spring

All posts tagged spring

Our fine feathered friends

Posted by Photonstopper on April 27, 2013
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Photo: Barn Swallow. Photo by James Guilford.

Lovely Barn Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) posing for his picture!

On a lark (impending pun intended) we set off to visit the Magee Marsh Wildlife Area today. It was a gorgeous, sunny day making travel, then walking the trail, a pleasure. Magee Marsh is a birder’s hot-spot due to the large protected wooded wetland set along the south shores of Lake Erie. It is a perfect spot for migratory birds to rest and refuel before or after their non-stop flights over the Great Lake. In the wildlife area, through bird songs were delightfully the dominant sounds around, we saw no exotic avian visitors. We caught a glimpse of a large bird, possibly an immature Bald Eagle, as it winged past — too much of a surprise for me to catch via camera. We did enjoy the color and the amazing aerobatics of the colorful resident Barn Swallows. One posed for a portrait, shown here. Most beautiful, though not pictured, were the many, many Great Egrets we saw in wet areas all around the area. We do admire our fine feathered friends!

Beauty above, danger below

Posted by Photonstopper on April 26, 2013
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Photo: Pond in Spring. Photo by James Guilford.

Like a Painting: The Pond in Spring

I visited the Alderfer-Oenslager Wildlife Sanctuary of the Medina County Park System this afternoon, seeking the season’s first dragonflies. None were to be seen there. It was, however, a splendid afternoon for a little stroll around the grounds and it’s not like nothing else was worth looking at! The ponds were fairly still and alive with the ripples caused by likely thousands of water-striding insects milling about, doubtless seeking mates. The first lily pads floated, soaking up the day’s sunshine while others could be seen stretching up from beneath the surface. Wriggling amongst the reeds and algae near waters’ edge were hundreds of tadpoles, somehow sensing my presence and quickly hiding. And oh, what’s that, lying in wait for the careless passing fish or tadpole? A medium-sized snapping turtle sat in the mud, barely submerged and barely exposed. The pond may display quiet beauty above, but there’s danger below!

My dragonflies? Oh, they’re likely crawling around underwater in their nymph phase: a terrifying aquatic insect (if you’re a small critter they might find tasty) and will emerge in due course, um, to stalk the skies.

Photo: Snapping Turtle. Photo by James Guilford.

Danger Below!

Earth Day: Layers

Posted by Photonstopper on April 23, 2013
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Photo: Layers of earth, water, air make a world. Photo by James Guilford.

Earth Day: All living things on Earth are part of the continuum of layers that make up the planet. The survival of entire species (including humans) depends upon at least one,
usually more,of those layers remaining intact, viable.
It is a beautiful planet, a beautiful system. Let’s keep it that way.

On my way to where I need to be

Posted by Photonstopper on April 9, 2013
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Photo: Geese on a still lake. Photo by James Guilford.

A Place of Their Own

On my way to where I need to be, I try and look around. We are surrounded by everyday beauty and wonders. We see only a tiny fraction of what is offered us though it is all present; if only we would slow down. Look. Listen. Feel. This morning I paused to take in the first of the day’s light falling across the cold, still waters of shallow Baldwin Lake. Canada Geese were standing in shallow water streaming over a small dam. They watched me carefully and, judging I presented a possible danger, pushed off and into open water. Still water turned silver, reflecting the open morning sky. The geese had the lake, a place of their own. I had to move along, though I already was where I needed to be.

Sunday morning at the heronry

Posted by Photonstopper on April 7, 2013
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Photo: Great Blue Heron with twigs. Photo by James Guilford.

Returning from with nesting materials this Great Blue Heron turns into the wind.

This morning we paid a visit to the heron rookery, or heronry, to see how the Great Blue Herons were getting on with their nest building. This particular communal nesting area is within the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, at the north end of Akron. It was a fine, warm, spring day with large patches of milky clouds floating in a pale blue sky. A strong breeze flowed from the west-southwest and we could see the big birds struggling, at times, to control their landings high in the naked tree branches.

Photo: Great Blue Heron in flight. Photo by James Guilford.

Hard turn across the wind exposes this big bird wingtip to wingtip.

The bright cloud layers made many of our photographs into silhouettes; working with that was difficult but a few nice images emerged. Still, my personal favorite shots of the day were pictures that showed off the size, power, and primitive beauty of the herons — possibly my favorite birds to watch and photograph.

Photo: Great Blue Heron with trees in background. Photo by James Guilford.

Flying up from the ground beneath the heronry trees, this bird returns with his prize.

Unexpected treats

Posted by Photonstopper on March 25, 2013
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Photo: Snow-covered tree against dark treeline. Photo by James Guilford.

Dull morning light reveals a snow-flocked tree.

We’re nearly one week into spring, says the calendar, and today we received about four inches of very wet snow. Yep. Lots of wet snow. On the one hand, most of us are kind of tired of looking at it, much less dealing with the slipping, sliding, and shoveling. Then again, it can be very pretty.

Photo: Dark road surrounded by snow-covered trees. Photo by James Guilford.

It was hard to keep driving.

Driving this morning was actually a pleasure. I took the most scenic route I know of to get to my destination. It was very tempting to stop every five minutes and take it all in. I did not stop every five minutes but I did stop several times, right in the road, to shoot photos from inside the car. I would make an exposure, look into the rear-view mirror which (I swear) seconds before was clear, only to find a car approaching, pushing me forward. The only real stop I made was at the Strongsville Wildlife Area where I hoped to see dark water surrounded by snow-flocked trees. I got a surprise. After spying on the Canada geese squabbling on the chilled waters, I turned to the left and, from inside the observation blind, was shocked to see a Great Egret standing only a few feet away. I had only my little PowerShot G11 with me and its operation is as near-silent as can be. Still, the great white bird allowed one photo, then took wing. I’ll bet that’s the same bird I spotted last summer. I’ll get ‘im yet!

Photo: Great Egret fishing snowy pond. Photo by James Guilford.

Not a Snowy Egret but a Great Egret in the Snow!

The snow didn’t stick to the trees for long and later in the day, despite continuing spits of new snow, their branches were bare and dark. We may be ready for spring but we need to be ready for unexpected treats.

Welcome, uh, Spring?

Posted by Photonstopper on March 21, 2013
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Photo: Icy scene on the first day of spring. Photo by James Guilford.

Welcome, uh, Spring?

Today was the first day after the Vernal Equinox, it could be said to be the first full day of spring. For those of us in Northeastern Ohio, this fine “spring” day dawned with temperatures hovering at about 17 degrees (F) with a light coating of snow everywhere, and new snow lightly falling. Yeah, spring. Driving to my duties, I passed through the snowy spring wonderland gazing at many a lovely scene. Finally I stopped at a favorite place for morning pictures, the Lagoons area of Cleveland Metroparks, to record a scene or two. Dark waters set off snow-covered wooded grounds, and outlined the trees. Falling flakes clouded some distant areas. Amidst this seeming unseasonal scenery was a bit of a surprise. Two Canada Geese launched into the frigid waters to escape my approach and on their backs… a coating of snow. Spring? Well, it hasn’t “sprung” just yet.

Photo: Canada Geese with snowy backs. Photo by James Guilford.

Not Snow Geese, SNOWY geese!