Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, NY

Pond at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, Tyre, NY

Montezuma is a 7000 acre wetland habitat for migratory waterfowl and other birds and wildlife. Every time I visit my friend Joan in nearby Waterloo, I end up walking the trails and creeping along the auto tour. Usually I just spot common birds, geese, ducks and herons, but that's because I'm not a dedicated bird watcher like the fellow who approached me at the photo blind (holding a thick book) asking if I'd seen the"whatever-he-said" that everyone was talking about.

I'm lucky if I see something I don't recognize, but for real I come for the magic northern light. This October morning the light was diffused by low clouds just after a chilly rain.

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