Larry A. Smail's Blog

  So many things to do! I gathered up all of the recyclable materials to remove to the local recycling center. In order to not waste a trip out, I elected to go north of the, no longer existing, village of Oscar. There are some nice rural roads to venture along with little traffic.                                                                                                                                                                        

The walk in total length would be, approximately, 6-7 miles. A stiff breeze was felt all morning. this would be the early signs of a cold front scheduled to move through over the weekend. I would stop and listen occasionally to hear the rustling of the leaves due to the breeze. What a relaxing sound!

Feeding Deer

While walking along a gas well road, I noticed several deer feeding on the road’s surface. They were eating beechnuts. I watched them for 10 minutes or so. the mother doe would chase the one young deer at times. eventually, the trio exited up an embankment. I would see them again, but not well enough for any photos. The leaves were much too heavy yet!

I saw a flock of this year’s turkeys. I was fortunate to get a few photos of them before their nerves became rattled. Later, while driving home a saw several gobblers. I stopped , but couldn’t get nothing but a blur in a photo. The gas well road is, almost entirely a gradual grade to the top of the hill. Towards the top I heard two gobbles. They sounded like a mature gobble with a deep full,resonating  sound.

TURKS!

Beechnuts!

Eventually, I reached the top only to turn around and head back. I would exit the road at times and walk the woods. (I killed two ticks only!) I would follow a small stream looking for exceptional photo-taking opportunities. I did, however, find a nice eight-point buck someone had lost.

A groundhog hit with a vehicle was finding out the food chain works in nature. A turkey vulture had found it too and was enjoying a feast. The “buzzards” will soon be drifting off until next March.

Fallen Leaves

Noon time was at hand as I entered the vehicle. I was now sweating from the exertion and rising temperatures. It had been a great morning!                                                                                                                                                    

Cowanshannock Creek

The morning hours were involved with some art projects. Later on I “messed around”with some yard work when I felt the desire to go for a walk. the leaves are rapidly turning colors and a blink or two and they will be brown and covering the woodland’s floor. Yep, a walk was to be!

Buttermilk Falls

I called a friend, Larry Delaney to see if he would be interested in joining me on a hike along Cowanshannock Creek. We would be walking on a Rails to Trails project along the creek. Armed with cameras, we slowly walked the trail looking over the colors and talking Indians and wildlife. We, also, looked with disgust at the vandalizing and trash thrown about. A long section of “sheep fencing”was removed along one section of the trail. I will never understand people!

Using a rock as a tripod!

   Plenty of photos were taken, especially of the locally famous “Buttermilk Falls”. We continued past the end of the trail. I made notice as to how quickly the large stones disappear after we proceeded past the falls. The creek bottom goes abruptly from large, smooth boulders to a flat rock bottom. This stream is a most beautiful section of waters! Hemlocks and rhododenrens border the creek making for a nice contrast with the coloring leaves.

Staghorn Sumac in crimsom!

Along the trail, we noticed many acorns and beechnuts. The big trees were producing much this year. Deer and turkey activity was prevalent as the critters enjoyed easy pickin’s!                                    

The walk was, somewhere around 3 miles total. Some of the wildlife viewed were two wood ducks and kingfishers.