January 27

Wednesday, Remi stayed home while I hiked at Lumberjack Park, located10 miles east of Alma just north of M-46. The early afternoon weather was cloudy with a temperature of 28 degrees and a few snowflakes falling through calm air. I exited the car, walked north across the Lumberjack Rd. bridge over the Pine River and turned east into a seldom-used, 20-acre wooded area of the park where an overnight dusting of snow whitened the landscape. I continued east through a woodlot of mature Maple and Oak mixed with young White Pine including some small saplings. Up ahead, it was easy to spot a grey squirrel scampering on the white ground as well as some exposed caches and lots of fresh tracks. I proceeded to the edge of a steep riverbank and paused to look and listen to the scenic Pine River as it meandered through the park. Continuing east, I entered a dense stand of mature Red and White Pine growing in rows that appeared to be the result of an old reforestation program. In the shelter of this area, I noticed lots of deer and turkey tracks. Unfortunately, I also found evidence of human littering. Continuing east, I hiked down a slope onto an expansive flood plain of shallow ice-covered pools as well as a scattering of trees and shrubs that were either alive, dead or some stage between. Among the trees, I spotted a few snags with woodpecker holes and a buck rub. Working my way east through dense brush including Prickly Ash, I arrived at the edge of Mud Creek. This 20 ft. wide tributary of the Pine River drains from Half-Moon Lake to the north and agricultural land to the east. Exploring the bank, I saw a few fresh Raccoon tracks. Finally, I turned around, retraced my steps back to the car and headed for home.

Stately bird of prey
Early morning search
Still as a statue
In a leafless perch
Scanning a barren field
Carpeted in white
Small shrew scampers
In the raptor’s sight
Swoops fast, kills quick
Mother Nature’s way
Red-tailed Hawk eats
Lives another day

D. DeGraaf

January 20

Wednesday, Remi and I traveled 18 miles north to just east of Mt. Pleasant off Leaton Rd. to hike the 25-acre, Williams-Blackburn Preserve, one of 19 acquisitions of the Chippewa Watershed Conservancy. The mid-day weather was partly cloudy with a temperature of 18 degrees and a slight breeze out of the southwest. We left the car parked in a cul-de-sac, hiked south and then east next to a fenced boundary of private property before entering the preserve where I paused on a bluff to admire the scenic Chippewa River landscape. Since there were no trails to follow and only 3 inches of hard packed snow on the ground, I easily made my way along the bluff where Remi sniffed out the tail fur of a Melanistic Gray Squirrel lying on the ground. Descending the bluff to the riverbank, I paused to take in nature’s river wonderland. Continuing south, I walked to the end of a peninsula where the meandering river flowed rapidly south and made a sharp turn to flow north. I turned around, walked back up the slope and hiked west along the bluff where I saw a tree trunk that at one time was worked on by carpenter ants followed by a woodpecker feeding on those ants. Also, nearby on another tree trunk was a familiar oval-shaped nest hole of a Pileated Woodpecker. After gazing fondly one more time at the river, I turned north into a dense stand of evergreens consisting of mostly Red Pine and White Spruce. Finally, we made it back to the car and headed home.

Tell me your story

Watercourse of worth

Shrouded by ice

Caressed by the earth

Your current speaks

Flow, waters flow

Washing the rocks

Muffled by snow

Nature’s treasure

So much you deliver

Riparian wonder

Chippewa River

D. DeGraaf

Tuesday, Remi and I returned to the 20-acre, Emma Burnham Outdoor Center in St. Louis, Michigan. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 12 degrees and no wind. We exited the car and headed south into a dense woodlot of mostly Red Oak, White Oak and Sugar Maple. Continuing south on the trail where 3 inches of new snow had fallen, I followed fresh cross-country ski tracks as they came to a fork and turn west. As the trail curved south, I began trudging through 18-inch snowdrifts that had developed from yesterday’s strong westerly winds. Next, I paused to peruse the winter landscape and listen to the faint call of a crow. Further ahead, I spotted fresh deer and shrew tracts. The shrew is a small mammal that is well adapted for winter survival, including a thickening of its winter pelt and ability to cache food and move around in a subnivean environment (under the snow). It’s active only a small percentage of the wintertime, allowing the rest of the time for low-energy activities, such as deep sleeping. Finally, we looped back to the car, turned on the heater and headed home.

January takes hold

Earth’s rhythm slows

Leafless trees are silent

Except for noisy crows

Under cover of snow

In the forest scene

Blades of woodland sedge

Stopped making green

In the dead of winter

A most amazing fete

Heart of Mother Nature

Continues a steady beat

D. DeGraaf

January 6

Wednesday, after 2 months of wandering far and wide, Remi and I returned home to Forest Hill Nature Area. The early morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 19 degrees and a light breeze out of the west. We left the parking lot, headed west to the crest of Energy Hill where I paused to view the early winter landscape and contrast it to the last time I looked. Descending the hill and passing Mallard Marsh, I noticed a muskrat lodge sticking up on the south shore. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I spotted a rooster pheasant flying east as well as pheasant tracks across the snow-covered trail. Far to the west, I counted a dozen or so deer grazing in Succession Field. Next, I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where the forest floor was crisscrossed with a variety of tracks including: squirrel, raccoon, mouse and even coyote. Near the exit, I saw several downed trees including a large one over the trail due to the wind storm a few weeks ago. Looping west around Succession Field, I noticed the trail was covered with a mix of rabbit, dog and deer tracks but no human tracks. I entered South Woods and paused at one of my favorite sites, Swanson Swamp to take in the peaceful scenery. Exiting the woods, I stopped briefly at Artist Overlook to gaze at Sora Swale before following the south trail toward Frog Fen where I spotted familiar grooves in the snow made by a Meadow Vole. I continued south past Brady Cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where I paused to view snow-covered Grebe Pond. Proceeding north, we completed the circuit, found the car and headed back to Alma.

Early in January

Deep in a cozy lair

Early snow blanket

Shields the frigid air

Under frozen earth

Wild creature hides

Heart slows its beat

Breathing subsides

Hibernation begins

In a furry heap

Winter slumber

Groundhog’s asleep

D. DeGraaf