I watched in amazement as a drama unfolded in the bog this afternoon. I was too far away to capture good quality pictures, but decided to share the action anyway. Sitting peaceably on a branch high in a tree, the red-tailed hawk wondered what hit him... ...and then hit him again. And a few more times for good …
A little fast action
Mr. Red-bellied Woodpecker discovered a cache of bark butter bits in the old tree stump and wasted no time flying in to get his share before they were all gone. I was standing nearby, hopefully out of sight, because I have been trying to learn the best settings on my camera to get action shots …
Trumpeter swan: a first for me
The trumpeter swan, the largest waterfowl species native to North America, was at one time considered an endangered species. They had been hunted to near extinction for their feathers, skin, meat, and eggs, and by 1900 the species had greatly declined in numbers, until, by 1970 fewer than 70 were known to exist in the wild. …
Just because she’s so darn cute!
During choir rehearsal this evening we had an unexpected visitor who was so cute I couldn't resist taking her picture. It was one of those memorable moment situations. How could I resist a cuddly little puppy like that? Her name is Ginger, and she is a Cavachon. One parent is a Cavalier King Charles and the …
Ever see a duck dance?
I had to dig in my archives to pull out this funny photo. Walking along the trail in Chagrin River Park, I spotted this dancing duck celebrating the arrival of spring. She was entertaining me as well as drawing the attention of other ducks swimming in the bog. Three years have passed since I snapped this happy …
Out of my comfort zone!
The tagline on my blog says it all: "I am at home among trees." Today's trail walk took me far from those trees into the concrete sidewalks of downtown Cleveland, and way out of my comfort zone. As anyone who follows my blog knows, I am a nature photographer, and I find most of my …
Not the best weather!
The snow from two nights ago has lingered. I expected it to stick on the ground for a few days, but certainly not to grace the tree branches with the lacy trim I saw yesterday. I was wrong. The trails I walked today reminded me of Robert Frost's poem, "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening." …
What is your happy place?
In response to The Daily Post's weekly photo challenge: "Happy Place." Whenever I feel the need to get away, I pack up my camera bag, pick up my keys, and head out to the Holden Arboretum. Almost anywhere outdoors with walking trails is a happy place for me, but my first choice is the Arboretum, which …
Canopy Walking
Have you ever been on a Canopy Walk, an elevated trail, like a bridge, that has been constructed to make it possible to walk through the tree tops, instead of walking on the ground staring up at the trees? My first canopy experience was at Myakka State Park near Sarasota, Florida, and I enjoyed it …
Kindness is an action word!
A dog that is treated with kindness is a happy dog. In Gulliver's case, a daily dose of kindness comes in the form of a treat given with affectionate words that let him know he is special. It is the high point of his day, a brief moment he eagerly anticipates! As Gulliver's "humans," it makes us happy too. Gully is a 13 …
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 