Tuesday, August 08, 2006

Summer Days

I was on a short road trip this weekend. I went to Ann Arbor MI for a strategy planning session with the Hawk Migration Association of North America (HMANA). It was mostly work, but I had time for a little play.

Ann Arbor is a town with a lot of parks and green spaces, so birding was good almost everywhere, even downtown. The Huron River is higher than it usually is in August, so shorebirding wasn't as good as it normally is, or so I was told.

One of the places I stopped was Barton Pond along the Huron River, where I snapped this great blue heron. We heard a warbling vireo right near this spot, but never got a close or clear view of it.

Both dogs and cats were glad to see me when I got home, none the worse for the wear, though Sunday was a long day for me. The HMANA group met until noon, and the drive home was lengthened by a 1.5 hour wait on the Pa. Turnpike until an accident could be cleared.

Back at home I'm already noticing that the woods have that August look. The trees are no longer the bright green of spring or even the rich green of July's mid-summer. They are beginning to take on the dull green of late summer.

2 comments:

ChicagoLady said...

I recognized that Great Blue Heron right away!

Autumn is definitely in the air, don't you think?

Anonymous said...

Carolyn,I read your blog for the first time today! Mom told me about your trip to Ann Arbor. I especially liked your entry about the farmhouse(I like to imagine what it's like to be at a certain location,too). I taught Tiger Lily how to "sit" this week!(Hubby and son thought she wasn't smart enough to teach her tricks and she's the first of her siblings to officially be "trained"!Great sunrise photo! From now on, I'll check your blog every day. Your Sis