Once the morning gloom dissipated I elected to get out in the snowy day and enjoy some woodland time. Snow fell all day, but never very hard. Also, any snow falling would remain on the light side. Rural roads, however, had some slick areas in spots.
I arrived at my destination near Cochran’s Mill to walk along the old Baker trail near the lower end of Cherry Run. I didn’t walk the trail exclusively
due to drainage issues of water and mud. Also, plenty of big trees were down across the trail throughout. That was just fine since the area along the creek is much more attractive to gaze upon.
While walking I became a little down with my thoughts. I began thinking about the many areas I used to tramp upon and hunt that are now posted and/or developed. That made me sad. I find I am become increasingly discouraged with hunting due to such issues.
Nature seems to often find away to help clear such thoughts. Instinctively, I guess, I looked up to see a mature Bald Eagle coming up the hollow at treetop level. The beautiful bird turned and circled again and flew over allowing for one quick photo in an opening. The eagle seemed to telling me to not be down as the wings carried it up the hollow.
I would see three deer feeding along a field’s edge. Also, I saw a darkened mass in a cut corn field only to see a flock of Wild Turkeys. I managed a half a dozen pics.
Later while moving along Cherry Run I noticed a brown ball of energy going upstream. The brown mass was a mink. I took two quick photos, but they were both hazy. The mink eventually went among a root system. I always enjoy seeing a mink in the wild. It is rare. I did get a good photo of a Mink several years or so about half a mile upstream.
Very nice!
I spend time up that hollow often too.
I can remember last winter , around this time actually, that I saw a mink there too.
I watched it catch a minnow, hop up on the ice that was still present, and scurry off under a root ball. Nice to see.
Your post made me think of that. Sure don’t see those everyday.
Thanks Dave, I try to do the walk once a year. I like to start on the township road and work down normally. I have spent time along the way since a kid. I was originally going to go up the hill to overlook Crooked Creek, but elected to move up the hollow.