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Coaxing Spring
You can feel the chill in these photos of bluebirds, beaver-ravaged landscapes and ingeniously dammed streams, bare branches waiting for their spring clothing, busy salamanders scooting under and over the dead leaves choking cold pools.
But spring is in the works. The salamanders prove it. But you can feel a certain yearning in the sun and air for late winter to release its grip and let the growing season burst forth.
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Late February, Late Afternoon
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What do they put in this stuff?
Along with the bluebirds, pileated woodpeckers have shown an interest in the suet this year. We had one come once or twice years ago, but this one — part of a family of the majestic birds that frequent the dead ash trees out back — seems quite interested.
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Bluebirds?
We’ve seen bluebirds very rarely in the 24 years we’ve lived here. For some reason, this year we’ve had 3 or 4 pairs take up residence over the last several weeks, eating at the bird feeder. I thought you needed mealworms to attract these lovely creatures, but it seems peanut flavored suet is enough.
The bluebird is New York’s state bird. I so enjoy these small, fluffy bursts of color in an otherwise drab setting.
My daughter took the picture above, as well as this next one:
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Late winter, or early spring?
It was an exercise in perspective in the woods yesterday. On the one hand, there was no new growth, and very few birds around. But on the other hand, it was well above freezing… though whether in the high 40s or low 50s, I’m not sure.
Still, last week, it looked like this:
So I’ve decided to go with early spring.
Not far in, we came upon a large bird blind that suggested what it might be like to be put in the stocks.
The light created contrasts of all kinds and gave this grove an enchanted feel.
I’ve never noticed quite so much debris from the spruces on the forest floor — “evergreen,” though no longer attached to the trees.
Inviting benches were scattered at various points…
…and chilly looking streams.
Though we didn’t see much, venturing out, stopping now and then to listen, and remembering the many previous walks on these trails brought the usual nourishment. It may not be spring proper yet, but the sense of breaking out of my indoor habits of mind and body felt wonderful. And those bits of green moss on rocks and stumps foreshadow the burst of spring growth that’s drawing nearer with each passing, lengthening day.
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Backyard Drama
What a story I witnessed this week as I rose from working at the kitchen table and glanced out the window.
A Cooper’s hawk was wrestling a starling to the death. By the time I looked out, the starling was motionless as the hawk pressed down with its talons, patiently squeezing out its life. Eventually it started plucking out beaksfull of feathers in preparation for its meal.
But as I turned away, I heard the starling start screeching. Looking out, I was astonished to see it fighting back against the startled hawk. This is an unfocused picture, but it gives the general sense of it:
Even more shockingly, after a few moments, the Cooper actually gave up and flew into a tree. The starling flew into a different tree. Then out of the corner of my eye, I saw a mound of reddish fur in the back corner of the yard: a fox, watching curiously. It came out across the lawn and investigated the scene of struggle.
It probably saved the starling’s life, attracted by the uproar and appearing at just that moment. I’m not sure whether the bird will survive whatever wounds it sustained, but the sight of such a remarkable string of events was an amazing gift.
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Preserve in fall
Bringing a dog along always heightens the enthusiasm level of a nature walk. But Lucy wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the great outdoors at the university nature preserve yesterday.
My daughter and I encountered numerous other explorers despite the college’s fall break — people like us, soaking in the color and warmth as winter looms not far around the corner.
A light breeze rippled the water’s surface. Wood ducks and geese floated further off, out of the field of view, avoiding the paparazzi.
We often see little stacks of rocks, tree trunks with initials carved into them, and letter boxes or painted rocks in the woods. I decided to make my own little tribute with the leaves I couldn’t resist picking up, but didn’t have any purpose for if I took them home. Here they are, all lined up for their class picture.
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Marsh Walk
My daughters and I, and our dog Lucy, took a walk into a marsh we haven’t visited in years. The bird blind that used to be a unique feature was closed for safety issues, but a new trail wound to a different perspective on the pond, then into a golden wood that thoroughly enchanted us.
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Buttermilk Falls in Peak Week
Someone told me awhile back that I should include videos on my nature blog. So here’s one: a pan of Buttermilk Falls, in Ithaca.
It might seem strange to film a waterfall. But it provides some context for the gallery that follows: brilliant sunlight and blue sky; vivid leaves; a sense of heights, depths, and distance; and the sound of water perpetually falling. By now, after hard rain a few days ago, there is probably more rushing water — and fewer leaves. We were grateful to be able to get there at the beginning of the week, on the perfect October day.
We hiked up the Gorge Trail — about a mile long, hugging the stream and ascending steeply (475′) up numerous stone staircases beside numerous waterfalls. (This video is taken beside the first one.) At the top, we crossed to the Rim Trail and walked back down through some woods, with little glimpses of the gorge through the trees from time to time. It’s a little more gradual, but you feel the relentless descent in the backs of the legs by the end.
Here’s one more: a view from within the shade of the gorge.
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Colors and more colors
Lovely walk in a nearby nature preserve as the leaves approach their peak.
