From the Earth to the Sky

 This winter 25/26 has been a very cold polar vortex one.  It reminds me of the winters of my childhood and youth, a true winter.  I do not hibernate this time of year, some of the best birding in my opinion is from November to March, where we see Arctic species that winter here, and so I am also treated to some wonderful spectacles of the season. As this season gears down and we look forward to the earth warming up for the Spring season, I thought that I would look back at this winters beauty. Blue Ice or Glacial Ice is something that I don't remember seeing before in my lifetime, or if I have I haven't really looked at it.  This gorgeous phenomenon results in ice that is intensely blue and is formed when extreme pressure squeezes the air bubbles out of compacted snow, causing it to absorb red light and transmit blue light.  It is common in icebergs and glaciers.  This year as I was walking the path along the St. Clair River just past the Blue water bridge...