Larry A. Smail's Blog

Service Berry blossoms

Scene from behind the house

   A dreary overcast morning  with fog hanging over the river basin was the norm as I left the house. The weather people were all saying rain and by the looks of the cloud cover I felt my travels could very easily be a wash out!

The camo rain jacket would protect some of me if, indeed, a moderate to heavy rain were to come. I grabbed a plastic bag for my initial reason to walk up over the hill behind the house was to look around for ‘rooms. I you are confused, please, allow me to explain. I was going to see if any morels were out yet. Morels are a spring time mushroom or as some say “rooms.

Easter Bunny..maybe?

   The only problem with me is the fact I have a short attention span at times. When I traverse across fields and forests I am seeking everything of interest .Place me in a woodland scene covered with an array of wildflowers and mushrooms can easily take a back seat. My mind drifts back and forth to flowers; morels; wildlife and anything and everything of interest. I guess this is not a major issue to me though. I enjoy nature.

      I didn’t find any morels, but I was blessed at seeing a lot of critters this morning. I saw two rabbits and, at least, eight squirrels. I saw many birds including flickers; juncos; red-bellied woodpeckers and many other small birds. I saw one deer. She was standing in brush looking at me. She thought she was hid.I managed one photo!

I circled the hill and I abruptly stopped at the sound of a muffled gobble. A minute later I heard the gobbler again and this time he was close. A minute later he was standing there looking at me. I called and he went into strut. he dropped down below the crest of the hill and that was the last I saw him.

I returned to the house in a light rain. A half hour later the sun was shining and the temperature climbing. Good time to cut some grass!

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   I have been behind with some of my adventures. Last Friday, February 18th, I gathered myself up and headed for State Game Lands 247 between Skinall and Center Hill, Pennsylvania.  The day was very springlike with warming temperatures and plenty of birds-a-singin’.

I noticed a quick scurry among some downed-limbs when I saw the form of a chipmunk. This was the first sighting in a while. I later saw a couple at the house rushing to duck under my deck. Laurie and I enjoy watching them over the summer.

Turkey Tracks

I saw a couple of firsts for the year this day. I saw three turkey vultures and some grackles. usually their announcements to the year in this area are around mid-March.

I found a dead 6-point buck and a mole. Questions began filling my mind as to the probable scenarios to their demise.

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Top of Pine Hill Road

   February 21st, President’s Day, witnessed another heavy snow in our area. The following morning a total of 10-11 inches of snow could be viewed on my deck and yard and driveway and roof!!! Laurie suggested a walk during the night hours during the snow. I quickly agreed and off we went walking about in the West Kittanning area. The falling snow made for some beautiful sights. Unfortunately, the winds were blowing steadily causing some chilled cheeks.  The following morning forced several hours plowing and shoveling the heavy accumulation. Regardless, this day brought out the warming sunshine and the cleared areas quickly began to melt. Spring is near!                                                                                     

Interesting photo

   The following morning, however, would bring a beautiful winter wonderland.

Female House Sparrow

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Sumac

Laurie and I decided to take to the fields behind the house for a nice hike in the snow. There is something about walking in a snow on windless day (or night) that is good for the spirit. The walk was an ascension up and over the hill behind the house. From this vantage point on a clear day one can see across the Allegheny River onto distant hills and hollows. This is an enjoyable view.  Today we could just make out the outline of the hills due to the snow.

We continued our walk along a long ago abandoned field covered with sumac, goldenrod, briars and young oaks. As we walked along  I was talking about seeing plenty of fox tracks in this area a few weeks ago. Suddenly, a fox ran towards us at about 200 yards along the same border. But wait… that isn’t a fox!  The animal proved to be a coyote! A ‘yote sighting is always a wonderful critter to observe.

   We walked around to see an area I called the “field of red” where a number of staghorn sumac thrive and grow. When the cottontail rabbit was a plentiful animal I would annually see where they would chew the bark from sumac where I grew up.

On New Year’s Day, Susie (my springer spaniel) and I were outside. I had erected two brush piles for a rabbit that was traveling in the area to my feeders.  Upon completion of these piles we were walking towards the house when I looked along the creek and a red fox was traveling past. This is the second time I have seen a red fox here and behind the house.

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Rural road.

 Wednesday (October 27) was a golden autumn day. I needed two go for a walk for a number of reasons….excercise; enjoy the beautiful conditions; study sycamore trees and leaves for an upcoming painting; look for wildlife and take some foliage photos.  

Sycamore Tree.

I chose to walk very rural roads I know about where the existence of any vehicles is a very rare thing. The hike consisted of approximately 8-9 miles and was invigorating. I only saw several deer,  various birds, a couple of red-tailed hawks and I heard a grouse drumming.

Staghorn Sumac

   On Thursday (October 28) while visiting my mother I decided to go another hike. This was one of those 30 MPH wind days. On this venture, I was fortunate enough to see, at least five turkeys and watched two deer get up from their beds before fleeing.

As I was walking along a field’s edge, I noticed what appeared to be a buck’s antlers. I stopped and reversed one step only to see a spike buck laying among the briars at about 18 yards. I tried to get focused photos, but failed to do so. I eased up to a tree and look for clearer view only to spook him.

The evening  would be a few hours of fellowship with members of the church’s mens group. I was the speaker this evening. I dressed in my 18th century era apparel and carried along two flintlocks, tomahawks and other things of interest. The guys seemed to enjoy the historical (not hysterical)aspect of the talk and be able to see firsthand what a militia-member of that time period would have looked like. A great bunch of guys!

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