On Friday we headed out in search of Sandhill Cranes, driving through Owen Sound and up to Shallow Lake. There we took the turn north and drove through Skinner Marsh. We only saw four Cranes, flying past over the field, so they are not gathering yet. We'll be back in the fall.
At this time of year the vegetation is so thick you can't see much open water.
But there was a brief moment of excitement when we saw what might be a large bird perched on an old fallen log.
A closer look showed it up to be a wooden hawk, just an old stub of a branch, along with some Purple Loosestrife.
We turned down a narrow sideroad, and watched for other sights of interest. We soon spotted many signs of the late summer season like this Joe-Pye weed in bloom.
The berries of the dogwood were ripe.
There were wild apples on a few trees.
And wild grape vines had crawled all over some trees, looking like trees themselves.
We eventually came out to the main road and drove as far as the little old Shouldice church where we saw 200 or so cranes two years ago.
Back down the narrow road probably only used by farm equipment.
The seedheads of the Sumach looked ripe.
And we looked down into the ditch beside us and saw the three leaves of Poison Ivy! The season has changed already!
A wonderful day for a drive in the country. Autumn is definitely on its way - I was out to my brother's on Sunday and the leaves are already starting to change.
ReplyDeleteMeteorological summer will be over in ten days so it's appropriate that apples are ripening and the silky dogwood's fruit is ripe.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great outing! I enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThe new species , a "Wooden Hawk", that would make a lovely addition to your heron for burying its head in the snow too.So hard to think you are already on the way to winter.
ReplyDeleteMaybe no sandhill cranes, but a lovely visit in your neck of the woods anyway. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThat stub of a branch sure does look like a hawk.
ReplyDeleteWe have a Joe Pye cultivar in the back yard. It's well over 6' now and quite striking. It amazes me that it grows from nothing to this height every year.
ReplyDeleteIt is the same here. The season is changed already. I am always watchful of poison ivy. None in Newfoundland so we are unaccustomed to it and there is some on PEI.
ReplyDeleteOur neighboring state of Nebraska always advertise the sandhill crane migration as a way to get people to visit their state. I know a lot of them headed your way as they showed photos of the huge flocks of them. You did get to visit good habitat for lots of birds. Great photos as usual.
ReplyDeleteYes, the late signs of summer all all around us now with one of the biggies being the much cooler nights and heavy dew in the mornings. Our hostas and ferns are showing signs of age as well. It's very rare to see any Sandhill Cranes in our area and I've probably only ever seen a couple.
ReplyDelete