Weekend Walk at the Marsh - 130907

Yes, you will get to know this marsh - Horicon Marsh, through my eyes, my lens, quite often.  It is my place of 'peace'.  It surprises me every time I go.

Normally I am here once a week, except this year.  Despite my schedules that have kept me away, I got really depressed with the marsh early on this year because, whether it be the lack of rain or the decisions of the 'marsh people', there is little water there this year.  It has resulted in a lack of waterfowl and other water birds that I always enjoy going to hunt for...through my binoculars, in hopes of seeing that infrequent American Bittern, Black Necked Stilt, White Pelicans and Bald Eagles, young and adult.

It kept me away.

But I should know better.

Many a trip I have made out there just to get away, thinking all the way there that I am wasting gas..there isn't going to be anything there today, this time of year (whatever time it is, hot dry summer, cold winter day)...just to be totally surprised...normally close to the end of my visit when I am about to give up and 'poof', just like that,  I sight a rail, an American bittern...or even the more rare Least Bittern.

Hurriedly trying to get my 500mm out to try to get a shot, I just know it will be gone before I can.  Normally, I get some type of shot, normally not one to win a contest on....but good enough to make 'me' happy.To add to my photographic bird list.

So....mad a t the world about some silly thing last weekend, I piled every piece of camera equipment I own into the 4 Runner followed by my companion, Lexi with her leash carried in her mouth....off we went to take a stroll on a half way decently warm fall like day...through the marsh.

There are many roads that you can take to get to different parts of the marsh.  Some I hardly ever frequent.  Others I frequent quite often.  We wanted to hike this time though so I parked in one of the parking lots on the auto tour route and we got out to see if the boardwalk and surrounding woods would greet us with something new and different.

Not much on the wildlife end except endless Mallards, a few grebes, and coots, but instead we enjoyed the beginning of the fall color change and what was left of the summer wildflowers and beautiful reflections throughout.

The trails through the woods had the fragrance that always brings back memories of discoveries of my childhood in the woods of New Hampshire.

There was only one big group of white pelicans which were way too far off for anyone to even know that is what they were.  I miss the pelicans this year.  I do.

I was able to grab a shot of the ever famous marsh hunter and fisher...the Great Blue Heron, feeding on carp. This alone..was a life revitalizing event for me...although not so much for that little fat fish.

Weekend Walk - Labor Day 2013

I hope you enjoy my walks as much as I do...because they always have been and always will be...my life saving, mental vacations much needed.

So...we start....

With this place that I visit semi often from spring through til fall...a bit of northern Wisconsin known as the Crivitz area.  As most other places, it changes from season to season and I'll share it's different 'seasonal attire' with you as often as I can.

Labor Day weekend is generally one of the last times throughout the year I get here because then...hunting season takes over and I prefer not to walk the woods when there are...unknown armed bandits out there somewhere.  I do good enough just walking the woods in my own neighbor wearing my orange attire...blaze orange...one of my least favorite colors!!

We actually had  bit cooler weather...and some rain after some warm and humid days and I was greeted, and surprised with some dandy fungi activity.

Luckily I had my macro lense with me.  I would have been totally disappointed with myself if I didn't. For those of you that follow me often enough, you probably know by now my love for mushrooms and gnomes and all that magical fairytale stuff.

The morning was greeted with a bit of sunshine out the back window at which I stare out of quite often watching the antics of the blue jays and chipmunks and many other birds as they migrate through the area.  After morning coffee and a bit of reading and relaxing on the front porch, I meander through the garden area, small as it is, I always discover something awesome.

A walk through the woods this day down a new trail, through the trees and across some summer wildflower and grassy terrain, my Lexi enjoyed romping with ears flopping in excitement to be able to run free and discover.  Romping through the field resulted in a mid morning swim and bobbing for some river seaweed of some sort or another.

Many of my 'weekend meanders' include a drive along with the walk so we were able to enjoy a bit of Peshtigo Wi also where we discovered these hip little steers.  Not sure what they are but they reminded me and made me so homesick for Texas.  They became as curious about me as I was about them.

We found a dam area with an awesome bridge and an old railroad track.  A couple more favorite things of mine.

It was a well needed walk.

An area I might want to discover on my own again sometime.