… it was six inches away from my face.
This, despite a month of being overly cautious and deciding that it probably was NOT a good idea to be fiddling with the camera anywhere near my face. The State of Michigan, tenth most populous in the nation, still ranks high as to cases and deaths from COVID-19. At least we have dropped from third to sixth place – not that the sixth place stat raises my comfort level any.
However, I sure am happy I took my camera to the Park because, as wonderful as the walk began, it ended on a sour note – but more on that later.
So, anyway … I bit the bullet.
It was those first goslings that debuted at Council Point Park this week that clinched it. Tuesday morning I was walking along the perimeter path, then there they were – swimming in a neat queue behind Mom with a proud Pop bringing up the rear – there were five goslings in all.
Though the family was hugging the Creek bank and it likely would not have made a stellar shot anyway, inwardly I was mad at myself that I hadn’t brought along the camera for that “just in case” shot. I made up my mind I would return with my camera on Friday morning. Our Wednesday and Thursday weather was abysmal, so my next shot at taking shots would be Friday, May 1st.
I wanted to be the first one at my favorite nature nook and showed up later than I would have liked, but was bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to get some Spring-y shots and hopefully gosling pictures for a Mother’s Day weekend post.
Well, Council Point Park did not disappoint with all it had to offer.
I stepped onto the perimeter path and right away saw two large dark objects in the bushes – they were smaller than geese, bigger than ducks – oh wait … they were ducks. They were American Black Ducks. We see them occasionally paddling away in the Creek, but they are not regular visitors at this venue, nor at any other shoreline park that I frequent. These are the first pictures I’ve ever taken of them. I researched a little and since both ducks have greenish-color bills, not yellow, they are females.
After at least a dozen or so duck shots, I was at the fork in the path – hmm, so left or right? I started on the scenic side, along the water’s edge …
A fellow walker approached me from the opposite direction and said “you have your camera today – better get to the bent-over tree as the baby geese are there!” Well, I’d have cut through the grassy donut part of the loop, but we’d had two inches of rain in as many days, so I just lit a fire under myself to get clear across the Park in record time.
Except …
I had to pass the cement landing, this time approaching from the opposite direction. This was clearly to my advantage. Harry the Great Blue Heron was ankle deep in the water, either gazing at his reflection, or fishing for his breakfast. I think it was the latter, as I heard a splash and movement in the water, but Harry came up empty-handed, er … empty-beaked.
Harry posed nicely for me – so sneaking up from behind did not cause him to bolt and squawk as he usually does. I wished I had a treat for him as a reward for his cooperation.
Having secured a few shots of Harry the Heron, I hurried along to see the First Family of 2020. Whew – they were still there, grazing on the lush grass near the misshapen tree. I arrived just on time, as a few minutes later they headed for the water. This photo shows a few goslings but I’m going to save the rest of the photos of the parents and their little darlings for Mother’s Day weekend.
After watching the family plop into the water, I whirled around to discover a second family of parents and goslings lurking in the nearby bushes. I took some more pictures, while hoping the gander didn’t take issue with me as the family was fairly close. On top of it, my face mask was steaming up my glasses and I couldn’t see too clearly, but it was all good … I got my shots and nobody got hurt (I’m talking about me here, not them).
The squirrels gave me about three minutes to ooh and aah over the goslings, then reminded me in a not-so-subtle-way, that it was feeding time and I had been MIA the past two days. One day they will learn to take a paw and point it to their mouth (just kidding). As you can see, Parker was feeling neglected and just a little antsy for nuts and used his “please feed me – I’m starving” routine to his advantage.
I spread out lots of peanuts, hoping to lure plenty of furry and feathered pals down to the pathway and it worked. In fact … it worked too well, in that in between snapping squirrel shots, I was missing the Jays, Cardinals and Red-Winged Blackbirds swooping down. Here’s some more squirrel shots as I know you’ve been missing them. 🙂
I put down more peanuts, but the Red-Winged Blackbird only made that prior cameo appearance, however the beautiful Blue Jay and male Cardinal returned for a second helping.
I was happily taking shots here and there, hoping not to miss anything (or anyone) but a roly-poly groundhog waddled by and though I saw it briefly, unfortunately I didn’t bring that image home with me, as he scooted into a burrow just as soon as he saw the whites of my eyes.
A male Downy Woodpecker studied me, gave me the side-eye, then stayed on task tackling his tree as he looked for grubs for his morning meal. I identified his gender by the red patch at the back of his head, which color was also handy to alert me to his presence in the tree – they are not loud birds like the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers.
So, I was doing pretty well, rounding up my furry and feathered friends to make it worth my while to have taken the camera with me. I took a few landscape shots, including some pretty blossoms …
… and endless dandelions …
… when suddenly a big bunny burst onto the scene and filled up my viewfinder. It was the first bunny I’d seen since last year, so another “first” on this trek. It stopped to munch a dandelion, then did a bit of primping.
I love the sun hitting those delicate ears.
I was so engrossed in my trek and taking pictures that I finally glanced at my watch – yikes, it was really late! The morning had zipped by and I figured I’d better head home to be on time for work. I was glad I had walked to the Park because I sure did not garner many steps while there.
And now for the “down” part of my Park adventure.
From the perimeter path, I saw a police car in the parking lot, but didn’t think too much of that as they patrol there from time to time. But, by the time I walked to the entrance/exit of the Park, that police car was parked horizontally across that only entrance/exit. My interest was piqued. Your Roving Reporter approached the vehicle to ask questions. It was my first day of masking up in a bandana and I probably looked like a bank robber, but my muffled words through the red fabric asked why he was parked there and if the Park was going to be closed? Before he could respond, I added “are you closing the Park due to the Coronavirus, coyotes or crime?” To be honest, I hoped his answer was one of the latter two. I don’t know that he appreciated my alliteration, but he heard me out anyway and said he had no details. I thanked him, told him to stay safe and left.
In retrospect, I probably already knew the answer as I stewed and fretted all the way home.
Later in the day I checked our City’s Info and Crime Forum on Facebook where I found a slew of comments about Council Point Park’s sudden closure earlier in the day and many were wondering why it was done? The general consensus was that the playscapes had already been cordoned off with crime tape back in late March to discourage kids from playing there; we also have metal adult exercise equipment on the other side of the Park which was similarly cordoned off. So why was a police vehicle guarding the entrance to the Park?
Well our questions were answered when the City website advised that due to a record 251 deaths from COVID-19 in our City, all parks had been closed down immediately. We have 22 parks in the City; some are just playground equipment, some baseball diamonds only, but Council Point Park is considered the jewel of the City. I feel badly for the missed joy I will have. I find happiness at this venue, in not only the beauty but my delight in feeding the various critters as well. I sure am glad I made the effort to take my camera and had such a pleasant trek on Friday.
Hopefully my favorite nature nook will re-open before the goslings are teenagers, or worse … when they fledge at approximately 50-60 days old and leave for the rest of the Summer with their parents. The goslings will grow in leaps and bounds, so that by the time they fledge, they are 25 times larger than they were at birth. Putting it into perspective, yes, they will be a bit beefier than we will be with our “Quarantine Fifteen” poundage in the same amount of time. I will hang out in the ‘hood and still go to larger parks on the weekend, weather permitting.
[Header image from Pinterest; the rest are my own photos]
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
You found plenty to write about. Refreshing! I hope the park won’t be closed long, because we are going to miss it through you
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I was so glad I took the camera and everywhere I looked there was something to see – I felt like a little kid. Thank you Anne – I hope they will lift the restriction when the Governor lifts the stay-at-home order, but this was strictly the Mayor shutting down all 22 parks. We have 4,000 deaths in Michigan, more than that now, it was 4,000 on Friday and 250 IS pretty bad.
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Yes, it is grim in Michigan.
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As grim as it is, I went to two parks – the second saw only one person, a small nature preserves, but at large Elizabeth Park, by the time I left it was getting crowded – maybe 150 people, 10 masked up. A few fisherman masked up (and me) … no one else and no social distancing practiced either.
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That’s a shame that people don’t keep their distance. David texted that workers at Burger King are now wearing masks.
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Yes, it is so bad here, that you want to be proactive really. That’s good for David that they are instituting that. In most of our grocery stores, the Governor’s latest Order makes people have to wear a mask in grocery store unless they have a fear of suffocation or they are under two years old.
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I can’t imagine wrestling a three-year-old into a mask.
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They’d likely pull it off in a heartbeat – what are parents doing if they take their kids out to keep them from touching things and touching their faces – hopefully it is a two-parent household and only one goes out for groceries, etc.
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You have the best solution.
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I’m so sad about the closure…
This post was gorgeous to read. I was walking around with you 🙂 Harry definitely deserved a treat!
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕🐬
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Me too Ellie – it is my morning joy … I also worry about the critters as they are dependent on food as it’s not foraging time … no berries, no soft pine cones … that worries me too. I need a treat for Harry – I’ll search for “heron treats” on Amazon! A fellow UK blogger once told me that you can buy swan treats over there. Time to go across the Pond and fetch some. 🙂
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Visit me when you come 🙂
They’ll go where they can find food …
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Maybe I’ll run there and give them my address … I’d feel better then. 🙂
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Goslings! They make me smile. Closing the park does not make me smile. Better safe than sorry, though. Any idea when they’ll open it/them again?
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The goslings make me smile too Ally. Last year we had four families and they were born a week or so apart, so we had little ones running around for most of May, part of June. I am unhappy about the Park closure, not only for me but for the squirrels and birds … the more I go there, the more they are fed, the less they look for their own food and it is too early to forage, no berries or soft pine cones yet. I have been feeding them for seven years. They may gravitate to the neighborhoods around the Park, so I will look for them there in the coming days. They did not indicate when the parks will open again – I hope when the Governor lifts the stay-at-home order, but this has nothing to do with the Governor; it was our City’s Mayor who made the decision. We have 4,000 + deaths in Michigan as of yesterday. This is the time that the Park is a showcase with trees leafing out, flowering trees, some wildflowers and babies.
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What an exciting day filled with wildlife. I’m so glad you took your camera and got so many beautiful shots. I’m am sad to know that they have closed the parks in your area. I feel like officials are just grasping at straws trying to stop this thing. If it is being transmitted at parks with the play areas already closed down and people “social distancing” is there any stopping it?
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It was such a fun morning for me Ruth – I was glad I took the camera and got that walk in. I am sad they closed the parks here too, especially this one … I go on the weekends before going to bigger parks for a quick walk or stop to feed the critters. I “get” the closure but wish they had just secured the play area only and not prohibited walking on the path. Were you surprised our City has so many deaths? The closure made Click on Detroit – maybe you saw it on the news, I know you watch Channel 4. This was the story: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/05/01/lincoln-park-announces-closure-of-city-parks-due-to-virus-threat
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I don’t watch the news regularly so I didn’t see that story but as close as all of the cities are down there I Have a hard time separating them. I think of that area of the Detroit-Metropolitan area.
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You are right Ruth – a conglomeration of cities, more commonly referred to as Downriver. I don’t watch the news either (I cancelled cable back in 2010); I saw this in our Facebook Forum for the City.
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A lovely adventurous day Linda! Loved esp. the picturesque shots of Harry the Heron. So disappointing re the closure, as you will miss all the trees budding out and new life, but hopefully it won’t be for too long, esp as many other districts are now opening up their parks. I can’t imagine a park would be that much of a risk of transmission, as Ruth says above….if there are that many people congregating, maybe they could have some bylaw officers patrolling to remind the offenders, rather than punish everyone?
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Thank you Joni – glad you liked it. I was happy with the Harry the Heron pictures … now I know to approach him from behind, but that confuses the birds and squirrels as I usually go counterclockwise on the path and a few of the birds follow along my route flying from one tree to the next so they know when to swoop down. I’m hoping it’s not too long either, but I went by this morning when I got home from walking at Elizabeth Park and a small nature preserve. It looked abandoned as there was a sea of dandelions and they have barricades at the entrance of the Park. That would just bar vehicles and you can access the Park all along the fringe of the Park and get to the second walking trail and connect there. I saw one walker, a guy who walks/runs (a little of both) only on weekends … pulled over to chat with him and he said yesterday/today he parked in the neighborhood and walked the fringe. It’s a bit away from the part where I usually walk but I don’t see anything wrong with what he was doing. I think they would have been better to institute fines too Interestingly, at Elizabeth Park today they have exercise equipment all through the park. It is not geared for kids, but more for adults. It was not cordoned off and people were using it. They are items like pull-up bars, parallel bars – no restrictions. I hope it does not take too long for things to get back to normal. The weekends, if no rain, I’ll try the larger parks like before. My car needed a run so I put about 30 miles on it in my jaunts today.
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Wow, what an exciting day trip. The park path looks so inviting with the flowering tree. I wonder why they call them black ducks when they are truly brown. 🙂 How wonderful that you got so close to Harry. They do spook so quickly. They always fly off before I even see them usually. I just love it when Parker sits at your feet. I just don’t see that everyday. What a great day Linda.
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Thanks Sandra – glad you enjoyed the post and it does look inviting doesn’t it? The flowering trees were just starting to bloom and those tiny white wildflowers on the ground near the trees. Took some pictures of them today – there were tons of those tiny white flowers in the grass, some very pale pink as well – I just looked them up – they are “Spring Beauty” the second photo at this link:
https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/erry-2018/05/48dbdbf1656565/michigan_spring_wildflowers.html
I was lucky with Harry, I approached him a different way – usually he sees me coming head on. He was into his breakfast catch of the day. 🙂 Those black ducks did look more brown – I took a lot of pictures hoping they’d show up darker but they still look brown. Arnie at the Park always points out the black ducks in the water when he sees me to go have a look – they are not common at all in our area.
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The link was so good Linda, I saw a few of those flowers in the forest here and had no idea what kind of flowers they were. Plus it showed those green plants that look like umbrellas, they are all over in the woods, but the artical showed they actually have a flower that shows up underneath the leaves. I did not know that. Thanks for the link. I saved that one. 🙂
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Glad you liked it Sandra and I have saved it too … I have seen a lot of wildflowers at Lake Erie Metropark … I never walk on that side, but last year saw a big golden area of what looked to be flowers far away and I kept walking toward it – it was August and I thought it was too early for sunflowers but they have several “natural grow areas” as they call them and we had a hot summer, so it might have been. It turned out they were wild black-eyed susans. But I saw lots of wildflowers along the way – I have to find what they are … that is a good starting point. I’m glad you found your names and I saw both white and pale pink tiny flowers at the tree bases yesterday and in the grass … same as I saw at Council Point Park last week so I was glad to find a name for them to use in an upcoming post.
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Yes, it sure helps, I was looking for a name for a duck I saw awhile back. I looked at hundreds of duck photos trying to find one similar. Never did find it. Who knew there were that many ducks until you have to look for just one. 🙂
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I know – like butterflies. I saw and took photos of a blue butterfly last Summer. I only know the common butterfly names. I searched on the butterfly info websites for blue butterfly – it was a brown butterfly with powder-blue spots … I found it a long time later and it is called a “Red-Spotted Purple” – go figure. 🙂
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🙂 After awhile they must have had a hard time coming up with names. I think they picked them out of a hat when they get down to the last one.
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I agree Sandra because this butterfly was no more purple spotted than I was!
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Lovely pictures n write up!
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Glad you liked it Bindyamc – hope you liked this cute little woodpecker. He is more well-behaved than the other one. 🙂
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What a great wild life day!
Interesting how many different ways our governments react. In many areas, parks are just reopening – not as a result of the cases and deaths, but because of the realization that people need to get outside and walk in parks because it makes them healthier.
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That is smart of them to keep the people outside Margy. I am disappointed in our Park being closed, and interestingly I was at a larger park today and there were at least 150 people, and only about 10 of them had masks on (fishermen standing side by side). That sure surprised me given Michigan’s stats
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I am so sorry the parks are closing but very happy you will be safe!
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Thanks Diane – where I went today (Elizabeth Park) … by the time I left, it was crowded and very few masks and people everywhere. I went early enough to avoid crowds and left when it got busy. I hope they open it up soon. I drove by there today and it looked very desolate there, especially with the dandelions everywhere.
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Too many people not following the rules ruins it for the rest of us!
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That is always the way isn’t it Diane? There were a lot of people at Elizabeth Park and I saw one police vehicle but he didn’t approach anyone, but I was surprised about people using the exercise equipment, so apparently the City of Trenton has no rules about it. The pony farm was closed indefinitely – they would have been busy as nice as the weather was yesterday.
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Miss Linda…………………………….I’ve never seen a black duck and never so close to notice that they have a bluish green beak………………………..that was cool and yes I’m excited about the new baby goslings…………………..and Mr. parker is so darn cute waiting for you to feed him……………….I feel badly that closing the parks are blocking so many people who love to walk and enjoy the scenery everyday……………………….I feel badly about the stats showing Lincoln Park not doing well also
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Hi Ann Marie – the two black ducks just started showing up last Summer and another walker, Arnie, pointed them out to me – they are much bigger than the regular mallards and I’ve never seen them on land, so it was nice to see them. I hope you will see baby goslings and the groundskeeper does not destroy the nest … you need to have a few cute and fuzzy goslings in your morning walk. I feel very badly about the parks and I hope that they are re-opened soon. I went past there yesterday and it looked deserted and barricaded at the entrance/exit area. I went to Elizabeth Park and it was crowded by the time I left and after that I went to Grosse Ile to the nature preserve on Meridian – I saw it when I went to the alpaca farm in March and wanted to try it out.
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So glad you got to take these lovely photos at the park while you could. Your timing was good! Reading about the goslings reminded me of a story I wanted to tell you. bill and I were running on Saturday when we encountered a young couple looking down into a storm drain. They called to us. We stayed 6 feet away but approached to see what they wanted. A family of ducklings had fallen into the drain and the mama duck was making a terrible racket. Luckily, I knew the phone number of a policeman, who came to the rescue with a net. All 8 of the babies were rescued and the mama duck lead her babies to a nearby stream and safety!
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Oh what a sweet story Laurie! Every so often you read about ducklings falling through a sewer grate and the city workers come and pull the grate off and reach in for the ducklings – sometimes they walk out. I’m so glad you were able to help the couple and the mama duck and her brood.
It was all in the timing Friday morning Laurie … they shut the park down and have now put a barricade across the entrance/exit. I feel sick about it. I had a great morning – every time I turned around I saw more critters.
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I’m happy that you got that last walk in… and took your camera along with the goodies for your friends. We are starting to open up beaches and parks here but all of the parking lots are closed. People seem to be maintaining distance fairly well so far. The beaches up the coast were shut down after a quick open because people didn’t behave themselves. Hopefully that was a good lesson learned so we’ll escape the same fate. I’m sorry that you’ll (and us too, for that matter) will miss watching the little ones grow. Hopefully you can get back soon.
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Thanks Janis – I hope the Parks here in the City open up soon, especially my favorite go-to spot. I did hear about the controversy about your beaches last Friday I believe. I was interested because we have had much controversy here in Michigan with people storming the Capitol Building believing their rights were infringed upon. The walkers in the morning were not close to one another and that’s why I finally decided to take the camera. I was at a big park yesterday, about 8 miles away, and people were not masked, strangers walking close to one another and they have exercise equipment that looks like modern art sculptures and people were using it – go figure. I hope everything gets back to normal for you soon.
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Great shots, Linda! 🙂 I especially like the Downies! 🙂
I think you are OK with your camera as long as you do not share it and especially if you wipe it with a lightly damped paper towel which contains a 10% solution of bleach to water. That is the solution of bleach that i use to disinfect my food items after i get them from Walmart Grocery Pickup once a week. I use a spray bottle and paper towels and go over everything very thoroughly. With the camera, of course, do not let moisture seep in. Only lightly dampen your camera paper towel.
Keep snappin’! 🙂
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Thanks for the tip Tom! I was lucky on Friday morning – thank goodness I took the camera for that last Park visit for a while. I wiped it down with a diaper wipe and didn’t use it for a day and did the same thing last night as I went on a long walk with the camera yesterday at Elizabeth Park, which is much bigger and there were lots of people. Glad you liked the Downies – they were sweet and posed nicely for me. I hope to keep snappin’ and you do the same Tom.
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I’ll keep snappin’ but my thumbs are getting arthritic. 🙂
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My mom had a lot of arthritis in her fingers when she got older – she used to hang laundry out on the line from early April through November and bring sheets in frozen stiff! She used strong Motrin (600 mg or 800 mg – not sure now), and though she got cortisone shots in other surgically repaired joints, I don’t recall her getting them in her hands. Hope the weather is not detrimental for too long and messes up your picture-taking Tom.
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Sorry to hear the park closed. You got some wonderful photos of the wildlife! The photo with the squirrel looking straight up at you is so cute!
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Yes, I am upset it closed Rebecca and hope that it opens if the Governor’s Stay-a-Home Order is lifted on the 15th as she is planning on now. But since this was a City Order and not a State Order, her lifting it may not make a difference. That is Parker and he was trying to get my attention as I was watching and taking pictures of the goslings – he was insisting he was cute too!!
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And he was right. He’s adorable! 🙂 I know you are more than ready for all this to be over. We are beginning to open back up here, but I still feel better social distancing.
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Yes, he is adorable Rebecca (and kind of knows it too). I will be happy for it to be over but we are not there yet and I fear it will be a long time. I am grateful to work from home and not have that worry on my mind as so many workers do once everything opens up and they must go back on site. I will continue to keep my distance and remain masked up as well.
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Aw, I’m so sorry, Linda. That’s tough for you. In the upside, the pictures of Harry, especially the third one, are fabulous!
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Thanks Pam – I’m really unhappy about it. Our Governor is encouraging walks and to spend time outdoors and this was the Mayor of our City so I don’t even know if the parks will re-open once the Governor lifts the current Stay-at-Home Order which expires on May 15th. I think she’ll extend the Order and she already has such push back on all of her restrictions to date. Yesterday Congressman Paul Mitchell filed a lawsuit on behalf of the people of the State of Michigan, saying our Constitutional rights are affected by her actions. I am sure the other walkers aren’t happy either – most are retirees who walk 4-5 miles a day. I was lucky with Harry – usually approaching him from the other side causes him to bolt and make the most-awful screeching noise like I am trying to catch him!
https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2020/05/congressman-sues-whitmer-over-stay-home-orders-claims-constitutional-rights-violations.html
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I don’t understand closing outdoor spaces. It’s the only chance some have to be in nature. I hope it changes soon, Linda.🥰
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Thanks Pam – I walked down by there today and it was sad to see everything looking so desolate. I don’t understand it either – it is better to be there than at a store. I know many people feel if you can go to a grocery store, drugstore or restaurant, they should be allowed to attend church or enjoy a walk in the park.
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I know, sorry. ☹️🙄
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Oh no!! I just knew of this today-hope Parker and others will be ok and manage with the dandelions.
Susie
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Oh, I’m glad you said about the dandelions Susie. I never thought of them eating them but they do – you remembered the picture from last year – whew. I am very worried about them. The grasscutters came yesterday. I walked by the park today, from the edges of the park, and saw the dandelions were all gone, sheared off from the grasscutters. When I walked by on Monday, they were still there. They cut the grass once a week. Hopefully they GROW back soon and I GO back soon. It is too cold for the squirrels to find their peanuts as the ground is frozen right now – we have a cold snap and a freeze warning the next few nights.
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dress up as a large bunny so you can sneak into the Park!
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There’s an idea Wayne – maybe on a gray day I could sneak in and still enjoy the Park and feed the furry and feathered friends. We have a group of walkers here in Michigan, though not near me, that dress up as animals and cartoon characters and walk through the neighborhoods.
https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/04/25/ferndale-trex-walking-club-coronavirus/3025908001/
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these days with wacky Republicans carrying guns I don’t think walking around dressed like a animal would be a good idea!
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You’re right about that Wayne. I heard yesterday that there will now be a ban on all guns at Michigan’s Capitol Building – I would have thought there was already such a ban in place but guess not when everyone showed up with their long guns (not to mention the Confederate flags).
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I have no idea what a southern flag is doing being flown in the north? They were enimies!
Tell you what,put the shoe on the other foot………go down south and fly the Union flag! I bet I know what would happen and I’m pretty sure the search crew wouldn’t find your body!
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Ha ha – Michigan’s Attorney General was interviewed today (she is a fairly new AG, a real feisty broad) and she said she was horrified to find people could carry long guns – you are permitted to carry a pistol if you have a permit when going into the Capitol Building. I was surprised to hear that – thought they would need to check them at the door. Yes, the flags are stirring up some problems – I saw two Confederate flags while walking in different ‘hoods. Michigan makes the news for all the wrong reasons lately!
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What a wonderful group of photographs you got that day, Linda! They’re beautiful! It was interesting to see the female black duck as I think I’ve only seen a male. I LOVE the second picture of the great blue heron. I’m glad you had such a great photo day before the park closed for covid. It’s interesting reading about what we were doing and what we were thinking and what the world was like three years ago when the pandemic was so new.
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Barbara, glad you liked the collection of photos on that very enjoyable walk. I kept thinking I should not be putting my hands anywhere near my face. I was/am a bit of a germaphobe to begin with, long before Covid, so I wavered taking the camera. The header image was perfect for the post. This digital compact camera is actually a point-and-shoot camera, so it was not on my eyes per se, but I was still so wary and you are right … this was our mindset three years ago before the vaccine was available at the end of 2020.
Those black ducks were pretty friendly and not resident ducks at this Park. I was excited to see them and yes they look like female mallards. I never walk on the perimeter path going clockwise, I always start on the other side, so I was able to sneak up on Harry to get those shots before he saw me and bolted. In spring it is beautiful there and the City cut down a beautiful Redbud tree, which was not diseased or misshapen the following year. The geese and their goslings used to hang out there and I got some pretty shots every Spring. The cardinals and jays used to hop around the perimeter path after me for peanuts … then I was gone from the path for a month, but I continued to feed the squirrels only at the pavilion three times a week. I did not go on the path – I was worried I may get fined. I saw some firemen there one time at the pavilion area. There were removing all the caution tape around the pavilion – they had it around the entire Park at one time, then also at the playground equipment and pavilion. They were afraid it would come loose and blow into the water and hurt the waterfowl. I told them I was there to feed peanuts to the squirrels who were all waiting in begging stance, so it was kind of obvious my purpose plus I had a bag of peanuts in my bag – “busted” due to the begging squirrels. 🙂 The one fireman put his hands over his eyes and said “I see nothing.” I took that as an “okay” to keep feeding them until the Park re-opened.
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What a kind heart the fireman had! 🙂
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I thought it was nice too Barbara. I showed up at the very same time they did and because my furry friends gathered around me and I had a store bag with a bag of peanuts in it, I had to “come clean”. I was going three times a week as mentioned to you, but I never mentioned it in my blog at that time. I walked in the neighborhood and traced my old roots as I walked in the neighborhood until I discovered this park in April 2013. There was a young guy named Joe who rode his bike at the Park. I would see him riding the two loops as I approached the Park. Many months later, I stopped to talk to him as he would feed the squirrels … he would see one, stop the bike and reach for a bag and give them peanuts. I asked him if anyone stopped him when the Park was closed for Covid and he said no. He was a nice guy who was teaching music at a local university and played in a band at night. He finished off the semester teaching via Zoom, but had no Summer classes scheduled. The band stopped playing as well. He was unemployed that Summer/Fall and I last saw him and wrote about him in November 2020 as he completed his goal of riding 3,000 miles on his bike by November 30th. I have not seen him since – he told me he would have to find another line of work soon.
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