Though the weather was far from cooperative, J and I took two hikes today. First we covered the familiar uphill trail, with it's messy brush piles and colorful assortment of mushrooms (some of which I'll share here tomorrow).
An hour later the sky began to clear and we set off across the street, skirting
this field and heading into
these woods. These are trail-less woods (though that will be changing soon as the acreage is now in a land trust). Woods awash in green, wild, shady, moss-covered, and river-filled woods that both frighten and awe me whenever I visit them.
These are woods that keep the secrets of their inhabitants. We come across not just one but three dead birds like this, arrangements of fading feathers and decaying bones.
And what looks like an animal den, though I didn't notice any tracks. I didn't get very close to the entrance, either.
I was disappointed to find that the downhill trail isn't home to as many mushrooms as the uphill trail behind the house. It's an entirely different micro-climate, and perhaps even the change in elevation makes a difference.
Someone's nibbled this fresh green pine cone like sweet corn.
Looking up through the branches of an enormous white pine. There are some giant trees down here, but sadly these woods won't escape logging for much longer.
Nature fells her own trees. This one's probably a victim of
last winter's ice storm.
Around the next bend, an exciting find — a jumble of porcupine quills, a few of which I pick up and stash in my pocket. What happened here, and did the porcupine survive?
It was extremely humid and somewhat dark in the woods, and the mosquitoes were
relentless, landing on my fingers and face as soon as I stopped moving. It was a difficult combination for photography, but we plan to come down here again soon in better light (and wearing lots of bug spray).
Seeing the river rushing over rocks and past moss-covered embankments is the highlight of heading downhill.
After about an hour we emerge, and the bright field welcomes us.
The camera lens also fogs up immediately.
We pass a matted down place in the grass where animals must sleep - deer, I suspect.
And as we head back home there's blue sky above us, just briefly.
An hour later the sky began to clear and we set off across the street, skirting this field and heading into these woods. These are trail-less woods (though that will be changing soon as the acreage is now in a land trust). Woods awash in green, wild, shady, moss-covered, and river-filled woods that both frighten and awe me whenever I visit them.
These are woods that keep the secrets of their inhabitants. We come across not just one but three dead birds like this, arrangements of fading feathers and decaying bones.
And what looks like an animal den, though I didn't notice any tracks. I didn't get very close to the entrance, either.
I was disappointed to find that the downhill trail isn't home to as many mushrooms as the uphill trail behind the house. It's an entirely different micro-climate, and perhaps even the change in elevation makes a difference.
Someone's nibbled this fresh green pine cone like sweet corn.
Looking up through the branches of an enormous white pine. There are some giant trees down here, but sadly these woods won't escape logging for much longer.
Nature fells her own trees. This one's probably a victim of last winter's ice storm.
Around the next bend, an exciting find — a jumble of porcupine quills, a few of which I pick up and stash in my pocket. What happened here, and did the porcupine survive?
It was extremely humid and somewhat dark in the woods, and the mosquitoes were relentless, landing on my fingers and face as soon as I stopped moving. It was a difficult combination for photography, but we plan to come down here again soon in better light (and wearing lots of bug spray).
Seeing the river rushing over rocks and past moss-covered embankments is the highlight of heading downhill.
After about an hour we emerge, and the bright field welcomes us.
The camera lens also fogs up immediately.
We pass a matted down place in the grass where animals must sleep - deer, I suspect.
And as we head back home there's blue sky above us, just briefly.
12 comments:
Love your walks and all that you share.
Katelen
Wonderful pictures...
A lovely walk. Thank you. (And what will you do with those quills? I wish I had porcupines here!)
Melanie--I am wondering if it looks like this right outside your door or do you have to walk fairly far to find these woods? I guess I am just trying to get a "feel" for your surroundings (tract neighborhood, country with acreage, etc.) Also, when I worked for the county a few summers ago as a trapper (of bugs) we were really "worried" about West Nile Virus and also Exotic Newcastle Disease. We were supposed to alert people to dead birds, etc. Do you think any of these birds might have been victims or did it look just like natural causes? It seems odd to see J all covered up with hat and long sleeves. Is it cool or just for bug protection? I could be naked here every day and it would be too much clothing!
Beautiful photos!
i loved sharing this hike vicariously, m. ~kept expecting to see elves and goblins...possibly a hobbit.
What a misty/mystical hike. I was going to go all clever and tell you that a porcupine most likely had eaten the pine cone...not so clever, as i see porcupine quills several pictures further down. The dead bird looks like a very young hawk...if all three look like this, they don't appear to have been predated by anything, so may have fallen from the nest in a storm or premature attempt to fly. Very sad...as is the thought that these woods may be logged.
The porcupine quills have gone into our 'cabinet of curiosities" along with robin's egg shells, bird nests, chunks of deer hair...
Teri, yes, these woods are just across the street and through a field. It's very rural here with acres of woods, some hay fields. Only about 700 people in the whole town I think. As for West Nile, I suppose it's possible but at first we assumed these were wild turkeys that had been hunted by coyote. There are packs of them in these woods. J was definitely covered up for the bugs (as was I with a hood and everything). He was even wearing shoes this time! Temperature-wise I was overheated, but the mosquitoes would have sucked me dry otherwise.
Well, quiltcat that was still clever because I didn't know porcupines ate pine cones, lol! As for the birds, two (like the one pictured) were close to each other in thick woods not far from the field and road. We originally assumed they may have been young turkey, hunted by coyote (both numerous down there) but I don't know...The third was further in the woods not far from the river. A different kind of bird that I want to go back down and look at again (if I can find it). Although I'm not sure when we'll have any daylight time at home during the work week... and I am most definitely not going down there alone!
n2theblue, elves and goblins wouldn't surprise me down there.
The effect of the fog on the lens is wonderful, moody and enlightening at the same time.
That den, could it be for fox? If its not being lived in now, you may want to check again early next spring, when it might be populated with little ones. If you can't tell by prints, you will by the musky smell-- the not so nice characteristic of what is otherwise a beautiful animal.
Thanks Brian,
It could absolutely be fox. Next time I'm down there (this coming weekend, maybe) I'll get a little closer...
Wow, these photos are fabulous! I especially love the shot of the flowing creek. These photos remind me of hiking in the Smokies. I suddenly have an urge to go hiking in the woods!
Wow! That is a beautiful blue sky!
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