Seize the (Week)Day #5. #Wordless Wednesday #Ms. Bunny Primps for Saturday Night Date Night

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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Seize the (Week)Day #4 – Walk on the Wild(flower) Side.

This is the fourth post in this limited series of excursions taken on early weekday mornings in the month of June. If you missed the reason I ventured out so early, you can read about it here.

This jaunt was taken the morning of June 17th in this 40-acre nature preserve adjacent to Southgate Anderson High School. It is five miles from my home and located in a residential neighborhood. I first visited this venue in January 2019, and, though the paved pathway was clear that day, the marsh area and wooden pathways were icy, so I intended one day to return in a warmer season – so that day was today.

Once you enter the Nature Center, it is rather secluded with the Phragmites and tall Teasels towering above the path, so I was reluctant to explore too much and I was careful not to stray off the beaten path, as I understand from several people that since it is such a rustic area, its tall grasses, reeds, Phragmites and cattails are home to ticks galore. In a year where we already have a tick explosion, I was mindful of that warning and thanks to cooler temps, I donned long pants and a long-sleeved shirt for this walk.

I was grateful to see a bicyclist or two rolling through and yielded to them as it is a fairly narrow pathway. I didn’t linger too long and headed down to the Detroit River next after this brief stop.

A local naturalist named Bruce Szczechowski is an environmental science teacher at Anderson High School, and, according to a fellow walker at Council Point Park, he often sends his students into the field, both literally and figuratively, as part of their routine class assignments. I’ve heard or read that he and his students have catalogued more than 120 species of birds in this nature preserve, including raptors. Additionally, Bruce Szczechowski is active with the Detroit Audubon Society, which organization I follow on Facebook and I like seeing his photos and narratives on the various trips he takes with other birders in the Metropolitan Detroit area, including at this venue.

But, there were no birds to be found on this early morning, so I guess the phrase “the early bird catches the worm” is a misnomer?

I did see a sweet rabbit, who graciously posed for me, but I needn’t have felt it was for my benefit as it was preening. Usually, unless rabbits or bunnies are contently munching on grass, clover or dandelions, whether in the ‘hood or at the Park, oblivious to your presence, they won’t bolt. Well this rabbit was primping. I learned a few years ago that rabbits are fastidious about grooming, sometimes cleaning their fur and paws several times a day. So, this week’s Wordless Wednesday will feature Ms. Bunny primping for Saturday night date night.

I decided my mission at the nature preserve was to gather wildflowers of which there were plenty. But, I wasn’t going to bring them home in a bouquet, but instead as images in my camera. So, today’s post is picture laden. When I sorted through these photos a few weeks later, I muddled around a few wildflower websites in an effort to identify each wildflower, without much success. So I ordered this book on Michigan Wildflowers so I can I.D. the weeds from the wildflowers, rather than group them willy-nilly in a post. Perhaps I’ll be more clear-headed in 2022, when the worries about a pandemic and erratic weather are not consuming all my brain power.

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Seize the (Week)Day #3. #Wordless Wednesday #Nature interrupted. #Pull, Push, Park … Wow!

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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Seize the (Week)Day #2 – Escape to Elizabeth Park.

This is the second post in this limited series of excursions taken on early weekday mornings in the month of June. If you missed the reason I ventured out so early, you can read about it here.

It was Wednesday, June 23rd when I decided a trip to beautiful Elizabeth Park would be perfect on this sunny, even coolish, morning. The local weather folks’ forecast for torrential rains at week’s end meant the chances of returning to this venue anytime soon were slim to none. Sadly, those predictions were accurate and the torrential rains occurred on June 25th – June 26th. The metropolitan Detroit area had seven inches (17.78 centimeters) of rain in 24 hours. Over one thousand vehicles were left abandoned and bobbing around on the interstate in this “once-in-500-years-rain event” that made the national news.

While enjoying my morning meander, besides adding steps to my eventual year-end goal, I was also looking for photo ops of Mallard and Pekin ducks, perhaps a few Ring-Billed Seagull shenanigans and I was ever-hopeful for a sighting of a Mama Mute Swan with her cygnets riding on her back.

First … along the road that encircles Elizabeth Park.

I stopped at Birdie Nirvana, the name I coined for a small area where bird feeders and suet holders are hung on a memorial tree and/or shepherd hooks, plus peanuts or other treats are scattered on the memorial stone nearby during the colder seasons of the year. I have also done some peanut and sunflower seed scattering here, not usually in the Summer though. I dug in my pocket for some peanuts I had brought along and gave them to the sole squirrel that showed up. Here it is on the bench near the tree.

I peered in and noted no birds, nor bird babies were in residence in this cozy house.

It was too early for a picnic, so there was no trouble finding a seat here …

… the sky was silent too, with no swooping Seagulls, just this raptor gliding overhead.

As to seeing ducks … well, I was out of luck and it could be they were tucked away picking their feathers. Waterfowl molt in the Summer months leaving them unable to fly, listless and lethargic. But they generally hang out in or by the canal – not so this morning.

I got to the big bridge and climbed up the series of stairs. I was alone with a great view. It is crowded sometimes on weekends since this nearly century-old bridge is a picturesque venue for life events like weddings, proms or homecomings and it is a popular fishing spot as well. In viewing the photos, I was surprised at the water level line on the bridge, but we had been in moderate drought mode until early June, though we more than made up for that as June, then July brought torrential rainstorms, time after time.

As the saying goes, patience comes to those who wait and from the other side of the bridge, I saw many geese (as seen in the header image), plus I was rewarded with a view of a family of geese parading to the canal … (really, I hope it is two families, though I only saw two adults – yikes!)

These two young women had also made an early-morning escape to Elizabeth Park and passed beneath the bridge, clearly enjoying their morning paddle. I called out “that looks like fun!” They shouted back “it is – it’s a beautiful morning!”

Once on the boardwalk, I stopped to take pictures of these Morning Glories trailing on the iron fence.

Then I came face-to-face with the roly-poly resident groundhog which I first “met” last September. You might recall I quipped it was a prizewinner in the “Quarantine 15″ poundage category because, on that September morn, I learned from other boardwalk strollers that this groundhog gets lots of treats, especially on weekends.

Mr./Ms. Groundhog looked at me expectantly and I instantly lamented I had no treats on hand. *Note to self – next time take along a PB&J sandwich or some sweet treat this chubby critter might enjoy.

Next, I got the “side eye” and then the groundhog quickly popped into its hole.

I was content strolling the perimeter of the park, then along the boardwalk, often remarking about the gorgeous weather to other early-morning walkers, who were equally appreciative of the lack of “the muggies” and I stopped to take this picture of the interesting shadowplay of the tall boardwalk lamps and wrought iron railings on the cement steps.

Quickly the quiet bliss was interrupted by men’s voices and activity in the nearby marina where a tugboat named the George Gradel was docked. The activity was simultaneous with the smell of fumes from the tugboat’s funnel/smokestack and for each puff of smoke, I was glad that I was wearing a mask as dark smoke billowed in the air. Soon, just like others along the boardwalk, I stopped in my tracks, enthralled to watch this tugboat pull then push its barge, maneuvering effortlessly through the Detroit River. I took many photos of the operation, so that will be the topic of an upcoming post.

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Peanuts and Popsicles. #Wordless Wednesday #Squirrel Days of Summer

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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Seize the Day!

Today I am channeling my late friend Marge Aubin, as I begin a limited series of posts about impromptu getaways made during the month of June. Frustrated by Mother Nature’s endless hot and sticky temps, plus incessant rain causing buggy hikes on soggy trails that I experienced every weekend throughout May and early June, I seized the opportunity, on seven weekday mornings, to head to my favorite weekend venues. The sun was up earlier, so why not seize the (week)day and get out to enjoy the welcome Canadian air mass of cool and dry conditions that settled in for three or four days, two weeks in a row? As you know, I usually do my bigger excursions on weekends when I don’t have to keep glancing at my watch, but I decided it was this way or no way. I just flip-flopped and relegated my weekend jaunts to Council Point Park instead. I also thought I could be productive at the house if I was not traipsing around and getting home mid-day exhausted from the heat. This Summer is winning no prizes in my humble opinion and I know many of my fellow bloggers have the same mindset.

It was four years ago today since Marge passed away after battling COPD for several years. She was the person who encouraged me to start a blog about walking, after suggesting, (more like insisting), that since I “report” to her on my daily walks, why not blog about them? Then it was Marge who told me never to leave the house without my camera. She would be shocked to see just how many photos I take and use in my posts these days, so I thank her every day for her wisdom.

Marge’s mantra was “Seize the Day!”

For many years, every day, rain or shine, ice or snow, Marge went to the Detroit River to watch the sun rise. She left well before the crack of dawn, parking her car right next to her side door, slipping out of the house in near-darkness, with only the glow of the sensor light for her to lock up the house and jump into her car. She did not go straight to the River though – she had a routine. She stopped at McDonald’s and got coffee and oatmeal, sometimes a breakfast sandwich. Then she drove straight to the River, parked and waited for each new day to begin. She always had her digital compact camera with her and later, when she was home, she often sent me an e-mail or Facebook message with that day’s sunrise shot. After the day had dawned and her breakfast was finished, Marge stayed and watched the morning unfold, the fishermen arrive, the seagulls hovering overhead and then she returned home.

I really want to be like my friend and creep out the door under cover of darkness, but that’s a wee bit out of my comfort level … there is crime, there are possums (okay … one) and in August, those icky-sticky spider webs that are spun overnight and make you claw and paw the air when you run into them – ugh!

On my first “Seize the (Week)Day” I went to Dingell Park.

So I compromised … I would NOT leave the house under cloak of darkness, but I would leave while the sun was still rising, then aim to be at the River shortly thereafter. Bishop Park in Wyandotte was a favorite early morning haunt for Marge and is a little over five miles/eight kilometers away. But on this day, I chose Dingell Park, half the mileage and a mere six minutes from my home.

The sun was still rising and that is the picture you see above. Here are a few more shots taken at the pavilion overlook.

I stayed there about a half-hour, walked the boardwalk, chatted it up with a fisherman or two, then watched a pensive seagull contemplating life. I thought of my friend Marge as she told me she said her prayers at the Riverfront and did all her heavy thinking while at this peaceful venue.

There were no seagull shenanigans that morning, which was a disappointment, so from there I returned to the car, then rolled down Biddle Avenue to Bishop Park, where I wanted to capture some fish fly photos. Believe me, they aren’t as cute as that fawn, nor my furry friends at the Park, but they’ll make a cameo appearance in an upcoming post.

In these seven early morning jaunts, I covered a lot of territory. I left early enough to enjoy the cool breezes at the River multiple times, or to meander amongst the Mallards at Heritage Park. I wandered around the wildflowers at the Southgate Nature Center. I took a ton of photos. I’m going to intersperse those excursions with other park venues over the next few months. It will be something different, because, say what you will, but 2021 is just as different and strange as 2020 was, as the pandemic lingers, climate change rips apart old records for heat, flooding, wildfires and continues to wreak havoc on nature and wildlife all around the globe. Stay tuned.

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Lovely lotuses; lotus beds. #Wordless Wednesday

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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Roving along Cove Point.

Over Fourth of July weekend, I had a heart-to-heart chat with myself after spending an entire rainy day wading through my computer’s photo folder. I had amassed a ton of photos taken on weekends and daily jaunts in May and June. My two, most-trusted meteorologists predicted a steamy and stormy remainder of the Summer. I knew I had plenty of photos for blog posts to carry me through mid-September, when hopefully the weather would settle down. So, I decided for July and August, I’d walk only at Council Point Park, bulking up extra steps in the time not spent driving to larger park venues. An added bonus would be I’d be home earlier to hunker down for some much-needed housekeeping chores.

Well, it sounded good in my mind, and, of course, I always had my digital compact camera strapped to my fanny pack just in case a photo opportunity and blog post happened my way. One such incident intrusion fun and meaningful event marring my good intentions was the duckling rescue, which, albeit on a work day, took my focus away from working in the house. Why? Because it rained on a Saturday morning, I didn’t walk and it was way more fun to go through my photos, write the post and share it here than do housework. So much for good intentions.

Similarly, on the morning of July 31st, I put blinders on to my household chores and headed to Lake Erie Metropark instead. Quite honestly, I felt I needed the break to clear my head, from not only a busy week at work, but also a volatile and worrisome weather week, which began with severe weather the previous Saturday. Four tornadoes hit Michigan on the 24th, none in my proximity, but I sat on pins and needles as the severe weather ravaged as it headed southeast at 35 miles per hour. My weather alarm went off four times that evening, each with a prediction of impending doom. Luckily, I remained unscathed, but just a handful of days later, a similar weather scenario erupted, with a forecast of tornadic or derecho conditions, hail and flooding, all to arrive at 3:00 a.m. Thursday. I went to bed with the flashlight under my pillow and much trepidation, fully expecting to be dashing to the basement in the wee hours of Thursday morning after another weather alert was sounded. But, nothing happened … in the entire state of Michigan, despite all the severe weather warnings! All weather stations and their meteorologists proclaimed we had dodged a bullet and blamed quirky weather models for the alarmist prediction. Whew!

So, when Saturday, July 31st dawned clear and bright, not a chance of bad weather to mar the day, I gratefully headed out. The car needed a long run and I needed to be sprung from my self-imposed commitments, so I sallied forth. My sunglasses served as blinders to dust bunnies and disorganization.

It was time to roam at Lake Erie Metropark.

There are 13 Metroparks in Michigan; this is my favorite and it is a 30-mile roundtrip from my house. There are nearly three miles of nature trails in this 1,607-acre park. I generally write about the northeast portion of this venue, since I enjoy hiking through its wooded areas, across the canal overlooks, alongside the marshes and visiting the small boat launch site, where migrating raptors pass over every September through November.

But, ever-mindful of the overabundance of ticks, the presence of the sometimes-deadly Asian Tiger Mosquito in my county, plus possible flooded trails due to the 20 inches of rain received in the past six weeks, I opted to change my routine and roam the length of Cove Point, a picturesque path that runs parallel to the Lake Erie shoreline. It would give me a chance to peek at the Water Lotus beds to see if they were near peak yet. Last year I made multiple trips to this venue before finally seeing blooms.

So, I spent three hours strolling along the Cove Point paved path, while enjoying the cool breeze off Lake Erie. Happily, there were no crowds and I came home with a treasure trove of photos.

As to the Water Lotus beds, some flowers were in bloom, but not quite peak yet. I’ll include those photos for Wordless Wednesday as this post is already picture laden.

The wooden overlook where I had a bird’s eye view of the lotus beds was swarming with Barn Swallows. They swooped and dived, skimming over the green surface of this lagoon which is already covered with algae bloom as you see in the below photos, taken from opposite sides of the platform.

The natural beauty of Cove Point’s boulders.

Huge boulders line the entire length of this route, all the way to the south end of the park where the paved pathway ends at the Marina.

Kindly volunteers have built and erected wooden Bluebird nesting boxes along this route. This is one of them.

I saw very few wildflowers, but I liked this one growing between the boulders.

As I neared the Marina, I could see the tall masts of the sailboats through the trees.

I made a quick detour to the observation deck, to see the endless vista of Lake Erie and have a glimpse of Ontario. Very few pleasure boats were out and I saw no freighters on the horizon.

As I entered the Marina, I saw the boat used for interpretive cruises. I wondered what happened to E/V Clinton, an identical-looking boat I rode on the two interpretive cruises I’ve taken in the past. Was it simply renamed? A Google search yielded no results.

All was still in the harbor area which surprised me … a simply gorgeous day, and not one person readying their boats for a day on the water? Here are a few more scenes from the Marina.

Time to head back

The sun was bright and it was getting warmish. I had a long journey back to the car, mostly without shade. I turned around and in the marsh I saw this fallen tree, long bleached by the sun’s rays and went to get a closer look. Was it left there for aesthetic purposes?

And, then my focus turned to a deer, standing in murky marsh water up to its knees.

We made eye contact and I wanted its picture, because, as longtime followers of this blog know, deer and owls are elusive to me and I really would like to get some photos of each. I didn’t move a muscle, yet a split second later, the deer bolted from the water and disappeared into a thin line of bushes along the Marina’s parking lot. Suddenly, a head and a large pair of ears appeared in a small opening and we scoped one another out through cover of the bushes.

We were maybe 20 feet apart, but I daren’t get any closer for fear of spooking this beautiful creature. I decided I would wait as long as it took. But the wait was short-lived, as a car pulled up, a door opened, someone coughed, then slammed the door shut. My deer buddy bolted, but with no clear path through the bushes, it returned to the marsh water, bounding through the muck and mire with loud splashes, then it returned to land once again down the road, but too far away for me to try and catch up.

As I rounded the bend, I glanced over at the marsh, hoping for one more glimpse of my deer buddy, but no such luck.

This time I was heading back to the car for sure.

Following this deer-sighting debacle, I was now ready to leave, retracing my route … and then some.

Along the way, I heard a heron overhead, screeching at no one in particular. It landed on this rocky platform …

… and wasted no time scoping out the water hopeful to soon be scooping out a fish.

I was surprised to see Poplar tree leaves littering the pathway. The weatherman said the trees will turn color and drop earlier this year due to drought conditions in the Spring, then an abundance of rain in the Summer. He added that the trees are stressed just like humans.

I finally reached the car, but decided to get a photo of the Cove Point road sign, so I walked another quarter of a mile to the main road to get that shot.

I stopped at the fishing overlook to see if any waterfowl were there – nothing! I wondered aloud “where were the egrets and swans?”

Weary and warmish, I reached the car. It was time to head home. I may have pushed the housework aside, but a slew of weeds awaited me and there was no convenient excuse for pulling them on such a beautiful day. I knew appearances matter outside the house, even if I was forgiving to my transgressions inside.

As I rolled out of the parking space and onto the main road, I saw a flash of brown in the bushes … yes, those same bushes I had just passed ten minutes before. Whenever I’ve seen deer in clear view, I was driving and pulling over on the side of the road within the park is discouraged, so I was forced to move along. But, there was a parking lot near the fishing site, so I was all in. I swear that I parked, hopped out of the car and pulled the camera out of the pouch in a heartbeat.

Mama deer loped off across the field, into the marsh and out of my sight. But her fawn had its own agenda. It posed while gracefully grazing and alternatively staring at me with those big brown eyes. I cooed softly and clicked my tongue, while calling it a host of enDEERments. Lucky for me, the fawn was content to stay in the limelight, literally, with lots of lime-green Water Lotuses in the marsh behind it. I couldn’t wait to share those photos and they were the subject of last week’s Wordless Wednesday.

Here is one more photo …

I was ecstatic and I know I floated home. 🙂

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Bashful Bambi. #Wordless Wednesday #Nice meetin’ ya kid.

#Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

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National Trails Day 2021 – Part II

This is Part II of my morning meanders taken June 5th, National Trails Day. You can read Part I here if you missed it.

The power of suggestion … it’s real!

Because I am always obsessed about the weather for my walking agenda, (and in general), I follow several meteorologists and weather sites online, plus listen faithfully to an all-news radio station. In the 6:00 a.m. newscast on June 5th, it was suggested to “go take a hike today for National Trails Day” – then, while scrolling through my Twitter feed, I saw this Tweet by the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge:

So, off I went, notwithstanding the already-stifling temps, in order to garner steps, collect blog fodder and hopefully not melt in the process.

I arrived at the Trenton Gateway portion of the Refuge mid-morning, on the heels of my four-mile meander at the marshes of Lake Erie Metropark. Whew – just as the weather folks predicted, it was “air you could wear” and soon tiny beads of sweat were forming on my brow, as it was a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the start of the trail in the hot sun with no shade. This visit I skipped a stop at the Korneffel Fishing Pier; instead I aimed to concentrate on the Monguagon Delta, perhaps for another up-close glimpse of a heron, then hike through the Old Growth Forest where a deer or an owl would help fulfill my “Critter Photo Bucket List” and also make my day.

It was my first time back to this venue in 2021. I was eager to see how “green” it looked since my previous visits were when the leaf colors were on the wane and the last time was after a dusting of snow. I had high hopes of seeing a colorful array of wildflowers in the wetland areas, especially the prolific blooming Wild Hibiscus or Swamp Rose, which flowers and their abudance had been teased on the venue’s website.

Well this happy wanderer saw NO colorful wildflowers, just a skittish Killdeer walking about, an anxious turtle sunning itself and a Egret enjoying a fish breakfast. Unbelievably, there was no human interaction as I was the only one on the trails and the walkway in the Delta.

Enroute to the Old Growth Forest, I stopped to see the progress of the Visitor Center which was still closed due to COVID at that time, but has since opened. I paused to take some photos of the beach glass that has been embedded at the Center. The mosaic is designed to capture the sun’s rays onto the glass, creating a wavy, ripple effect to resemble the waters of the Detroit River. It’s one of the highlights of the Center and my photos really don’t do it justice.

This turtle blissfully sunned itself on a rock, aah, finally a critter posing for me. I grabbed the camera and got one shot before it heard the shutter click, freaked out and plopped into the water. Guess I do better interacting with squirrels who are eager to provide a pose in exchange for some peanuts.

On the trail at the 300-year old Old Growth Forest.

The long-awaited opening of the Trenton Gateway of the Refuge was in October 2020. With all the years of preparation to ready this newest wildlife venue, I was surprised to see recent photos on their Facebook site of how a torrential rainstorm had wreaked havoc in the wooded area; it was advised to stay away or hike carefully. Large portions of the walkways in the Forest were submerged and the Vernal pools looked like small lakes.

I saw no evidence of water damage and there were NO critters in the woodsy area, unless you want to count these on this cute sign.

There are Eastern Fox Snakes at the Refuge’s Forest area, so most of the time, I avert my eyes to the ground and tread carefully – just sayin’.

I retraced my steps and headed straight for the Monguagon Boardwalk in the Delta by the same name.

Do I dare cross the length of the Monguagon Boardwalk this time?

It was a little windy which gave some cause to pause as the Monguagon Boardwalk across the Delta stretched before me.

As you can see, there is no railing and that makes me a little nervous. Just as I was wavering, in the distance a Great Egret plunged into the Delta and began walking around on its stilt-like legs in search of breakfast. Well, Mr. Egret’s appearance solidified my decision to traipse across, albeit carefully, grab a few shots, then scurry back to land.

I saw some pond lilies as I tread along the walkway and thought it was a tad early for them, but maybe I was confusing them with the exquisite Water Lotuses at Lake Erie Metropark which peak late Summer.

I crept closer to the Egret, as it scanned the water scoping out fish and it was so engrossed in its fishing expedition, it didn’t see me right away. Then Mr. Egret saw me, freaked out and flew away.

It landed on the other side of the Delta … so much for that.

I turned around to begin my perilous journey back (for me anyway), but soon stopped short because the lure of a tasty fish breakfast was just too great to pass up and the Egret returned, plunged into the water and the quest for fish began anew. It was successful as you can see below.

It was all good, me taking pictures, him/her munching on small fish, then I saw something splashing around in the water … “not this again I thought” as it had been just an hour or so before when I wasted my time at the marshy area at Lake Erie Metropark, waiting patiently for a brown something to emerge from the murky waters, after a series of ripples and splashes caught my attention.

Same as before, something loomed large and the water was clear enough that I could see it crisscrossing the Delta. Occasionally it splish-splashed in that split second when it came up for air. I got a little nervous, not only for the camera getting wet from a big splash, but yikes, ever the worrier, I imagined it jumping out of the water, onto the walkway and me recoiling in horror and falling into the Delta.

Just then, whatever sea creature was beneath the walkway had obviously tickled the tootsies of the Egret, who dropped its fish and took off, taking to the skies and getting the heck out of Dodge.

The “sea creature” next leaped out of the water, likely startled by the quick exit of the Egret. I could see it was a huge Carp and, as it swam near the walkway, I got this photo of it, then just like Mr. Great Egret, I got the heck out of Dodge!

As I walked to the car, a Killdeer crossed my path, obviously in a hurry to get somewhere. I wonder who got more steps on this National Trails Day, the Killdeer with its long legs and swift strides … or me, with equally long legs and swift strides? Have you ever seen a Killdeer walking? They sure are on the move!!

I walked six miles altogether after a short hop to Council Point Park to tender peanuts to my furry and feathered friends, I wearily put the car in the garage, glad to be home.

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