Winter Solstice 2004:

December 21, 8:42 am local time, 12:42 pm GMT

This date - Winter Solstice – is the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, and is the shortest day and the longest night of the year.  On Sable Island the solstice day was windy and wet.  A northwesterly gale, gusting to 35 knots brought rain showers and a temperature of 3°C.  Many thousands of grey seals congregated in their breeding colony on the island’s beaches and dunes, with many more yet to arrive.  Overwintering Ipswich sparrows sheltered in the golden thatch of beach grass and fed on its seeds, and a Northern Mockingbird lingered near the Sable Island Station.

Best wishes for a warm and healthy winter, from Sable Island to all Green Horse Society members.