Portrait of a cove

I have been spending my days mapping the cove in a not so conventional manner. Inch by inch, looking at the four corners of each tidal pool, or splash pool in some cases, from three to six inches below the surface. Under the pier, under the ice, under the kelp, under rain and wind. I went back to it today after a brief break due to a series of small swells passing through that made life on the icy sloping rock even more dangerous. The last of the ice pushed through and has now melted except for one lone piece that has shrunk to the size of a beach ball. In the past days it was a constant companion sitting like a guard at the boat launch. New ice hasn't shown its face now in days. I miss these exotic visitors and await their return.