Perceptual adjustment

I had what I thought was an interesting experience when editing one of my photos. Look at the first view before proceeding to the second one, and get a sense of the image as you parse it. I thought it looked (strangely but convincingly) like some sort of a mountain scene with a glacier or river draining into a pool, with some very large bird overhead. 

 

Modest recropping with added information in the second view changed that assessment for me, putting the view into its actual context of a small scene, with seafoam streaming around moss-covered rocks. 

Did the two other Purple Sandpipers in the lower left have the same effect for you, or did you interpret the scene accurately in the first place?

Overlooking the ocean

 I visited Halibut Point State Park in Rockport, MA the other day, where the quarry was partly frozen over:

There was much Nice Ice to see:

I saw this sign:

I didn't think the Atlantic was an ocean that should be overlooked, so I went to the overlook to overlook the ocean. I quickly discovered that there were more Harlequin Ducks than I think I've ever seen in one place at a time, counting at least 18 in this view:

I came home with over 100 images of them, such as this lineup of interested males:

And a closer approach:

 

 Followed by dispersal:

And a flyer: 

And also some Long-tailed Ducks, including one whose expression seemed quite imperious:

It was a fine day out. I'm glad I went.