The wonderful thing about a typical northern Michigan spring thaw is that it reassures us that sooner or later the snow will melt and the world will once again turn green. It certainly doesn’t mean that winter has come to an end. There is plenty of snow and cold in the forecast.

The thaw at the Fish Pond means that the ice begins to retreat, the taller grasses start to reappear, and the wildlife begins to “get in the mood” so to speak. There are lots of ducks around now. Suddenly it seems like there are four or five drakes for every hen. This means there are almost continuous squabbles between the males who chase each other away from hens who look as if they would rather just stay away from the whole mess.

Many of the types of ducks that do not summer here will soon disappear as the larger lakes begin to open up. I actually saw my first Canada Goose of season while driving to town this afternoon. That’s either a sign that temperatures south of here are getting warmer or one mixed up goose.

The neighborhoods new eagles don’t seem to be too worried about hunting these days. Adding to their new nest seems to be their primary concern. This might be a sign that they will soon be sitting on eggs.

Like with every season, there are always loads of new details around the Fish Pond to photograph and enjoy. The kind of things you only notice if you stop and look for them. Interesting formations in the melting ice, and plants beginning to sprout up through the snow.

Don’t put away the winter coat just yet, but feel free to get outside and enjoy the weather. A good brisk walk is a sure cure for cabin fever.

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO:
NOLA SUE SNOW PERKINS - Cancer Victim - Diagnosed June 10, 2010

About the only thing that seems to remain the same at the fish pond is the constant flow of water that makes its way from the hillside springs and stream. Other than the steady sound of water making its way into and out of the pond everything else seems to be in a constant state of evolution and change.

While most change around the pond happens slowly every once in awhile something sudden happens that adds just the right amount of excitement and creates a new opportunity to learn and explore. Sometimes it’s a little thing like the falling of a tree that adds an interesting new light pattern in the woods or provides a new perching spot for the birds. Sometimes it can be something out of the ordinary and unexpected that takes you completely by surprise and adds new life and interest to the entire area. The newest excitement at the pond these days, which falls into the unexpected category, is the appearance of a new set of birds. Eagles to be exact.

Late last fall a new pair of Bald Eagles decided to stake a claim to the area surrounding the Fish Pond. They are not the same pair that I have photographed here in the past. Neither of them appear to be banded like the pair that visits here from their nest 3 or 4 miles away and they are noticeably different in size from that pair. The female of this set is significantly larger than her mate and although I am making my comparisons based on my memory of the older pair I would say she is probably larger than any of the eagles I have seen frequenting here over the years.

Over the winter they have been building a nest near the pond. Whether they actually try to use it remains to be seen and will probably depend on how much can be done to protect them from being disturbed. If they can tolerate the human traffic in the area and if the older pair doesn’t return and drive them off it will be very interesting to watch and study them as they make the fish pond their home and raise their young.

THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO:

LOIS B. LUEB - Fighting Cancer - Diagnosed April 24, 2006

Yeah, yeah I know, you’ve heard me say I plan to update more often and I haven’t actually done so, so I won’t say it again. Sorry about that but to be quite honest I was getting pretty bored with the whole blogging thing. I had three or four of them going at one time, there was very little feedback from readers and newer things seemed to required my attention.

That doesn’t mean that I haven’t visited the pond, I have, on quite a regular basis just not with a camera. It is a place that continues to amaze me almost every time I visit.

Recent events in life have forced me to re-examine many things including the work I do on my blogs. More specifically, my wonderful wife has been diagnosed with lung cancer. I am dedicating the entirety of this blog to her and her very brave and inspiring fight to conquer this disease.

I could probably sit here for hours sharing with you all of the things I’ve learned over the last several months but I’m not a physician and nothing I could say would come close to accurately describing just how devastating and terrible this disease is. The most important things I have learned really have nothing to do with the disease itself. They are lessons about the wonderful and incredibly brave people who fight it, both as patients and as caregivers.

I have no idea of when or how often I will be able do add to this blog in the future but each time I do I will be dedicating each post to a person who is bravely battling, has survived or has fallen victim to cancer.

If there is someone you would like to have included in this blog by way of a post dedication please let me know. I only ask that you have their (or their families) permission to publish their name in the post and that you provide, in addition to their name, their current status and if known date of diagnosis. Dedications will be made in three catagories - Fighting Cancer, Cancer Survivor, Cancer Victim.


THIS BLOG IS DEDICATED TO:
LENORA JOHNSTON - Fighting Cancer - Diagnosed October 1st, 2010

Finally, Something New!

Ok, so I finally made time to head down to the fish pond and sit for awhile. Its been far to long since I made myself do so and even though I didn't get any great photos I’m glad I did.



There’s just something about a nice cool early fall morning that is special out in the woods. The heavy dew clinging to every flower petal and blade of grass each waiting for the sun and wind to dry them. The way the sun seems to take its time to rise above the tree tops. The first leaves beginning to fall and the bright white Birch trees almost seeming to reappear after being hidden behind their green summer leaves.

There where two things that I "relearned" during my visit to the pond today. The first is that when you sit and casually gaze at the wonderful things you see while spending time outside its very easy to enjoy the nature around you without really appreciating it. Some times you’ve got to get right down there and stick your nose in things to really appreciate the true wonder of them.



Picking a small wildflower and glancing at it as you raise it to your nose is nice but every once in awhile you really need to put it up to the old eyeball and study it. Explore every little detail of the petals, stem and leaves. If you stop every so often to take a good hard look at the details of things you admire you may find yourself discovering a truly new appreciation of the world around you.




There wasn’t much in the way of wildlife at the pond today. A small group of Mallard ducks played follow the leader from hiding spot to hiding spot and there was a very brief visit by a couple of crows and a young bald eagle. The visit was so brief that I barely got a photo of one of the crows and missed the eagle all together. Given that the Salmon have started to run up the local rivers that feed into Lake Michigan I don’t expect that I will see much of the adult eagles here at the pond over the next few weeks.


The only thing that was at the pond in any kind of number today were songbirds. This brings us to the second part of my “relearning” for the day. I can sit at the pond and take pictures of all kinds of things. Eagles, no problem. Herons, deer, ducks, swans, crows and kingfishers no problem. Song birds, now that’s a problem.



Every once in awhile you get lucky and one stops in the open but you think I would remember how hard it is to get a clear shot of a small, hyperactive bird though the tangles of branches that surround the pond but apparently I didn’t. This was I’m sure evidenced by my wildly swinging camera lens and the muttered curses that I was glad there was no one around to hear. Of course not wanting to short myself on any possible photo adventures I thought maybe I would try to get a shot of one of these charming little tweeters in flight. Now that’s a whole different ball of wax.



Imagine trying to take a picture of something about the size of a pair of ping pong balls moving at what seems like a hundred miles an hour and that couldn’t fly in a straight line to pass a field sobriety test if it had to. Not as easy as it sounds.

Of course now that I feel challenged to get a good in flight shot of a songbird I suppose I will have to make at least a couple of more trips to the pond in the coming weeks. I get the feeling though that this could be one endeavor that might not end well.

Until next time. Get outside and enjoy the world around you! It might just change your perspective on life.

Wow, looking at the last time I posted anything I can't believe its been almost a year.

I finally got a chance to take a little walk today and managed to steal a few minutes to quietly stand at the top of the highest bank of the pond and take in the fall colors. Since I was hiking through some pretty wet areas and scouting a path for a cross country ski trail I didn't have my camera so I didn't get any pictures.

It was incredibly nice to just stand under a large Poplar tree as a small rain shower passed overhead. Quietly watching the ducks and a Heron feed. The sound of stream water rolling and splashing over rocks as it rushed down its well worn hillside path, the autumn leaves and the smell of the damp fall woods just seemed to make the day a great one to be alive for.

I am excited to think that I might finally have some time get out and get some pictures to share.

If the colors are starting to pop get out and enjoy them! They don't last very long.

Have a great day!

Kevin

When nighttime temperatures dip down to the minus 20’s and 30’s all but the swiftest and most protected waters freeze over.

The sub-zero weather causes steam to rise from any unfrozen water. From across an ice covered lake fast flowing streams almost look like they might be on fire. Backlit by the rising sun the steam slowly lifting from the waters surface gives the illusion of warmth and is probably a welcome sight to any passing waterfowl.

Since the Fish Pond is one of the only bodies of water still unfrozen here in the area it is a welcome refuge for the ducks that are hardy enough to still be hanging around.

When I first arrived it looked like the pond was covered in a heavy fog and I only occasionally caught a glimpse of one or two ducks. They would appear out of the steam as they swam about looking for small food to dive after.

As the sunlight inched its way onto the surface of the pond the ducks seemed to follow it. The diving ducks would plunge down in search of breakfast while the Mallards followed in flocks each hoping to grab any bits of food that the underwater escapades might stir up.


I don’t know where the eagles go when it gets this cold. If they make an appearance at all it isn’t until later when temps are at the daytime high.

The land creatures that live near the pond seem to hunker down and stay close to their bedding areas leaving their trails filled with blowing snow. Unnecessary moving about this time of year burns precious energy they will need to survive the rest of the winter. It is why it is so important if you are going to be out in the woods that you avoid any areas you know animals are wintering.

Well if you feel like layering up and venturing out into the cold remember to take it easy. Move slowly and don’t wander to far. Like all times of year there is always something new to see and discover in the great outdoors.

Have a great one.

Kevin

With smaller lakes in the area already frozen and the larger lakes beginning to ice up many more ducks are sure to start appearing at the Fish Pond. The pond and streams that run through it will soon be some of the only open water in the north.

While Mallards are a year round sight at the pond the other species that summer and breed here are long gone. Mergansers and Common Goldeneye are now regulars here and several other types that are migrating ahead of the ice have been randomly appearing.

The Common Goldeneye is one of the heartiest of ducks. They are usually the last to migrate south in the fall and the first to head north again in the spring. I was surprised to read that they prefer lakes and ponds that have little or no fish in them. Since their diet consists of many of the same items as fish lakes where there are fewer of them means it is easier for the ducks to find food.

As with all ducks it is very hard to get a good in flight picture of them here at the pond. The topography and plant life limit the light for most of the day. It amazes me that a moderate shutter speed will freeze the motion of the wheel on a 180 mph racecar but won’t capture a clear picture of a ducks wing in motion. Those feathers truly do fly.

This winter I think I will try to get pictures of as many different kinds of ducks as I can. Who knows what might show up after Lake Michigan freezes over.

So put on your winter best and get outside. See if you can find something that only visits or occurs in the winter. You might be surprised at what you discover.

Have a great one.

Kevin