January 29

Even though the school field trip at the Nature Area was cancelled Wednesday due to low wind chills and drifted roads, Remi and I still went out there to fill the feeders and explore Grebe Pond. When I arrived at 9am, the weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 10 degrees and strong, gusty winds out of the southwest dropping the wind chill to 8 degrees below zero. I arrived at the classroom building just in time to see a large hawk (maybe a Red-tailed) take off from the ground near one of the feeders with a dead Junco in its talons. Heading south down to the pond, I walked onto the ice to the middle and bored a hole with my auger. I measured the thickness of the ice at 11 inches and the depth of the water at a little less than 3 feet. Heading back toward shore, I turned west into a frigid wind and began a counter clockwise hike along the edge where I could walk up close to the tall Phragmites. The east side of the pond had lots of dead cattails including a fascinating sketch in the snow made by their swaying leaves. Further along, I came to an empty birdhouse used by Tree Swallows in the spring and summer. Approaching a small island near the south end, I could barely make out two Muskrat lodges covered with drifted snow. On the ice were some old deer tracks filled with blowing snow. Circling around the east side, I was intrigued by the frozen ripples of snow on the ice caused by the recent strong winds. I completed the circuit and passed the observation platform where I glanced up to see the webcam that gives everyone a view of Grebe Pond, year round. Next, I returned to the classroom building where the feeders were bustling with Juncos, Goldfinches, Nuthatches, Mourning Doves, Sparrows and Chickadees. Finally, we hopped in the car for our trip home to thaw out.

Stepping lightly

Pond hidden by ice

Beginning to cross

Snow depth isn’t precise

From the middle

Dead cattails on shore

Above my head

No tree swallows soar

In the distance

Muskrat lodges show

Against my face

Winter winds blow

D. DeGraaf

Janurary 23

Thursday, Remi and I hiked in one of our favorite spots, Pine River Park in Alma. The mid-morning weather was mostly sunny with a frigid temperature of 7 degrees and a steady wind out of the northwest that produced a wind chill of 7 degrees below zero. We left the warmth of the car and headed south on a seasonal road into a stand of pine and spruce that sheltered us from the very cold wind. Looking down, I noticed some fresh rabbit tracks. Gazing east, the bright morning sun produced long shadows on the snow as it penetrated the dense forest. I turned north into a clearing where the wind hit me head on as I came to a vista to see that the river was frozen solid. Turning around, I continued hiking south where I noticed we were following some fresh tracks of a fairly large dog. Up in a tall tree against a blue sky, several perching Mourning Doves were warming themselves. Rounding the bend, I continued east and found shelter from the wind again as I entered a woods dominated by conifers. Near the entrance, I was surprised to see one remaining frozen blossom from a Spindle Tree. Following the meandering trail, I was reminded of a hike we took here back in November of 2013 during hunting season. There was quite a contrast between the landscape of last autumn and this winter. Approaching a familiar footbridge, again I thought about this same setting back in November. Finally, we completed the circuit and found the car for our short trip home.

In coldness of winter she snuggles down

Over a blanket of snow on the ground

In newness of spring she comes alive

She warms the earth so creatures survive

In greenness of summer she hits her stride

Her lush landscape is where wildlife abide

In briskness of autumn she paints the leaves

Colors of the rainbow to show off her trees

Last year is over. A new year has begun

Mother Nature’s seasons pass one by one

D. DeGraaf

January 17

Friday, Remi and I hiked part of the Fred Meijer bike trail west from Pingree Rd in the tiny village of Elwell, four miles west of Alma. The mid-morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 21 degrees and a noticeable wind from the southwest. Starting out, I could see that the trail was mostly covered with virgin snow except for a single set of human tracks made earlier this morning. There was little evidence of bird life except for a couple of male Cardinals flying among the trees far ahead. The white path before me was straight, bordered by leafless, green-less vegetation and extended as far as the eye could see. Walking slowly, with the dog close behind, I gazed to the north and was pleased to view a rare, blue sky. Occasionally, I spotted deer, mouse and squirrel tracks on the trail. Once in awhile, the trail left the shelter of the trees where I could feel the brisk, cold wind against my face. In this nearly colorless landscape, it was easy to spot red berries and apples. Looking at my surroundings, I decided that today, I would enjoy the natural solitude and scenery without trying to determine the identity of plants and trees. Reaching the next crossroad at 1 mile, I turned around and retraced my steps where I noticed off to my right, a beautiful pattern of drifting snow that had formed on the north bank. On the trail below, the sight of Remi’s tracks reminded me of all the places he has left these tracks while hiking with me over the years. Continuing east, the sun finally broke through to reveal a variety of tree shadows on the snow. Finally, we arrived back in Elwell at the car and headed for home.

An hour of hiking

Through nature’s domain

Wandering and wondering

In snowy terrain

An hour to focus

On life in the wild

Eyes wide open

Like a curious child

An hour to admire

All that surrounds me

To respect and revere

Whatever I see

D. DeGraaf

January 11

Saturday, Remi and I hiked the familiar trails of Forest Hill Nature Area. The early morning weather was rainy, foggy with a temperature of 37 degrees and no wind. I stood at the crest of the hill and noticed the landscape to the west was not as white since an overnight rain had washed some of the snow away. Proceeding down the hill past Mallard Marsh, I spotted deer tracks of a large buck with its splayed hooves and dewclaws. I trudged through Bobolink Meadow and entered North Woods where I saw some Raccoon tracks in the snow. Suddenly, I heard a loud cat-like scream and looked up to see two Raccoons sitting in the crotch of a large Beech tree. Continuing west through the woods, I came upon a freshly dug hole made by a hungry squirrel. I left the woods and circled around Succession Field where I watched a Black Squirrel scamper up a tree and sit still on a branch. Also, there were several piles of rabbit and deer scat next to the trail. I turned east and followed the trail through a stand of Birch before turning into South Woods. Near the edge of Swanson Swamp, I could see pieces of bark, shed from a dying Ash tree had littered the snow. Further along, I noticed a cluster of five needles on the snow that had fallen from a scraggly White Pine tree, the only conifer in the woods. While listening to a noisy crow, I exited the woods, turned east and then south where I paused at Artist Overlook to look over Sora Swale. Following the south trail, I turned south at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery where I paused to watch a Red-tailed Hawk emerge from the top of one of the tall White Pine trees in the cemetery and fly north toward Reflection Hill. I entered the cemetery where I could see one of the pine trees had lost several branches from the recent ice storm. I climbed up the hill and gazed west at our neighbor’s crop field. Leaving the cemetery, I headed north through Native Grassland and paused at Grebe Pond. I continued toward the barn where I spotted some Pheasant tracks on the trail. Also, I observed a couple of Starlings on the power lines to the east. At the barn, I turned west and walked past the Observation Platform to the edge of Grebe Pond where the surface was covered with standing water from the overnight rain. Next, I saw a fat Tree Sparrow perched on a nearby tree. Behind the Classroom Building, the bird feeders were busy with Juncos, House and Gold finches, Mourning Doves, Blue Jays, Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers. Finally, we came to the car and took off for home.

Great bird of prey

Wingspan so wide

You ride the wind

You soar and glide

You perch alone

In a tree so tall

How do you spot?

A mouse so small

You fly away

If I get too near

Red tailed hawk

It’s you I revere

D. DeGraaf

January 5

Sunday, Remi and I stayed close to home and hiked in a wooded area behind our neighbor’s house on Luce Road, northwest of Alma city limits.. The early afternoon weather was snowy with a temperature of 23 degrees and a stiff north wind. I left the car and followed a path west through deep snow. Next to the trail, I noticed a few wild grapes still on the vine that had not been eaten by birds due to an over abundance of food sources this fall. I continued west where I found shelter from the wind in a stand of Red Pine and Aspen. Turning north, I hiked along the edge of a clearing used in the summer as a landing strip for my neighbor’s small airplane. On my right, I saw a Cedar tree whose bottom branches had been pruned by browsing deer. Further along, I was not surprised to see a White Oak tree that still had leaves on it. However, I was surprised to see an Apple tree still had apples on it. I turned around and headed south with the wind at my back where I spotted a few red Rose hips still on the vine and the dead seed head of Common Mullein. I continued south and came to a stand of tall Norway spruce where I found shelter on a path that cut through the trees. The trail was narrow as I pushed aside branches drooping from the heavy snow. I turned around and retraced my steps back to a clearing where I heard a few crows and noticed a solitary White Pine tree. Further along, my hike was interrupted by a large Aspen tree that had fallen over the trail. Heading east back to the car, I was intrigued by the snow covering the bracket fungi on a tree trunk. Finally, we made it back to the car for a short ride home.

In the dawn of winter

Snow lays down to rest

Covers the icy pond

Defines the vacant nest

Cleans the forest floor

Coats needles of pine

Hides the bleak field

Hugs twigs and vine

Millions of fragile flakes

Frozen crystals of worth

Whiten the landscape

Blanket mother earth

D. DeGraaf