Well, no this photo wasn't taken at the cabin. My conference was held in Gettysburg, just off the battlefield, so I couldn't resist taking a few photos while I was there. The first was taken from the middle of the wheatfield near the area of Pickett's Charge.
The second photo was taken on a hazy morning near the same area, but looking to the south. This was one of the staging areas for troops feeding into that charge.
While I was away from the mountain, the forest has now solidly moved into mid-summer. It's amazing how much change I can see in just 4-5 days. Normally, I think of summer as a bit static, with changes in the forest happening slowly. In summer, I think in terms of a week or two, not days. But that certainly wasn't true this past week.
The first thing I notice is that the green of the forest is now a deep emerald shade. Gone is the neon green of early summer. And as yet there's not even a glimmer of late summer, when the greens fade to a dull, brownish shade before turning the brilliant colors of fall.
The wildflowers that are blooming now are different too. The Queen Anne's lace is out, as is chicory. The beautiful farmer lilies are almost done for another year.
Bird life is changing too. For the first time is some time, I heard a great horned owl call again in the morning. Like most birds, they quiet during the time when they are raising their young. The owls actually nest in late winter, and the young ones are on their own by June, but it is only now that I'm hearing their calls again. The smaller woodland birds are starting to be more visible again too. I heard a chickadee yesterday, the first in weeks.
Tomorrow my photo(s) will be from the mountain again. I'm glad to be back in the peace and quiet of the woods. The conference was a good one, but nothing can compete with home.
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7 comments:
Carolyn,
Nice to meet you. Likewise it is good to run into another local bird/nature blogger. I will come by on a regular basis and see what is going on at the Roundtop! I see that you said that you are not a chaser or birds and I am not usaully one who chases either, but I did make a special trip to see the Loggerhead Shrike that was in Gettysburg earlier this year. While there I also managed to see 2 Short-eared Owls and severl Red-headed Woodpeckers.
Vern
Missed you while you were away.
I just returned from visiting a friend in Michigan, and as much as I enjoyed the visit, it's good to be home. I know just how you feel.
Vern,
My chase this year was to see the Scott's oriole this past winter, just a few miles up the road from me. One of the reasons why I quit chasing years ago was that I rarely got to see the bird I chased. Even with the oriole, it took 6 tries.
Carolyn H.
Pablo,
I missed reading your blog and others I enjoy, too. It will take me another week just to catch up!
Carolyn H.
Chicagolady,
Michigan is a good place to visit, but wherever home is is always the best!
Carolyn H.
Carolyn,
I went to see the Scott's too, but it wasn't a chase as I stopped on the way up to Harrisburg. I was very fortunate for as soon as I got there I saw a group of birders who had it in their sights. I got a good look at it through someone else's scope and then the bird took off. I spent about 10 minutes there. Before having a good day spotting water fowl on the Susquehanna.
Vern
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