With opportunity the world is very interesting. - Beatrix Potter

Lovely views of the Chugach Mountains (top and bottom photos), a winter sky over Turnagain Arm, and a section of frozen creek, all from Potter Marsh.  Sunshine drew me outside today, and I spent some time wandering the elevated boardwalk searching for wildlife.  There were areas of open water here and there but no waterfowl yet to be seen.  Further south where Arctic terns and trumpeter swans will be in residence come spring, the shallower sections of marsh are still frozen.  I did spot a few black-capped chickadees flitting around and enjoyed watching them forage for several minutes.  

There were plenty of animal tracks in the snow, many of them hoof prints from moose.  Lots of piles of moose scat were visible too, as was the moose carcass that has been decomposing at the eastern side of the marsh just below the boardwalk.  I'm fascinated at how much of it remains compared to the last time I was there, and I'm curious about how it died.  Whatever its cause of death, it clearly has fed many.  A photo seemed gruesome, but I did point it out to a mom walking with her young ones who otherwise might have missed it.  She was happy to show them and point out its long legs and what's left of the rib cage.

I will be well pleased when more birds are in residence at the marsh.  While the scenery itself is worth the stroll, and there are often magpies, ravens or bald eagles to be seen year round, it will be nice to witness the return of the many, many birds that leave Alaska for a less-harsh winter.  Sandhill cranes, Canada geese, dowitchers, yellowlegs, tree swallows, canvasbacks, etc. will soon return.  Come late summer I'll be looking forward to observing salmon coming in from Cook Inlet and common mergansers on Rabbit Creek as I did last year.

As for the quote above, Beatrix Potter has been on my mind after having borrowed a biography and a book of her journal entries from the library a few days ago.  I've been a fan of her artwork and books, but the woman herself interests me tremendously.  I look forward to learning more about her life, her studies of nature and mycology, and especially her work to preserve working farms and conserve open land which was passed on to the National Trust after her death.  

The quote itself popped out at me in reference to my ability to access places of natural beauty so readily here in Alaska.  The opportunity to observe wildlife and wild landscapes makes my world very interesting indeed.