Very early this morning I started thinking it would be a good day to take a walk in the woods. Whatever else is wrong with where we live, there is a lot of green space. Just because we don't dare go into most of it, even on the trails with a big black dog, doesn't mean it isn't there.
However this morning I thought I would take the camera and go visit Thorn Creek Woods, where I have had some interesting interactions with deer in the past.
Alas, dogs are NOT allowed. This is Thorn Creek woods. There is a creek that runs through it and it extends for several miles beyond where the paths and trails go. I really was looking for deer. By the time I got there it was just daylight, but the real light had not penetrated yet. The leaves are turning and, as you can see have fallen, but there are still a lot left on the trees.
I tried very hard to be quiet. I was accompanied by some birds -- I am not good at identifying birds as you will learn, but these were clearly warning everyone that Evil was afoot. It was quite annoying. Even had they not been along, try as I might, I probably sounded like the Cavalry, with their thudding hooves and creaking leather, jingly spurs and bits (altho I do not think their spurs were the kind that jingled) and the occasional snort and whinny sounded to the silent Indians...
Anyway there were some interesting things along the way even without the deer.
And of course, I took photos of it all.
I am sparing you a great many. There were strange leaves and interesting mushrooms and a very few flowers left.
And this tree trunk.
Now I had taken the trail marked WOODLAND TRAIL 1 1/4 miles. I am old and I am fat and I have arthritis and I was going slow. I could hear, now and then, twigs popping. There were squirrels dropping nuts and of course my personal escort of screaming birds (I think they are woodpeckers.)
I crossed the Creek (I assume it is Thorn Creek) on this wonderful bridge. I don't know who built it but it looks like something a group of Basset Hounds would put together. There were still frogs in the creek, which fled with little "crrk" noises and a plop into the water, so they must have been on the bank. I looked, and of course, great outdoorswoman that I am, saw nothing...
Continued on the path in utter silence. Even the birds had abandoned me.
I was still being very cautious and quiet but my neck was starting to hurt from the weight of the camera (it is not small) and my hip was starting to hurt as well.
I had seen no deer sign on the path, but it is
very dry. When I was out in the spring it was wet and there were deer prints in the soil in spots and even some deer poop but I saw nothing. A twig would snap off in the distance, or an acorn would crack into the ground from forty feet up. Nothing.
Squirrels laughed.
And I began thinking that I had taken the 2 mile trail. (I am not a hiker). I had one lens in a pocket and the other on the camera, my cell phone and the car keys. John was asleep when I left and I just left a note, but it didn't say where I was. And here I was, thirsty, needing to pee, with squirrels giggling and throwing acorns at me. They even sent a chipmunk to distract me and I sat immobile for five minutes, waiting for it to re-appear before I discovered that it had a whole network of hollow, fallen trees and was down the slope from me about a block away. I really kind of gave up. I had been standing in one spot, seriously, waiting for the chipmunk and I sighed and shifted the camera and started on, looking up--
And there it was. In the spring they are redder, easier to see. I watched it's tail as I sloooowly brought the camera up and focused and could see the tail slowly rising. I took the photo. I took two. The tail flicked up, the deer turned but slowly, flipped it's tail at me and slid off into the brush. I took three steps and another, smaller deer tail flashed behind me. There had been two. I don't know enough about deer to know when their antlers fall but this one had none.
After that there were no more deer at all. Well I take that back, I saw one more tail further down the path.
I managed to get back partway. I knew I was near the trail end when I saw the brick back of the church next door to the Nature Center. And then I saw the birds!
One of the woodpeckers that had been following me (I think) and warning all the woods that I was about. And.......................
The Thrush. I am not sure what kind of thrush it is. If anyone knows, please email me. I think it is a Hermit Thrush which I have seen out there before (my bird book had a marker there) and if it is and I have a positive ID, then it is a life bird. It may also be a Veery, or a Wood Thrush.
Here's a better one.
Let me know.
The dogs, Cooper especially, are not speaking to me. I went hiking without them. Ignoring me, they are out sunning..
