends as far as you can see except for a few small openings here and there. This is because Lake Michigan is frozen almost quit a ways out and with the prolonged arctic blast we are in, it will likely continue to build ice further out. It is predicted that this will be a record year for ice on the great lakes. One benefit from this is that the lake levels will stay up and we should start seeing less lake affect snow as there won’t be the evaporation with the ice cover like there is with open water. If going to the beach, be extremely careful as the ice is not always as safe as it may look.

Lake Ice

As I traveled down the lake to Port Sheldon I say an immature Bald Eagle. In the open water of Pigeon Lake there were good numbers of Buffleheads and Canvasback Ducks. These and other northern breeding species can often be found in open waters of and near the great lakes in winter. The problem this year is that there isn’t much open water since it has been so cold. If you find open water on the rivers or drowned river mouths, you should find plenty of water fowl.