If Barns Could Talk

This barn makes me smile every time that I see it, which is almost daily because it is near the reservoir where I love to take nature walks with my camera.   I love its Mona Lisa type of grin, which makes me wonder what memories it could share if it were able to talk. How many haying seasons has it housed in it's big loft. What kinds of animals found shelter in those orange walls. And..really, why was it painted orange in the first place?

My own memory about this barn is from a beautiful autumn day many years ago. The owners had a country shop in it, named, of course, The Orange Barn. My mother-in-law took me to a special event hosted by the business. It was the first time I had warmed apple cider, complete with a cinnamon stick for stirring. Such a lovely, simple drink to warm the hands and heart on a cool day. And spending the afternoon there was a nice way of getting to know Marge better.

As I drive around the countryside, I notice that many barns and outbuildings seem to have "faces" as this one does. I usually cannot photograph them because of traffic, or because I need to keep driving in order to get to my destination in time. But, because I think that faces in barns would be a nice collection, I am going to put more effort into recording them before they all disappear, only to be replaced by nondescript metal buildings.

Where do you find "faces"?  Do you record them with your camera? If not..what's holding you back?

Marcheta *about face!

Cedar Waxeing

 

 

 

This past week my friend and fellow nature photographer buff, Steve, has been finding hoards of Cedar Waxwings at Amann/Amick Reservoirs.

 

I have not been so lucky.

 

 

Bummer :(

 

 

 

The first time that I saw Cedar Waxwings was during a home invasion of my Hawthorn tree, which is right outside the window where I work.

 

 

Below is part of what I wrote about the experience for the Galion Inquirer. Stay tuned to this blog for chapter 2 for more info on Cedar Waxwings and another friend's experience with these awesome birds :)

 

Marcheta *waxing ornithological

 

 

"Cedar Waxwings (bombycilla cedrorum) are lovely to watch. They sport black masks that I am sure are the envy of area raccoons and spiked crests that resemble those of cardinals. With wings smooth as doves’, these birds are a color mix of soft brown, gray, and lemon yellow, with bright red patches on their wing tips. Being extremely social, they are usually found in large numbers. 

I first noticed cedar waxwings twelve years ago while I was working in my home office. It was early March and suddenly from the corner of my eye I saw a huge flock of birds land in the Hawthorn tree that is close to a window. Since this room is on the second story, my window is at eye-level with the tree’s canopy. 

 

 The tree is so close to the house that I felt that if I opened the window, I could reach out and touch the birds. Those masked marauders were feasting on the Hawthorn berries like nothing I had ever seen. I stood in awe for the half hour that it took the birds to completely strip the tree, which is the pride and joy of my winter landscape. 

 

 I didn’t know what kind of birds those were, nor did I understand what had just happened. Lucky for me, Jim knew. He identified them as cedar waxwings and explained that the bright red berries attracted the huge congregation.

 

 Having depleted our tree, they were off to strip other trees and bushes. I was miffed that my tree was left barren, but the memory of the exhilarating experience of watching the birds is something that will stay with me for my lifetime."

 



Just Passin' Through...Fall Migration

 

 

As often as possible (almost daily) I like to begin and end daylight hours with a trip with my camera to my favorite local nature spot, the twin reservoirs Amann/Amick just south of Galion in Morrow County.

This past week an Osprey has kept me entertained. Ospreys are not a common sight, and to have one hanging around has many people all a-flutter. I may not get the best pictures of it (after all, these raptors move !!!FAST!!!), but watching it cruise along, taking a high road, then bomb-diving for it's meal revs up my energy, too. 

Usually I arrive near the end of its fishing expedition (if I see it at all) and have no hope for any sort of decent picture because it stays too far from shore.

This morning I was lucky. I went to Amick first. What I first saw gave me hope, for just inside the parking lot, three pickup trucks were clustered together. Each driver was standing outside his truck, and one had binoculars pointed skyward. 

Instantly, ***I KNEW IT***

I knew that the men were watching something big and wonderful. It had to be the Osprey or the equally magnificent Bald Eagle that has been fishing there daily, too. I took my eyes off of them as I slowed to enter the parking lot and looked at the sky over the water, and there it was. With a slight tilt of extended wings and moving full speed ahead, the Osprey rounded the far shore and made a bee-line towards us lowly humans.

 

I forgot all about the sandwich I had brought for an al-fresco breakfast picnic and parked the car near the boat ramp so that I could run up and down the muddy, rocky shore if needed. The engine barely had time to shut down as I grabbed my camera, which I've learned to keep loaded, turned on, and ready to fire for these types of photo emergencies . I don't think I've ever exited a car as fast as I did today :)

I could not believe my luck as I took steady aim as I could muster and began to pan in sync with this magnificent bird. I stayed right with him, vicariously and enviously enjoying the freedom of flight.

 And the best part? Mr. Osprey came *almost* in my 300mm camera lens range, the closest that I've been able to get so far. And the better part? It circled around several times, giving me more than one photo op. Not quite the "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille"...but, hey, I'm still a happy photography camper today!

 

I'm telling you, the res is where it's at for nature lovers as well as fishermen and the picnic crowd. And it is going to get better. Although not on a high migration trail, we do get variety of weary travelers looking to dine and rest on the waters. Two years ago I got a nice picture of a horned grebe, for instance.

Now is the time to look for migrating waterfowl. This online article on Crane Creek-Magee Marsh Birding by world renown birding expert (and fellow Ohioan) Kenn Kaufmann explains what to look for this fall; month by month. Seeking these visitors is a rewarding way to spend a beautiful autumn day, like today. I cannot think of a better way to spend a country drive than to head out to marshes and nature areas looking for birds of a different feather. Can you?

A few nature place to try in Crawford and surrounding counties are: Garlo Nature Preserve (Seneca County), Killdeer Plains Wildlife Area (Wyandot County) and Big Island Wildlife Area (Marion County).

Marcheta *happy hunter

Gone Fishin'

This picture of contented fishermen was taken at Amick Reservoir.

Can you think of anything more relaxing than fishing on a small boat at the edge of nightfall?  Well, for me, relaxing is spending an uninterrupted time with my camera, and this picture will make it possible later this summer.

How?

 It earned a third place ribbon in Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge's photography contest last fall.  My prize was an all-day pass to use the refuge's photo blind, which is something that I hope to do in the near future :)

Marcheta *ready to relax

Ice Fishing

Migrating birds are beginning to make the reservoirs more interesting, but the other day it was a huge amount of Herring Gulls that stole the show. The water was thawing on the shorelines and even in patchy parts towards the middle. The gulls were busy feasting on small fish that must have been just under the surface of the ice.

I spent a couple of hours watching and photographing water birds: Coots, Blue Winged Teal, Mallards, Mergansers, Canada Geese, and Redheads, but the gulls were the most fascinating. Why? Because of their big personalities. They squawk at each other, chase each other, get into arguments that require taking sides, and otherwise engage in lively conflicts with each other. When I watch them, I always think of the Jerry Springer show. :)

It won't be long before ice fishing will have to wait until next winter. I am glad that I got what might be my last chance to see birds ice fishing this season.   But more than that, I am excited that spring migration is underway. I may just join the fun by migrating to the Lake Erie marshes as often as possible this spring :)

Where do you like to migrate to?

Marcheta *camera ready

Marcheta