CLEVELAND METROPARKS

Thick mist shrouded the marsh.  The surface of the water was white with residual ice.  Shimmering wound through where ducks had swum.  Faint outlines of trees hovered on the banks.

A few mallard ducks murmured quietly among the reeds.  Otherwise, the woods were hushed.  Then, I spotted a large shape in a misty treetop.  I zoomed in.  An eagle!  As I tried to focus on it, another swooped in and landed nearby.

We made our way around the marsh to try to get a closer look at the pair.  Bushwhacking with Chuck tethered to my waist is not easy, but we managed to get close enough for a decent view before the birds had enough of our clumsy approach and moved off to a distant perch.

Today, we headed down to the Rocky River Reservation. We parked at the marina and headed across the bridge into the park. It was cold and dreary. Right away, we heard a rustle and spotted two deer foraging in the woods near the trail. We walked for quite some time without seeing any wildlife. I could hear ducks on the river quacking at each other and squirrels rustling in the leaves. Suddenly, four blue jays appeared together in the same tree. I see jays all the time, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them grouped like that. They seemed to be paired off and I managed to get close enough to see one couple perched together. We moved a few steps down the trail when I heard a call and saw a rustle in the trees. A pair of small hawks swooped down and one perched quite near the trail. It looked nervous at first, but must have decided that we were not a threat because it stayed a long time while I watched and took pictures of its various poses. Its partner was not so bold. It stayed safely out of sight.

We were almost back to the car when there was a flurry of birds all around. Finches, dark eyed juncos and even some small woodpeckers fluttered across the trail. They were all calling and flying here and there in a big hurry. I’m not sure why they were gathered in this particular spot, but it was quite a show. Then, just overhead, I caught sight of a pileated woodpecker. I’ve been trying to get a clear shot of one for months, and I thought today was my lucky day. But the bird was obscured behind a tangle of small branches and I couldn’t get a clear shot.

My mama joined us today for an early morning hike. I’ve been seeing a lot of gnawed trees near the trail by the Rocky River Nature Center. Arriving at dawn, we hoped to spot a beaver at work. We scanned the water’s edge in the gray morning light, but saw no movement. Our fingers were growing numb, so we finally had to move on.

Just as we headed down the path, a ripple on the water caught my eye. It was off on the other side of the pond, but it was definitely a beaver! It swam through the water and then emerged to chew loudly on a large tree before slipping back into the water.

At one point, we stopped to watch a red-bellied woodpecker. It clung to the side of a tree, tilting its head to listen for grubs or insects under the bark. When it finally found a tasty morsel, it flew down to a nook in a nearby tree and stashed it there. Then, it flew off to look for more food.

As soon as it left, other birds fluttered down to the “pantry”. They looked around furtively, then descended into the hole and flew away with the stored goods. It was hilarious to watch, but I felt bad for the unwitting woodpecker!

There is something magical about hiking through the woods on a crisp morning.  A breeze moves through and a flurry of leaves comes twirling down, dancing through beams of sunlight.

Shy deer peek out from their hiding place in the woods.  A little red squirrel wrestles a huge mushroom cap up his tree.  A downy woodpecker comes down from the treetops to scour the dry reeds and grasses for a nibble. Flocks of tiny sparrows swoop in and out of the fields with a swoosh of wings and warbles.

Soon, we will get a storm that will strip off the last of the leaves and the woods will be stark and bare. But for now, there is still a lot of motion and subtle color. The path is blanketed in leaves and our footfalls are quiet rustles. Chuck enjoys chasing the leaves. She dances around and looks up at me with an excited gleam in her eye as if she’s asking, “Isn’t this amazing?!”

Today was our first real hike since returning from the road trip (I will post details of the trip once I get through all the photos!). It was hard to leave the clear mountain air and the incredible vistas of the Tetons, but we were happy to be back in familiar territory. The morning was crisp, almost cold. Our breath created faint clouds with every exhale and my hands were numb until we started moving. A lot of foliage has started dying back and the trees are tinted with gorgeous golds and reds.

The thinner undergrowth means clearer views of the ponds and marshes. I was searching the water’s edge for the muskrats, which I haven’t seen for a long time now. Suddenly, my gaze landed on a curious yellow eye looking up at me. A tiny green heron was perched on a log peering out from the shadows. It let me take its picture and watch it for awhile before deciding that maybe it was a good idea to put some distance between itself and Chuck.

We moved on, watching the huge flocks of geese that have gathered. They beat their wings and honked loudly. I could see a few kingfishers, but they were far away and skittish. We went to look for the raccoon, but it didn’t make an appearance. Suddenly, I heard large wings beating and saw a big bird land in a tree. It was followed by another, which landed nearby. I couldn’t get a clear look at either of them but my impression was that they were much larger than the hawks I sometimes see here. We moved around the pond and I kept searching for a better look. Raptors like to perch on the bare trees and dead wood that sticks up out of the marsh. It gives them a good vantage point to look for prey. Sure enough, I spotted the outline of one of the birds high up and far away. I looked at it through the view finder, but even with the zoom, I couldn’t be sure what it was.

We continued our loop around the pond and stopped at a wooded spot that obscures us but gives me a clear view of the water. I scanned the area and noted the geese and some ducks. I turned to move on and spotted it! A massive bird perched on the top of a dead stick protruding from the water. It looked like an extension of the wood, but the huge yellow claws gave it away; it was a juvenile bald eagle! I was so excited to see it there. I’m quite sure there are two sticking together. I will try to find them again next time we visit the pond. What a great welcome home!