October 20

The early morning sky is mostly sunny with temperatures in the mid 50’s as I find myself in Midland County, hiking a 2-track toward another encounter with Bush Creek. Approaching the creek from a high bank, I’m startled by a dozen shrieking Wood Ducks that take off and fly away before I can focus my camera. These ducks (stock photo) generally do not stay in Michigan for the winter, as they migrate south to warmer climates. They will occasionally overwinter during very mild winters and in areas where the water does not freeze. Close to the shore, I hear a Robin chirp while watching the creek’s clear water flow downstream through a very shallow channel. At my feet, I see a dog-like track of a Coyote in the wet sand. On the far bank, I spot clusters of Wild Grapes hanging from an Elm tree. For Cedar Waxwing birds this fruit can be a primary food source during their fall migration.Raccoons, opossums, and foxes like ripe grapes as a preferred food prior to winter because they are high in sugar and calories. Exploring the flood plain, I come upon a patch of Tree Climber Moss. This type of moss is beneficial to trees, providing habitat for small organisms and helping with nutrient cycling. Nearby, I notice leafy vines of Round-leaved Greenbrier. This plant is considered both semi-evergreen and deciduous, meaning the leaves stay green much of the winter before falling. Up ahead, I see the trunk of a small Sycamore tree with its army-camouflage like design and the trunk of a small American Elm with its deeply-furrowed design. Looking around at other Elm tree trunks, I spot one being strangled by an Oriental Bittersweet vine. Introduced from Eastern Asia, this invasive vine can smother and damage native trees and shrubs, leading to ecological harm.  Looking up, I notice some Red Oak leaves changing colors. Upon closer inspection, I see the upper surface of one leaf displaying BB-size, reddish bumps called Oak Leaf Galls, caused by wasp larvae that developed from eggs laid on the leaf. By the time the leaves fall, the wasp larvae inside have matured and exited through tiny holes. By next spring, new galls will form on fresh oak leaves as part of the next cycle. On a nearby tree, I observe clusters of yellowish-white berries on vines of Poison Ivy. These berries are often seen in the fall and persist into the winter, and while they are a food source for birds, they are toxic to humans and should not be touched. Before heading back to the car, I take one more look at Bush Creek as it flows north toward its convergence with the Pine River, a mere ¾ mile away.

Aura of autumn

Before snows come

From sunny glades

Colors and shades

Of scarlet and gold

Trees, young and old

Where frost of fall 

Glazes it all

In crystalline white

Through longer night

Nature’s glow

October show

 

D. DeGraaf