January 2

Friday, while Remi stayed home with an injured leg, I welcomed the new year with a hike at Forest Hill Nature Area. The mid-day weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 27 degrees and a freshening breeze that shifted from north to south. Standing at the crest of the hill, I gazed west at a nearly snowless landscape and thought about the harsh winter weather at this time last year when a foot of snow was already on the ground. Without Remi stopping frequently to smell and mark, I moved rapidly past Mallard Marsh, through Bobolink Meadow and paused in the middle of North Woods, where I spotted Raccoon tracks on the snow-covered ice of the large vernal pond. Continuing west through the silent woods, I noticed moss growing at the base of many trees and was reminded of the misconception that it only grows on the north side. It is true that moss grows best in cool, damp, shady places and not very well in direct sunlight. It is also true that in the northern hemisphere, the sun travels in an arc across the sky that is slightly south of overheard. From these facts came the notion that the north side of a tree is more shady and moist than the south side and therefore, moss would only grow there. However, this is only true sometimes as there are other factors that create shade such as proximate trees, rock formations and mounds of earth. So especially in a wooded area like this, I was not surprised to see moss growing on all sides of trees. Exiting the woods, I turned west circling Succession Field that included walking through Birch Row before entering South Woods. After pausing at ice-covered Swanson Swamp where I spotted tracks of a Red Squirrel, I continued on the trail gazing upward through a leafless canopy at a clear blue sky. Exiting the woods, I came to Artist Overlook where I looked far to the east to see the top of Raske Barn sticking up over Reflection Hill. I followed the south trail all the way to Brady Cemetery where the ground below the tall White Pine trees was heavily littered with needles and cones. Heading north past Grebe Pond, I stopped to examine the fresh carcass of a Meadow Vole before proceeding around to where the dock used to be to observe some rabbit tracks on a patch of snow. Finally, I returned to the car and headed home.

Sounds of nature gone

Pond fast asleep

Ice seals the surface

No Spring Peepers peep

No Bull Frogs croak

Or Green Herons shriek

No Mallards quack

Or Wood Ducks squeak

Redwings have left

Tree Swallows too

Winter’s hush

Right on cue

D. DeGraaf

December 25

Christmas day, Remi was back in Alma while I was in southern California hiking with my wife, my daughter and my sister in the Bernardo Bay Natural Area which is part of the San Dieguito River Park. The river flows west from Volcan Mountain north of Julian and meanders some 55 miles through conifer and oak woodlands, grasslands, and chaparral to the Pacific Ocean between Del Mar and Solana Beach, about 30 miles north of San Diego. The early morning weather was partly cloudy with spotty rain showers, a temperature of 53 degrees and no wind. We followed a paved trail east down an incline through chaparral where my sister pointed out a plant called California Dodder or Witches Hair which is a parasitic vine that envelops a host plant and penetrates it to steal its water and nutrients. Next, we turned north and crossed a long suspension bridge over what was suppose to be a water-filled arm of a large 1200-acre reservoir, call Lake Hodges. However, due to a significant draught, the lake retreated to leave an area of dried shrubs and dead trees where we spotted a large perching Great Egret and a small Anna’s Humming Bird. After crossing the bridge we turned west and came upon an Argiope Spider on a web attached to a Prickly Pear Cactus. We continued west on a muddy trail caused by a brief rain shower and looked in the distance to the lakeshore where we saw White Pelicans as well as American Wigeons and Coots. After pausing by a narrow tributary that was flowing into Lake Hodges, we turned around and retraced our steps back toward the bridge where we once again paused to observed a White-tailed Kite that would occasionally perch before it flew up, hovering and fluttering and then dive straight down to the ground to catch its prey. Crossing the bridge, we turned west where we observed one of many Castor Bean plants. Seeds of this plant contain valuable oil as well as toxins. Castor oil is added to lubricants for fine machinery and auto engines, plastics, paints, inks, soaps, linoleum, dyes, leather preservatives, waxes, polishes, cosmetics, candles, and crayons. Medicinally, it is used as a purgative, laxative, and general cure all. The plant also contains ricin, a deadly poison found in abundance in the seed and in smaller amounts throughout the rest of the plant. As little as 0.5 mg (the amount contained in several seeds) can kill an adult. One seed can kill a child. Finally, we hiked back up the incline to the car and headed south to San Diego.

Another year of nature hikes

In seasons that come and go

Another year of weekly wanderings

Over paths of mud or snow

Another year of new discoveries

Tiny creatures and tall trees

Another year of facing weather

Howling winds or gentle breeze

Mostly with my faithful dog

Hiking here and there

Another year of sights and sounds

Fond memories to spare

D. DeGraaf

December 14

Sunday, Remi stayed home while I accompanied two members of the Chippewa Valley Audubon Club on their annual Christmas Bird Count. The early morning weather was overcast, hazy with a temperature of 41 degrees and no wind as the recent above-freezing temperatures melted all the snow. We began from the south end of Coldwater Lake in Isabella County where, just off shore through the dense haze, we counted large numbers of Canada geese and Mallards along with a few Mute Swans that together were swimming, walking on the ice and making lots of noise. On shore, close by, we heard and saw a Belted Kingfisher, a few Blue Jays and Crows. Continuing clockwise around the lakeshore, we stopped to count a few Common Mergansers and Black Ducks swimming in open water and a few House Finches perched in nearby trees. Making our way to the eastside of the lake, we stopped at a 4-H camp that was closed for the season, walked to the water’s edge where we paused to listen and add one Bufflehead as well as several Goldeneye ducks to our count  Nearby we spotted a few leafless, High-bush Cranberry shrubs with their bright red fruit. Further south, we stopped briefly at Coldwater Lake Park where we added more Black-capped Chickadees and Mourning Doves to our count. Leaving the lake, we headed north to the Weidman Millpond where we stopped to search for more birds and listen to the water rush over the spillway. Riding through the residential section of the small village of Weidman, we stopped by several bird feeders where we counted Goldfinches, Downy Woodpeckers, Cardinals and House Sparrows. Finally at noon, I returned to my car for the trip home.

High in a hazy gray

Or low without snow

Honk of a Canada goose

Caw of a Common Crow

Noisy Jay of blue

Silent Cardinal of red

White breast of a Chickadee

Black cap on its head

Some perch or swim

Other ones in flight

Nature’s winged wonders

December morning light

D. DeGraaf

December 9

On Tuesday, Remi and I returned to the Gratiot-Saginaw State Game Area, 12 miles southeast of Ithaca to hike what was called on the map, the Whitetail trail just off Woodridge Rd. The early afternoon weather was overcast, hazy with a temperature of 36 degrees and no wind. I left the parking area and followed a trail west where patches of snow remained from a light overnight snowfall. The surrounding trees were mainly oaks, maples and pine. From the leaf litter, I noticed leaves of Pin Oak that gets its common name from the practice long ago of "pinning together" the timbers of a barn with the tough, resilient branchlets of this tree. Looking up, I spotted a squirrel's nest in a one of these trees. Continuing west, I noticed the skeletal remains of a small mammal, perhaps an opossum or raccoon. Scattered among the leaf litter were large patches of Winter Green leaves with their fragrant smell, once they are crushed. Also, I found several patches of Sphagnum moss. Observing fresh boot tracks on the path in front of me made me wonder if a deer hunter had been by earlier since this is Muzzleloader gun season. The trail turned south and took me through a stand of White Birch where some Rosette Lichens on a tree trunk caught my eye. Stopping to turn around, I was impressed how quiet and peaceful this place was. Just before reaching the car, I paused to observe a mysterious, 4-inch diameter, silky patch attached to a snag and wondered if it was some kind of insect larvae or spider nest. Finally, we made it back to my dirty car and headed north toward Alma.

Overnight

All turns white

Virgin snow

Puts on a show

All it takes

Billions of flakes

Paint the scene

Make it clean

Nature makes it

A winter blanket

Covers the brown

On the ground

Welcomed display

December day

D. DeGraaf

December 2

On Tuesday, Remi and I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area after being away for a month. The early morning weather was partly sunny, 18 degrees and a slight wind out of the southeast. At the crest of the hill, I paused to gaze west at a landscape that was snowless due to recent temperatures in the 40’s and 50”s. Meanwhile, I thought about what this same view was like 6 months ago. Descending the hill, I glanced south and counted about a dozen deer running up Reflection Hill. I then stopped at Mallard Marsh to admire the well-constructed lodge and envision the Muskrats that will hunker down inside for the winter. I proceeded through a stark Bobolink Meadow and continued through North Woods where I noticed the large vernal pond in the center was nearly full. Also, several tree branches, large and small, littered the ground. Exiting the woods, I turned west and looked up to see a familiar harbinger of winter, the Northern slate-colored Junco. Turning south along the western-most trail, I remembered this same view 6 months ago. Next, I entered South Woods and stepped out onto our new boardwalk where I was surprised to see a large turtle swimming just beneath a thin, clear layer of ice. Back on the trail, I noticed again the large amount of tree branches scattered on the forest floor. Exiting the woods, I next stopped at Artist Overlook where I looked down at an overflowing Sora Swale through clusters of hips from Multi-flora Rose. Following south trail as it turned east, I could hear and see both a Nuthatch and a Chickadee. I passed Frog Fen, turned south and approached Brady Cemetery where I noticed a nest nestled among the thorns of a Hawthorne tree and thought about the wise bird that built it there to fend off predators. Turning north at Brady Cemetery, I hiked through Native Grassland and came to the edge of Grebe Pond to remember this same vista back in June. Finally, I continued north past the barn to the parking lot for my car and our trip home.

Dawn of December

Cycle of nature slows

Leaf litter of brown

Dusted by early snows

Down earthen tunnels

Go the meadow mice

Over the vacant pond

Brittle layer of ice

Wild sounds are few

No buzzing of bees

Only a Chickadee’s call

Heard among the trees

D. DeGraaf