Two Hours of Walking

Even though mink are a relatively common sight at the marsh,
seeing them through a camera, in focus (without Phrag right
in their face) has proven to be another humbling pursuit

Temperatures climbed well beyond the forecasted high yesterday afternoon (probably approaching 70 degrees), but unfortunately, so did the wind velocity (sustained 25+ mph out of the west with gusts probably well over 40). I scrapped plans for an inaugural paddle in new kayaks (more on that to come) and decided to scout for drain tiles to better understand runoff coming from the farm fields to our south. This audible offered the opportunity to carry the camera for a couple hours.

After clicking a few landscape shots for future reference, I got my first chance at wildlife images as one of the parent bald eagles from one of our nests made its presence known. Its shrill call was enough to get my attention -- even over the howling wind -- so I knew it was close. I spent 15 minutes chasing it in the air with the camera, a humbling experience for sure. It then maneuvered itself through bud-laden cottonwood branches before perching back on its two-year-old nest.

The unrelenting wind constantly tested the huge bird's balance. The feathers on its head and back pulsed "against the grain" every time the wind surged, making him look a little like my boys when they get out of the bed in the morning. While I was 50 yards or more away from the base of the tree, he (or she? -- hard to tell without a mate for comparison) seemed unaffected by my presence. But the shot below was the only time the bird presented its head for a photo. (I could have taken dozens of images of its posterior, however.) This again got me thinking about how everything has to work out just right for photography of wildlife to work out.

The eagle certainly had an easier time balancing itself than I did the camera in 25-40 mph winds

Three decent shots among three dozen bad ones -- gotta love digital technology; most of my images were out of focus,
very poorly framed, or both (click to enlarge)

My not-too-unusual finished product when attempting to take close-up photos of eagles (or any bird) in flight;
yesterday's wind actually helped because my subject tended to hold steady in one place longer than is typical
(not that you'd know it from this shot) . . . I just need to get a better monopod to help steady the camera

Bonaparte's Gull on the bayfront, taking on the black cap that is characteristic of spring breeding

Palm Warbler -- again in spring breeding plumage -- in a tangle of dogwood

One of dozens of Red Admiral butterflies that I witnessed either sipping early nectar or probing for minerals
(as this one is) in moist spring soil

I purposefully focused this shot on this Garter Snake's midsection; a recent meal made
for the easiest subject of the day -- dark soil, warming sunshine, and serious digestion
kept this typically slithery subject essentially motionless and clearly content

A True Collaboration from Day One

A survey team from the Mannik Smith Group in Maumee
(SIDEBAR: Note that the green Phrag now exceeding waste height was burned to the ground just three weeks ago!)

Roy spent most of his day and I spent a good chunk of my afternoon yesterday accompanying a two-man survey crew around the property. Priority one was establishing specific boundaries for several discrete management units. Our secondary goal was to shoot elevations at a good number of key locations around the property to lay the ground work for future restoration and improvement projects.

I feel it appropriate to single out the Mannik Smith Group (MSG) for their work. They were prompt, professional and efficient yesterday, per usual. But even more notable from my perspective: yesterday marked a continuation of their ongoing support for the project. They are among a handful of Toledo-based organizations that were instrumental in this project getting off the ground in the first place.

Other notable contributors include: Marshall & Melhorn (legal), Louisville Title (title/survey work), Hull & Associates (environmental), and Signature Bank (financing). All of these entities have supported with expertise and a commitment to stretch our project dollars as far as they can go. I should also recognize Miller Diversified and SJS Investment Consulting for playing crucial advisory roles from the onset.

This project has been true collaboration from day one. And for that, I am truly thankful.
________________

Before signing off, I have to share a few images captured in yesterday's brilliant (and welcomed) sunshine. I had the luxury of helping to direct traffic, rather than do the work myself, so I could carry the camera. As usual, for every fun photo captured, there were dozens that didn't make it in front of the Canon -- or at least not in focus!

Another common site, the Yellow Warbler. These brilliant little guys are early to arrive and happy to stick around all summer to breed. They are constantly shuffling through lower branches of the understory and provide brief glimpses as they dart across the dike from dogwood to dogwood. This particular individual couldn't resist the warm morning sunshine, so it gave me the rare opportunity to find and focus.

The Red-bellied Woodpecker (figure that name out?!) is perhaps most recognized for its propensity to visit suet and make a mess of neighborhood bird feeders. But there is something different about seeing this striking bird in the trees. It's shrill call and constant motion make it fun to observe about anywhere though. We're blessed with lots of these and other relatives -- one of the silver linings of loads of dead ash trees.

I had no idea snakes would be this photogenic until I got a camera that could do them justice! This little garter was particularly cooperative because it was in the midst of a molt. Note the cloudy eyes and loose skin at the base of its neck. A warm rock and more of that irresistible sunshine made it tough to want to move, but I'm pretty sure it was far enough along in shedding its old exterior that it couldn't even see me 12" from its nose (the clouding of the eyes can make a snake temporarily blind until the molt is complete). Young snakes can shed their skins as often as every few weeks, so this makes them particularly vulnerable to predation.

I should get back to work . . . more photo sharing coming soon!