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Archive for the ‘Misc. Nature’ Category

dsc_0006  I looked outside in the pre-dawn moments to see snow covering everything. Seemed like a great day to get out in the elements. I

Killdeer

Killdeer

chose   to venture back to Crooked Creek lake area to see what critters I could find.

I parked alongside a friend as she watched the horizon line for camera opportunities. She was surprised to look over and see me.

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I was dressed for walking and would soon begin a trek through the woods to the lake hoping to see eagles.

 

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

The waters, as usual, yielded Canada Geese and Mergansers. I saw some gulls fluttering around and occasionally diving into the waters. I saw two Killdeers along the shoreline. Later I saw a large bird flying about. A second appeared as I identified them as bald eagles. Unfortunately I could never get close enough for any photos.

Later I managed some photos of Cardinals and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Female Cardinal

Female Cardinal

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Spring in February

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Ring-billed Gulls

dsc_0006 What can one do when the temperatures are in the sixty and even into the seventy degree range in Pennsylvania? One can get outside and enjoy the  days! With that in mind I spent two mornings in the area of Crooked Creek Lake.

 

Hemlock cones

Hemlock cones

 

Teaberry in moss

Teaberry in moss

The first morning out was a joy with one exception. I aimed the camera at a male bluebird finding out the camera wasn’t

Canada Geese

Canada Geese

working. I had forgotten to place the memory card back into the camera’s body. I felt so stupid. I had done this one time before and the act takes the punch out of photo taking on any given day! Oh well, I can still walk and observe.

Goose track

Goose track

I saw  geese; gulls, and many mergansers. However, the one sight I truly enjoyed was the site of an eagle at about forty yards at eye level. I believe the bird was a Golden Eagle and not an immature Bald eagle. I was looking through tree limbs and the presence of this majestic bird was limited in time, so getting a positive ID wasn’t to be.                                                                    dsc_0022

dsc_0026 Friday, February 24, was a day that would reach into the seventies here in western Pennsylvania. I did a lot of yard work in the

Merganser

Merganser

afternoon, but all morning I was at the lake again walking and observing. This time, however, I was armed with a loaded camera.

I walked along the lake’s shoreline and some trails. The lake’s water level was down since we have had little rain as od recent. This allowed easy walking along the edge of the water.

Again, many mergansers were all about the lake. A number of Canada geese could be heard and viewed as well. Ring-billed Gulls were rather common today. A specie of goose was far off and sounded off occasionally. I never saw it close enough to positively identify. Maybe it was am immature Blue Goose or quite possibly a domesticated goose who left a farm.

 

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

I never saw an eagle this morning. I watched the skies closely.  I did see Ravens; Great Blue Herons; Killdeer; Bluebirds; deer; squirrels; and possibly an immature Red-headed Woodpecker.                                                                      dsc_0036

 

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Cold Walk

dsc_0004  I haven’t been out much and missed almost the entire two week deer season. I felt a walk would be good  dsc_0002for the soul on December 21. Once I had decided to go I asked the wife if she would be interested in walking. Surprisingly, she said yes!

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We prepared for this cold walk. We left the house around eight in the morning at eleven degrees. The sky was bright and blue at this time.

Upon arriving at our destination we could see the results of the cold night and morning. there was a frost covering everything. The sight was beautiful as the sun’s rays trickled through the woodland areas to make for some shiny diamond like sparkles on the ice.

dsc_0011 Various birdlife was abundant. The birds were feeding heavily attempting to include a high calorie count to   dsc_0006help them survive the cold. Blue jays and Cardinals were all over. Other species viewed were White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows, and Juncos. We saw a couple of hawks, too. Mammals were apparently “holed-up”. We saw a couple of Red squirrels.

Laurie would pull her scarf across her mouth occasionally. This action caused her blonde hair to be as white as snow. Her breath escaping along the sides of her cheeks caused immediate freezing to her hair. She was surprised to see her hair in the mirror.

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dsc_0165 Time was moving fast as it always does as I made my way towards Quehanna. I wanted to spend a little time at a placer a friend told

Osprey nest

Osprey nest

me  about. I arrived near 4:00 P.M. to begin my hike.

 

 

Red-Spotted Newt

Red-Spotted Newt

 

I soon discovered the wetland site known as the Beaver Run Shallow Impoundment. I circled the site via a trail. The ravens were talking boldly in the distant pines. The hooting of a Barred Owl pierced the solitude and peacefulness of the evening.

dsc_0166  An Osprey nest was visible in an old snag.  I thought seeing this next nesting season would be an enjoyable jaunt.    dsc_0158

Red-Spotted Newts were common in the waters. I watched a number of them swimming about as the temperatures began to drop.

 

Beaver

Beaver

Just before darkness I watched a beaver at another area swimming about. The beaver’s lodge was close to view as well.  darkness came way to fats as I began my trip home.                              dsc_0168

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dsc_0098 Continuing northeast I went through the little community of Driftwood before turning left at Sinnemahoning. I enjoyed the  dsc_0103contrasts between the deep shadows and fog and/or smoke still in the hollows.   The artistic nature of myself sees such things as beautiful. I was heading due north towards Austin, Pennsylvania to pick the stones with art prints applied to them. However, I had a few stops before reaching that destiny. One place I stopped at the George B. Stevenson Dam to walk about. Lots of Canada Geese were visible.

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dsc_0134  The water level behind the dam has been dropped due to construction work up creek from the dam. That fact alone pushed  me dsc_0136farther north on the Sinnemahoning. I wanted to fish in the area of construction for bass, bluegills and pickerel.  The area of this dam and watershed is part of the Sinnemahoning State park. The roads to this area were closed, too.

Native Indians called this area “Achsinnimahoni”. This meant “stony lick”. The 1800 era saw massive logging operations. In less than a century the mountains became denuded causing erosion and allowing for wildfires.

Wood Ducks

Wood Ducks

The  dam was built in the early 1950 time frame.

dsc_0129 I arrived along the First Fork of the Sinnemahoning around 9:30 A.M. the eastern sun was just beginning to peak over the mountains on my right as I traveled north. The mountains on my left were in sun. Later, in the day, as I began my trip south the opposite was the case. Heavy frost was present at any areas where the sun’s presence was yet to be felt.                 dsc_0126

I stopped and picked up the stones around 9:45 and, now, I had the rest of the day for myself. I drove up a road that ran alongside of Bailey Run. I had mixed feelings of traveling back this road. Thirty years ago later this month four of us stayed at a camp to hunt bear. The four were Allen Smail (My father.) my brother-in-law, Bob Hudson and a friend David Olinger, and myself.  We had a great time. The mixed feelings came about because in two months from our hunt, Bob would die in a work-related accident. The owner of the camp and a fellow friend would die in August  of 1987 while mowing around the camp. (Just a note my Uncle Carl Smail died forty years ago on November 4th, 1976. he would hunt these hills with my dad and uncles. He passed away while hunting ducks.) This memories were permeating my thoughts as well. I could still feel the happiness, as well as, the grief over this venture.                                                                                  dsc_0123

 

Beech leaves

Beech leaves

I hiked a trail that paralleled  the stream course. I, eventually, walked through head high goldenrods and such taking photos of this beautiful waterways. I saw a Golden Eagle and Wood Ducks. later, I stumbled upon a wetland area seeing Red-Spotted

Winterberry

Winterberry

Newts.

Finally, around 1:00 I worked down to the Sinnemahoning to try my luck fishing. The water was fast in this area and snagging became an issue. However, I took a fall on slippery rocks along the shore. My aging knees were having trouble negotiating on these stones. The rocks, while wading, we worse. I fished about half-an-hour and decided to explore and take photos.

 

Native Brook Trout

Native Brook Trout

Later, I headed up Brooks Run to fish for Native brook trout. I had a blast fishing for these  beauties.

Brooks Run

Brooks Run

They never attain any great size in such small waterways, but I always enjoy catching them. Around three o’clock I began heading towards Quehanna to search out a trail a friend told me about. As stated a lot of the road heading south was covered in shadow by this time. The sun was already dropping behind these high peaks.

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dsc_0002  The early morning trek up the hill was noticeably colder with a heavy frost visible. The frost was present everywhere the upper leaf   dsc_0009canopy was slight. Also, a dense fog engulfed everything. The sights were quite impressive never-the-less.

I, immediately, noticed yesterday’s turkey scratchings upon reaching the hill top.  I turned left and walk along the back side of this hill and the turkey sign was everywhere. I couldn’t walk thirty yards without seeing scratchings.                                                                                dsc_0011

I continued walking the side of the ridge amazed at the amount of sign. I was seeing squirrels all about gathering acorns.Chipmunks, too! It seems the acorns were being utilized by all wildlife.

Hickory leaves

Hickory leaves

I reached the point of this ridgeline when I heard sounds every turkey chaser wants to hear. That sound was the sound of

Sassafras Leaf

Sassafras Leaf

turkey’s scratching in the leaves. Up and over I went and I immediately saw some turkeys running down the slope. A few went airborne as they all went down the hill. I sat for awhile to see if any began yelping. I heard none, but I didn’t stay put for more than fifteen minutes.

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Immature Bald eagle

Immature Bald eagle

I turned to drift along back towards the hollow I just circumvented when I notice a buck standing in the fog. he had a very nice  dsc_0028rack, but fled just as I was ready to snap a shot with my camera. I would see him again.

The leaves didn’t seem to be as colorful this year unless one was along bottomland country near water sources. They seemed as brilliant as ever.

Teasel

Teasel

dsc_0011 I walked along about a good half mile and went up and over another hill. Turkey sign was not as numerous on this side. I

Hornbeam

Hornbeam

spotted a buck moving away from me before stopping at about eighty yards. I started grunting to him. I could see his head looking back over his back. I started scrutinizing the brush and I saw another deer. When the deer turned I could see a very nice rack on him. The first buck turned and began circling me. He showed up about fifteen yards from me. I managed one good shot. the vegetation made focusing very difficult. The big buck didn’t come to me.

I would see some does here and there. I saw an immature Bald Eagle setting in a tree. I couldn’t believe the bird was so far from any major body of water.

 

 

 

 

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Saturday In The Woods

dsc_0019  October 15th was the first day of the early muzzleloading deer season here in Pennsylvania. I elected to not hunt. I may not  dsc_0017hunt until the end of next week when I will be tagging along with my step father Bob. he will hunt the senior rifle season beginning on October 20.                 dsc_0021

However, I did spend several hours in the woods enjoying the day. the afternoon temperatures reached around 72, but there was a frost in the Cherry Run area I was walking. The temperatures are being broadcasted to be near 80 half of the upcoming week.

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Hickory hulls

Hickory hulls

I walked the hill searching for buck and turkey sign, as well as, observing tidbits of the natural world. The woods became alive  dsc_0020with chipmunk and squirrel activity. I saw three gray squirrels in one hickory tree gathering hickory nuts.

I was easing along a flat area when I noticed the hindquarters of a deer at about 45 yards. I silently stalked the deer until I positioned myself behind a larger cherry tree. If the deer continued moving as she was I would have a great opportunity for some nice photos against yellow vegetation. As deer so often do she turned and walked on my  left side. This caused me to turn strongly to my left while my knees were still facing forward.

 

Sulfur Mushroom

Sulfur Mushroom

dsc_0023  As she moved upslope I slowly turned my upper torso while holding the camera on her. I managed a number of shots before she   dsc_0020

Dogwood berries

Dogwood berries

walked out outside of  movement zone. If I would have been hunting the hunt would have been over since this doe was only about thirty yards from me. I would see several other deer as I walked.

I would see some old turkey scratchings as well as plenty of buck rubs and scrapes. I saw three woodies on Cherry Run as I crossed the creek. They  dsc_0025returned their escape flying directly over me for the second time.

 

Sheephead Mushroom

Sheephead Mushroom

Mushrooms are everywhere. the conditions have been perfect. I found some more Sheepshead mushrooms. I gathered a nice one last week. I love the flavor of these  ‘rooms. Some call them Hen of the Woods. The largest I found was about 18 inches in size. I gathered two smaller ones for ease of carry.

I spent the afternoon on the deck watching the antics of the red squirrels and the many birds at the feeder. I did some reading and writing, too.

Cherry Run

Cherry Run

 

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dsc_0166   Laurie and I took her mother into elk country. We wanted her to see some the big beauties!

Bedded cow elk.

Bedded cow elk.

The are we chose to check out was in and around Bennezette, Pennsylvania. We, also, visited a White Birch forest site in the Quehanna. We saw a number of elk at various places. We saw a bull aggressively chasing his cow harem. We saw another bull with seven cows and calves. We saw some bedded elk.

One nice bull was seeking out a cow in dense vegetation. I managed a number of photos of him. I saw one doe and a black squirrel.                                                dsc_0162

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dsc_0185  White Birch trees always create special feeling within me. I love the white color and the deep contrasts against green pines and  dsc_0188 laurel patches. I asked Anne and Laurie if they wished to see the Marion Brooks  site of natural White Birch growth. They agreed the observation would be of interest.

 

My mother-in-law, Ann Craft, upon hearing of my past rattlesnakes in area.

My mother-in-law, Ann Craft, upon hearing of my past rattlesnakes in area.

dsc_0179 This area consists of over 900 acres of a natural White Birch stand within the Quehanna Forest. In this acreage are a lot of surface  dsc_0181rocks. Little ground cover exists but the conditions are great for birch. Waist-high ferns cover the ground. Teaberry plants at the ground level area readily viewed. Some other trees are intermixed within the birch trees, too.

We walked a scant trail through the site. The two women weren’t very happy once I informed them of seeing five rattlesnakes in this habitat two years ago. they got over it…well sorta!

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Baker Trail Hike

dsc_0033  This hike was an earlier excursion in early September. The morning was heated to an already 73 degrees as I left the house in the early morning.  The dew point was at 69! So, this time in the woods was going to be a warm on.

Crooked Creek Dam

Crooked Creek Dam

I was walking the Baker Trail at the Crooked Creek dam area in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. This trail is actually 132 miles in length. The trail begins near Aspinwall, PA and ends in the Allegheny national Forest at Cook Forest Park. My section this day would only be about three miles one way. The trail was named in honor of Horace Forbes Baker.

Elbow Run

Elbow Run

 

Along the trail.

Along the trail.

As stated, I was walking at the Crooked Creek Dam section of the trail.                           dsc_0014

Crooked Creek Park is an United States Corps of Engineers project completed in 1940.  The dam was built as a flood control project. During World War 2 my dad told me a 50 caliber machine gun was placed at the dam area in case of enemy bombing attempts. No Germans or Japanese planes today!

The walk began at the parking area across from the Tunnelville Beach. I walked northerly  along a small stream named Elbow Run. this creek empties into the dam area.  There were a lot of fungus growth throughout the walk. the conditions were correct for their growth. I saw a lot of squirrels gathering nuts. Deer were rather common all morning as well. I Glimpsed an eagle flying through some hemlocks. I dropped over a steep hill to walk back along Elbow Run.  dsc_0035

The entire walked was a humid one, but I still enjoyed being out and about.

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McConnell's Mill

McConnell’s Mill

One will find the beautiful and rugged McConnell’s Mill State Park as an area of awe. The Lawrence County, Pennsylvania park has a lot to witness. The landscape around the park covers often steep slopes with big, to huge boulders all around. The park surrounds a

Slippery Rock Creek moving slow.

Slippery Rock Creek moving slow.

section of Slippery Rock Creek Gorge.

This park has eleven miles of trails to hike and enjoy nature at its best.

The original mill was built in 1852 by Daniel Kennedy. Fire destroyed the mill, but a second mill was built in 1868. Thomas McConnell purchased the mill in 1875. This mill closed down in 1928.

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These waters can rage during other seasons.

These waters can rage during other seasons.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy obtained the are in 1942 wishing to preserve the area’s wealth of natural beauty.   dsc_0132McConnell’s Mill State Park became reality in 1952.

Immediately south of the old mill one will find a covered bridge over Slippery Rock Creek. (The bridge is currently as I type under renovation for preserving the structure.)  the bridge was built in 1874.

Slippery Rock Creek is a beautiful flow of water offering some danger. Far too many people have succumbed to the water’s treachery. For this reason the area at the park has no swimming. trout fishing is fine here.  Huge smooth boulders are found along the water’s edge. When wet they can become like an ice patch. Some stretches of the creek are smooth slower moving water and some are considered white water.

Trail

Trail

 

Female Hummingbird

Female Hummingbird

Slippery Rock Creek Gorge received a listing as a Natural Area and a National Nature Landmark in 1974. The creek received  designation as a State Park natural Area in 1998.                                                                                                  dsc_0012

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