December and it's so different here.

As the Snow Geese and the Tundra Swans arrive on the Refuge the Bald Eagles follow their source of an easy meal. This one has decided to use the old Osprey nesting pole for the dinner table. Just so convenient an eating spot and just so good for viewing his habit .

Tundra Swans and White Pelicans arrive on the fresh water pond behind the Pea Island VC.

Just one of those shots that  make you to think  just how little  time we really take to wonder how beautiful the world really is.

There are so many birds on the ponds at Pea Island. I know our friends in the North East will say Canada Geese. But these geese are really migrating, yes they still know how to fly.

The moon surrounded by ice crystals . I know , we did have a few knights that were cool here before summer came back.

So we got involved in building a Xmas parade float for the FWS to enter in the Xmas parade in Manteo. Of course we had said that we had some knowledge of float building. So here at the beginning we have baby turtles coming out of the nest and moving towards the ocean. It's a good start.

Some heavy design thought going on here. We worked with a great group of people .

We had waves on the back of the trailer as the theme was by the sea and the FWS had decided to go with the Turtle watch theme . It's just amazing how much you can fit on a 22 foot trailer.

So as things progressed we now had the moon and a dolphin coming into the beach.

A random shot of some Pelicans flying over the RV as we were leaving to go work on the float.

As we progressed  the whole theme of ocean and beach came together and started looking pretty good. We even found little fish to put into the waves.

And as always, you just have to stop and do some badly needed clean up so as to be able to walk around the float .

A clean sweep. It's just amazing what you can do with some chicken wire, some cardboard and burlap .

Parade day and we are all a little groggy. Why do you need to line up at 8am for an 11 o'clock parade . Oh well. plenty of time to be social.

This is the tow vehicle that we jazzed up with a Xmas theme and some really great props .

We are looking good.

A great a picture of the other side .

The Xmas tree is made out of  some old crab traps and we decorated the tree with stuffed birds from the gift shop.

   The bear hanging out of the back window was a real hit with the little ones .

The final touch finally arrived and the signs were put in place .

Beside the float we also had some people walking alongside the float and handing out candy to the kids long the roadside .

We had the alligator and a turtle .

And a Red Wolf.

The group together.

Lauren helping .

The walkers all together.

The Parade route was almost three miles long and the crowd along the whole route was just awesome.

My critter was the Alligator rand  really needed to be guided as the sight in the costume is very limited and they need to be escorted .

Even my Grinch self had a good time . The public was awesome . Oh buy the way the float we built took 3rd place in a parade of 54 floats, not to shabby.