There are times in our lives when we choose the hard way despite easier paths being available. That happened earlier this month with Sherman.
In some of the parts where we roam, there has been some timbering and excavation activity. The digging had changed the shortcut that Sherman used to take down a hill. There is a less challenging way to descend. However, Sherman remained set in his ways and chose the hard way down.
I too, was set in my ways and learned a lesson the hard way recently. Rain and darker skies led me to not carry all of my camera equipment one day earlier this month. I figured that I would not see anything on such a dreary day. I did have a camera with me, but not with the zoom lens. Low and behold, when we arrived at the neighbor's pond there were waterfowl that I had not seen before.
I snapped a photo or two, but the ducks were too far away. Luckily, some folks on a birding Facebook page were able to identify the winged visitors as hooded mergansers. Lesson learned the hard way; I should have just packed the lens and left the regrets behind.
In some of the parts where we roam, there has been some timbering and excavation activity. The digging had changed the shortcut that Sherman used to take down a hill. There is a less challenging way to descend. However, Sherman remained set in his ways and chose the hard way down.
I too, was set in my ways and learned a lesson the hard way recently. Rain and darker skies led me to not carry all of my camera equipment one day earlier this month. I figured that I would not see anything on such a dreary day. I did have a camera with me, but not with the zoom lens. Low and behold, when we arrived at the neighbor's pond there were waterfowl that I had not seen before.
I snapped a photo or two, but the ducks were too far away. Luckily, some folks on a birding Facebook page were able to identify the winged visitors as hooded mergansers. Lesson learned the hard way; I should have just packed the lens and left the regrets behind.
I did have my zoom lens handy for capturing a Cooper's hawk that has been hanging around.
An Eastern phoebe that had returned to the neighbor's pond this spring was kind enough to pause for a photo.
A red-tailed hawk was showing off its soaring skills on a sunny day earlier this month.
A clear blue sky provided an excellent backdrop for a photo.
Several hermit thrushes have returned to the surrounding woodlands.
They led me through quite a trek through the forest trying to get a good photo.
A clear blue sky provided an excellent backdrop for a photo.
Several hermit thrushes have returned to the surrounding woodlands.
They led me through quite a trek through the forest trying to get a good photo.
   | Much to my delight, a pair of mallards had returned to the pond. They have tried to nest there before. However they had a rough go of it with all the predators that visit the area. Hopefully, they will be able to find a safe and secure nest location this go around. Other winged creatures out and about this past week included Eastern comma butterflies. There have been several spotted delighting in the sunny warmer days. I have also viewed many mourning cloak butterflies. However, a lot of them were cooperative enough to pose for a good photo. Of course, it did not help that several canine companions kept charging through the shots. Nonetheless, one butterfly decided to tease me by landing on my shoulder. Earlier this month, the cold kept the frogs in hiding. Nonetheless, I did locate some wood frogs in a vernal pool that would let me nab some photos. |
     |  I do think they may have been too busy with mating and mating calls to pay attention to much of anything else. However, in just a matter of days climbing temperatures in addition to sunny days, had the rest of the frogs including bullfrogs hopping out to enjoy the weather. Just as the warmer and sunnier weather brought the frogs out, it also seemed to have made the flowers burst forth. Daffodils opened overnight. The catkins on my hybrid pussywillow bloomed. Crocuses sprung forth from the grass. A lot of the trailing arbutus plants weren't quite open yet. However, warmer weather sped up the process and a few blooms were visible.  |
Although I learned the hard way that the sunshine can have a dark side. I was using the lens ball to try to capture some of the sunny scenes. I had placed the glass ball on a stump. While I was trying to focus the camera, I began to smell smoke. Confused, I looked around.
Then to my surprise the stump was smoldering.
Apparently, the spring sun is quite strong.
Then to my surprise the stump was smoldering.
Apparently, the spring sun is quite strong.
The glass ball magnified it and started to scorch the dry wood. Thankfully, I caught in time and made sure there was no residual fire. The lens ball was then safely returned to the darkness of my backpack.
I additionally learned a hard lesson about being in the dark. Trying to cope without electricity for a couple of days was almost painful.
Looking at the reports, I was definitely not the only one left in the dark. It did amaze me at how there was light in the sunset on April 1 and that seemed to be the only thing glowing after the storms.
That's just the nature of things 'round here.
Looking at the reports, I was definitely not the only one left in the dark. It did amaze me at how there was light in the sunset on April 1 and that seemed to be the only thing glowing after the storms.
That's just the nature of things 'round here.
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