Warm weather and word of snowy owl sightings mere miles from
the Pond led me to set aside the daily routine yesterday afternoon and embark
on an adventure.
Close by Pine Point Park offered as good an opportunity as
any for a glimpse of this awe-inspiring avian.
My destination was the open
prairie that bookends each side of the South
Pond. Hiking towards the fields, I was
drawn, per usual, to the iced over water. It had been some time since I’d
traversed the southerly section so a detour
seemed like a good idea. The topography here is different from Bon Bon
Pond—i.e. more evergreens and the bank is not nearly as steep—yet stunning in
its own unique way. I was struck by the number
of fallen hardwoods and awed by their artistry, grace and significance to
woodland creatures. Even in death, I consider trees sacred sentinels, heaven sent
to protect and serve the wildlife.
In an earlier post, I had put up pictures of deceased oaks
around Bon Bon Pond, but the forest sculptures of the south are even more
extraordinary. Larger and more ornate, I
was spellbound by their beauty.
The sounds of the South Pond are also dissimilar. While the
woods of Bon Bon Pond are boisterous, bursting with bird calls, here there is peaceful
silence. Sitting still on a stump for
nearly half an hour, the single voice of a White-breasted Nuthatch was all that
invaded my solitude.
Alas, I have no snowy owl sightings to share for my efforts,
but photos and memories of a day well spent visiting with my lovely “neighbor”
and marveling in her majesty.
Some very nice photographs. I love tree photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us share your journal.
Thanks, Gene, for the nice words, as well as for stopping by!
ReplyDelete