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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Nature Notes: Changing Season

I am continuing to get excited about each new sign of the changing season because I am ready for summer to end.
natnote pineconelvrck
It's still warming up to hot by the end of the day but the mornings are pleasant and considerably cooler.
natnote walkaulvtr
It's interesting to me how the sand bars at Shelley Lake have so few geese, ducks and heron on them this time of year as compared to summer. By winter they will be covered by seagulls and the geese will be more predominant on the hills by the dam.
natnote islshellgs
The pair of geese below cracked me up because they did everything almost in unison.
natnote gsduonck
There are continuing to be more white ducks than I'm used to seeing. I counted five together a few days ago.
natnote shelldckw
Normally this time of year I don't walk on the dirt paths off the paved ones which run alongside the creeks that feed into the lake because they are thick with poison ivy. There are other dirt paths I posted about recently on one or the other of my blogs but the ones in this post are part of the Shelley Lake trails.
natnote crkpathdrdm
I started out planning to turn back if I saw poison ivy and was surprised that something must have been done to eliminate it.
natnote pathgrscrtr
There are some of the side creek trails that I like because they remind me of the mountains.
natnote crkrckswmo
It is amazing how rustic and natural they are especially since not far away are the paved trails filled with joggers and the whole area is surrounding by subdivisions.
natnote bigrcktplk
On this side along the dirt trails I don't see any houses and very few people unlike the busy paved paths.
natnote nrpatbtrc
Every time I see trees across the creek I think of my childhood when we would always cross creeks on logs. So many of the trails are filled with bridges which I need at this point in my life but it was fun walking across creeks on natural bridges made by fallen trees when I was younger.
natnote treebrchcr
Back at my house I notice how the black form of the eastern tiger swallowtails are replacing the yellow ones. Not sure why but the yellow ones are all over the place in the summer but I rarely see the black ones until late summer into September.
natnote butflyspt
It's also nice to see the bushes in my front yard getting more red leaves and berries forming.
natnote bshberlfr
For other nature enthusiasts, please visit the home of nature notes (Thursday is the official post date).

14 comments:

kenju said...

Beautiful photos!! I love those side trails. Someday we have to meet and I'll walk with you!

Love your cleyera bush. Mine got cut down two years ago and I still miss it.

Avory said...

Last time I tried to cross a creek on a log, I fell in the creek. Oops.

I love your pictures of Shelly Lake, I miss all the green at home. I was telling Daddy in five years if I can make enough savings to give up on the city and be a professional writer, I might come home again (well, to Carborro or Asheville at least).

ev said...

I always love your photos...such a great trail.

Keep going!

Cezar and Léia said...

oh gosh, that butterfly is splendid!
Hello dear Carver,
Your post is really adorable.I need to say your pictures always bring beautiful feelings to my heart, thanks so much!
Hugs
Léia

Reader Wil said...

Thank you so much for the wonderful walk, illustrated by great pictures!
Thanks for the visit!

Nicole said...

I so enjoy walking along those trails with you.
And I love your birdies.
Saw 12 grey herons this morning.
Migration is on it's hight over here too.
And there was almost a cool breeze at the beach :D
I guess we are both more than ready for autumn ;)
Keep those green trails coming for me :D

Ann, Chen Jie Xue 陈洁雪 said...

wait for me, let me put on my tramping boots, and I will tramp with you, and may be find a white duck to make Beijing duck. LOL

Anonymous said...

very nice shtos, de4ar
nice day
Grace Olsson

Gel said...

Oh My Carver,
You present so many lovely photos. I'd love to go walking with you on those lush green trails. And those pair of geese. That is my favorite photo of the batch.

EG CameraGirl said...

I enjoy your walks along your local trails. Thank you for taking the photos and posting them.

AscenderRisesAbove said...

i love that pinecone shot... like you arranged it yourself!
(on week three post hand surgery; today's milestone: touching thumb to forefinger)

eileeninmd said...

Looks like a lovely place to walk, Carver! I enjoyed the photos.

Rambling Woods said...

Info on swallowtails-Identification: Male is yellow with dark tiger stripes. Female has 2 forms: one yellow like the male and the other black with shadows of dark stripes. Hindwing of both female forms has many iridescent blue scales and an orange marginal spot. On the underside of forewing of both female forms the row of marginal spots has merged into a continuous band.

Flight: 3 flights from February-November in Deep South; 2 flights from May-September in north.

Rambling Woods said...

I love the photos and would love to have a place like that to take a walk in...but I can't say that I am excited about fall, but it is better than the winter to follow....Michelle