Peaceful interlude at the Park.

I thought it was about time I chose a pumpkin-themed picture to accompany this blog post as Halloween is just around the corner. It is fitting that I use this picture since my morning walk was all about the birds.

Saturday’s soggy start managed to turn into a sunny morning, so I didn’t have to forsake a walk, and this morning started off with a sprinkle or two as well, but … not until I was out the door, and halfway to Council Point Park, then a few raindrops came down. The rain stopped as quickly as it started thankfully, but the dark clouds hung around, until at last, a wee sliver of sunlight poked through that gray sky and illuminated the Park.

The sky may not have been blue, but I am sure my lips were. They felt frozen as I mumbled out a “good morning” greeting to the very few walkers at the Park this morning.

On my first trip around the perimeter path, I saw a dark streak in the sky and I think it was a Peregrine Falcon. I had a good look at it, but it suddenly quit circling overhead and disappeared into a tall tree. There was no chance of getting a photo of it since it moved so quickly, my camera was buried under my zipped-up jacket and I would have had to fumble with gloves, so I didn’t even bother trying to get a shot.

Next up was the Great Blue Heron, who, as usual, was fishing for breakfast at his usual spot, ankle deep in the frigid water. I dragged the camera out of its case carefully, lest I startle him, and I was able to get closer than ever, and he stood as still as a statue and didn’t budge. I took a series of shots as I was inching up toward him since he didn’t bolt like the last time I approached him. He probably thinks to himself “why is this woman always taking my picture?

But, on the second trip around the perimeter path, the heron had moved. I figured he flew away, then I noticed a group of ducks were surrounding him on the other side of the Creek. The heron stood near a dead tree and the weathered tree trunk was the same color as him, thus he blended right into the scenery. The ducks were milling about, curious maybe? The heron didn’t seem to care and just stood there in the water like a statue.

There were many mallards at the Creek this morning and I wished I would have had some bread to feed them. It seems if I tote along a little stale bread, I don’t see them, so I just quit taking it and cater to the squirrels instead.

The last stop on my peaceful interlude was carefully walking down the dewy, grassy slope to take advantage of my ability to peer through the tall bushes which are missing so many of their leaves now. From this vantage point I could check out the partially submerged log where the mallards like to roost. This passel of ducks was still roosting, heads neatly tucked beneath a wing, but the “lookout duck” who was watching over his brethren, caught sight of me and rousted the others.

As you see in the photo, two ducks slid into the water to make a quick getaway and the others got ready to move off the log and into the water in record time.

As I left the Park to go home, a large flock of Canada Geese flew overhead, wings flapping and moving silently (for a change), probably getting ready to skid right into the Ecorse Creek for a chilly landing, thereby disturbing the tranquil scene of the waterfowl already gathered there.

A leisurely Sunday stroll gave me time to take in the sights of life at the Creek and added another five miles to my total miles walked in 2017.

You can catch up on my blog posts before I started blogging at Patch in August 2013 by going here: http://lindaschaubblog.net/