Golden Hour

Sunset on the Piankatank. No, as they say, filter.A Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) in the twilight gold. Some of these birds were well into their breeding plumage, others not at all.

The tidal Piankatank, a contest between the fresh Dragon Run and the briny Chesapeake, was also host to Common Loons and Buffleheads last week. And, diving in their own way, Osprey and Kingfisher.

(I think the Chesapeake usually wins, but Friday’s torrential rainfall meant Virginia’s tidewaters were boiling with muddy water the next day.)