After several days below freezing, I finally ventured out this morning.  Gloves did little to protect my hands from frigid temperatures, especially over the course of several hours, thus I walked away from the experience with a majority of bad photographs due to malfunctioning fingers that simply couldn’t work the camera with any reliability.

Nevertheless, I did walk away with some pictures—images that might surprise you considering they come from Dallas, Texas.  Like this one:

That is a mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos), a drake (male), frozen solid in White Rock Lake.  It goes without saying that I found many such scenes.  I promise I won’t share more of them.

The physics involved in freezing a lake are not as simple as you might think.  Truth be told, the process is complicated and takes time.  Yet today’s arctic stroll around the lake resulted in some fascinating scenes—and some heartwrenching scenes as well.

Though I promise I won’t show more of the latter, I will show the former in a separate post where I’ll discuss the physics and mathematics involved, as well as the various types of ice that can be seen under such circumstances.

Meanwhile, I’m spending the rest of the afternoon inside where it’s warm (though I’ll add the temperature today appears ready to climb comfortably above freezing, albeit not enough to melt away the damage already done and the wonders already created).  You can expect a more detailed post tomorrow on the state of the lake and how much work it is for nature to do what has been done.

Lest you think me shallow for the above image and nothing else, there are plenty of goodies to be seen and read in this week’s nature carnivals.

Carnival of the Blue #32 provides an ocean of seaworthy discoveries.  You’ll want to swim right over and float through the collection.

Berry Go Round #23: The Janus Edition roots its way through the season’s plant goodness.  Feel free to leaf through the offerings.

I and the Bird #116 wings its way through a world of avifauna.  Listen to Australian cicadas sing their summer songs as you flit from post to post.

Friday Ark #277 takes on boarders throughout the weekend.  Don’t let your chance wash away to visit a flood of animal delight.