ohio

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The still of the wetlands

Posted by Photonstopper on March 13, 2016
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Photo: Sheldon Marsh - Wetland Panorama. Photo by James Guilford.

Sheldon Marsh – Wetland Panorama

A favorite place of ours and of many actual birders is Sheldon Marsh, a spit of land that extends from the south shore of Lake Erie in Huron, Ohio. A paved pathway runs from the parking lot nearly to the beach – a protected natural area. The preserved environment serves as a place for migrating birds to rest and refuel, and as permanent residence for others. With little breeze Sunday, the open water areas were mirror-smooth. It was pleasant to once again hear the sounds of birds from the still-bare trees. Canada Geese occasionally had raucous disagreements and small flights of Mallard Ducks could be heard “squeaking” overhead. Heard from surrounding brush were Red Winged Blackbirds with their raspy and warbling calls. Downy and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers could also be seen and heard. Now the wetlands just south of the lake are relatively still, though the population and activity will steadily rise as spring and its birds return.

A Mink, I think

Posted by Photonstopper on February 10, 2016
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Photo: Mink carrying a fish. Photo by James Guilford.

Emerging from the Grass with a Prize!

We paid a mid-winter visit to Lorain Metro Parks’ wonderful Sandy Ridge Reservation on Saturday, February 6. Usually, when we visit the wetland area, we are treated to an abundance of waterfowl and other birds. Indeed, we saw plenty of Canada Geese, Mallard Ducks, and even a rather clumsy Red Tail Hawk (more on this one soon).

Photo: Mink running on earthen path. Photo by James Guilford.

A Little Jog on the Path

The only resident mammals we generally see at Sandy Ridge are Gray Squirrels and assorted Chipmunks, though we certainly have seen some signs of Beaver activity! This day was different. We stopped on the path out of courtesy to a fellow photographer who was staring at the grass at the edge of the path. We watched to see what he was looking for and suddenly there was a stirring in the brush.

Photo: Mink heads into grass with fish. Photo by James Guilford.

Heading Home with the Goods

Out popped a long, dark brown, very wet critter who quickly loped on to and across the sandy path, then into the grass on the opposite side! It was carrying something … a fish! And that was it. Gathering some groceries was a Mink, I think!

January sunset

Posted by Photonstopper on January 23, 2016
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Photo: Orange Sunset. Photo by James Guilford.

Brilliant Sunset in the Cold Skies of January

This one happened fast! Minutes earlier a layer of clouds promised to add interest to the scene but as the sun sank the clouds disappeared. The sky close to the horizon turned orange and, to my eye, showed a bit of green as well! I quickly got set up in the 20-degree evening air and missed the full disk of the sun. I did get this piece of old Sol but the next exposure showed only a dot. Then no sun, only a beautiful glow. Even the glow faded fast!

A lighthouse without a light?

Posted by Photonstopper on December 15, 2015
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Photo: Vermilion (Ohio) Lighthouse with holiday wreaths. Photo by James Guilford.

Vermilion Lighthouse Decorated for Holidays

It sounds crazy, a lighthouse without a light, but it’s true. The lovely little landmark on the shores of Lake Erie in Vermilion, Ohio is a 34-foot “private navigational aid” with a lineage that reaches back to the 1800s.

The original wooden tower was replaced in about 1877 with a steel structure and stood as a warning to sailors until 1929. The tower was seen to be in danger of falling over and so was promptly removed. A valued piece of scenery, a reminder of Vermilion’s history was gone.

Members of the community put together enough funds that in 1991, construction of a new lighthouse was commissioned for the city. The light, with a Fresnel lens installed, was dedicated on June 6, 1992. For many years a steady red beacon shined out over the lake until fate stepped in again. The lens, owned by the Inland Seas Maritime Museum that shares the shoreline property with the little lighthouse, was removed when the museum closed up shop recently and moved to Toledo.

The treasured lighthouse is now dark.

Citizens have formed a Lighthouse Preservation Committee, dedicated to preservation and upkeep of the Vermilion Lighthouse and central to their mission: replacement of the Fresnel lens and return of light to the lighthouse.

Here’s hoping the coming year brings quick success as the Committee seeks to raise $40,500 for a new lens!

Donations can be mailed, payable to:

Main Street Vermilion
Attn: Lighthouse Preservation Committee
685 Main Street
Vermilion, OH 44089

Note: Online donation is possible but I did not see a way to earmark donations for the lighthouse project.

Main Street Vermilion
http://www.mainstreetvermilion.org

 

Blast from the past!

Posted by Photonstopper on December 5, 2015
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Photo: Antique photo of family and their home in War Eagle, Arkansas.

Mother Guilford’s Brother John & Wife

Spending a cold and cloudy Saturday trying to declutter, I came across a couple of antique photographs I’d nearly forgotten about. Lost in stacks of documents, the two pictures represent points of history, my family’s history (apparently), in Ohio and in Arkansas! On the back of the mounted “Mother Guilford” photo is the handwritten inscription: “this is Mother Guilford’s bro. John + wife at their home in War Eagle. Ark. Benton Co.” I didn’t know I had relatives in Arkansas but it looks like quite a family in this picture, filling the front porch!

Antique Photo: Big Locust Farm, Delta, Ohio, April 15, 1903

Big Locust Farm, Delta, Ohio

The second image, labeled “Big Locust Farm” was taken April 15, 1903, according to a handwritten note. The printed label reads, “Big Locust Farm, Capt. J.J. Waffle, R.F.D., No. 3  / Delta, O. /  Phone — Via Wauseon 5 rings on Winameg line.” I don’t know if Capt. Waffle was any relation to me nor do I know if he was the subject of the photo (with two other folks) or the photographer! Capt. Waffle would be a good name for a kids’ sweetened breakfast food.

So far these are the most valuable artifacts I’ve uncovered in my efforts this day. Mostly, I uncovered dust.

Sunsets on my mind

Posted by Photonstopper on November 8, 2015
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Photo: Streaked clouds in approaching sunset. Photo by James Guilford.

Not All Sunsets Start Out Brilliantly – November 6

For a couple of days, weather conditions were perfect at the hour of sunset for spectacular sights. The first time it happened, all I could do is admire the color-fringed clouds through a line of trees at the end of our street; sunset colors, once they peak, disappear but fast!

Photo: November sunset illuminates horizon and clouds overhead. Photo by James Guilford.

Became a Spectacular Sunset – Through a Window – November 6

It happened again the next night (Friday, November 6) and again surprised me! Wouldn’t you know, I was in the middle of something and unable to throw together my gear and drive to a nearby clear vantage point! The best I could do is grab my trusty iPad and shoot images through a window. Still in all, I got a pretty amazing picture out of it.

Photo: Clear skies overhead, brilliant colors below. Photo by James Guilford.

Sunset Clarity – November 7

Not to be “fooled” a third time, I watched the western sky carefully as sunset approached Saturday night. When conditions began to look ripe for another beautiful scene, I was out the door with camera and tripod in hand! Standing in the chill breeze, I watched as the color built and the sky grew cold. No, no color-fringed clouds overhead, just the deep blue of an evening sky with some gray clouds dotting the velvet background.

Photo: Rain streamers falling from a cloud against sunset light. Photo by James Guilford.

Sunset Streamers – 6:12 PM – November 7

Saturday’s pictures turned out pretty and it was a beautiful sight to behold, just not the breathtaking beauty of Thursday … the one I missed, or Friday … the iPad/window shot. As I packed my gear into the back of the car in the gathering darkness of nightfall, I looked to the southwest. Near the horizon I saw rain streamers — shadowy streaks — beneath a cloud with sunset oranges in the background. I quickly set up again and got what I could of the drifting cloud, now out of optimal position. The exposure was long but the shot was pretty good — super moody — anyway.

So I’ve sunsets on my mind and, as you might suspect, I’ll be checking the sky every evening for quite some time hoping to not let the good ones get away unrecorded.

Sorry to see the leaves leave

Posted by Photonstopper on October 27, 2015
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Photo: Sun Sinks behind Line of Trees. Photo by James Guilford.

Sun Sinks behind Line of Trees

Hillsides mounded with brilliantly colored trees are quickly fading to brown, and only a few days after reaching peak fall color. Today the skies were gray with increasing clouds, muting what hues remain. Drifts of fallen foliage litter streets and sidewalks. Tonight and tomorrow wind-driven rain is expected, promising to strip trees of their robes. Winter is still a month off and fall, it seems, was too briefly here. We’re sorry to see the leaves leave.

Cloud Watching… it’s Saturday, after all!

Posted by Photonstopper on September 5, 2015
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Photo: Storm cloud over Lake Erie with speed boat heading out. Photo by James Guilford.

Canadian Storm Developed a Halo as it Weakened

I spent a happy, lazy morning watching a thunderhead bloom and disperse from the shores of Lake Erie. I’d seen a very photogenic cloud developing over my area earlier in the day but was not in a position to get a good shot — we’re at a high elevation here but there are obstructions everywhere blocking the view! So after grocery shopping I headed for the lakefront. As I drew closer to the lake, I could see there was an interesting cloud blowing up in the distance. Fortunately, the far away storm developed slowly, allowing me to reach the lake and even change location. I started out in Bay Village, and finished my vigil on the fishing pier in Avon Lake. As the storm began to weaken, it stretched out over the water and even developed a halo! Checking weather radar I learned the storm was all the way across Lake Erie on the southern shores of Canada! A pleasant morning of cloud watching indeed and why not, it’s Saturday, after all!

Image: Weather Radar

The Cloud I was Watching? It was a storm in Canada! (circled)

Time to come in….

Posted by Photonstopper on July 29, 2015
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Photo: Man wading in lake as a storm approaches. Photo by James Guilford.

Time To Come In

My timing worked out perfectly again this evening! I had been watching on radar as an approaching line of storms ran  along a cold front hoping for another opportunity for dramatic weather photography. On a hunch I climbed into the car after dinner and headed to the Lake Erie shoreline at Bay Village, Ohio. No sooner did I arrive at the parking lot and start the short hike to the shore than I spotted it… an amazing, thin line of clouds known as a gust front approaching from the west. I shot a good number of photos of the clouds but adding to the image was a man standing nearly waist-deep in the water as the weather approached. Yes, there was a little lightning and thunder and yes, he should have gotten out of the lake as his relative urged from the shore. Time to come in! Fortunately the wader escaped harm. Behind the gust front I could see the effects of the, well, gusts: the lake water was darkening as wind-driven waves formed. The rain, this time, did not drive me from my perch but had the courtesy to begin after I was safely back in my car.

Great Egret walking

Posted by Photonstopper on July 25, 2015
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Photo: Great Egret walking on fallen tree trunk. Photo by James Guilford.

Great Egret Walking

We made a quick visit to the Old Woman Creek State Nature Preserve in Huron. Watching for bird activity at the estuary we were treated to sights of a Great Egret fishing from the trunk of a fallen tree. The big bird, one of five we could see from our vantage, caught only a few small fish before taking flight; this shot was made only a few moments before takeoff. As you can see in this tightly-cropped image, the egret had been banded. From the Ohio Division of Natural Resources website: “Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve is part of a network of 28 coastal reserves connected nationally through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to address state and regional coastal management needs through research, education, and stewardship. The National Estuarine Research Reserve System uses its network of living laboratories to help understand and find solutions to crucial issues facing America’s coastal communities.”