Monday, April 20, 2009

A Spring Bird Walk in Northeast Ohio as Seen by a Landscape Photographer


The birds must’ve taken one look at the sun dramatically trying to burst its way through the haunting clouds and simply went back to bed. It was mighty quiet when we started out on the Sunday morning bird walk in Brecksville, Ohio. Ah yes, what a gorgeous spring morning ...


Every week you can choose a group to go with based on which direction they’re going. Today I chose the group going South on the tracks. You literally have to walk on the train tracks to cross a rocky stream ten feet below. If a train came, you’d have to jump off the train tracks to avoid being hit. This thought came to me while I was searching for Red-headed Woodpeckers one night after work. I was halfway over the water in the middle of the tracks and suddenly realized I had no idea what the train schedule was. So now my philosophy is that there’s safety in numbers.


Aha! Waterfowl! This being a bird walk, here’s the obligatory bird photo. Two Canada Geese, each with a watery mirror image.


The bird photo out of the way, I can get back to concentrating on landscapes. I had lots of fun with this marsh in Photoshop to give this image a surreal painterly look. The dark blue-black background helps bring out the detail of the golden marsh grasses.


And here’s a shot in which no Photoshop was used called "Bare Trees in a Foreboding Sky." Still waiting for the leaves … Wonderful spring mood, huh?


Another painterly version of the wetlands at the Brecksville Reservation in the Cleveland Metroparks.


Woohoo! Flowers at last. Okay, so the daffodils are set against a spooky Northeast Ohio April hillside. But they’re still flowers. Bright and cheerful, aren’t they?

And to end on a birdwatching-related note, here’s a tree with a lived-in look. I call it "Woodpecker Totem Pole." Many a woodpecker appears to have called this place home.
Please Note: I will be away until late Wednesday night or Thursday morning. I look forward to visiting your blogs on my return!

12 comments:

Poetic Artist said...

Your words and photography are beautiful.. Glad you are back.

Jane said...

Wonderful pictures as always!

Jane

Janie said...

Looks like a very successful walk. Better stay wary when crossing that train track bridge. Love the geese with reflections, and your landscapes are lovely. I've been waiting for leaves on trees, too. A few are coming out this week!

Montanagirl said...

Wonderful photos, and great post. Really like your blog.

Deer Passion said...

I'm in love with the bare trees photo!!! It's a telling photo filled with so much emotion....

jalynn01 said...

Nice photos...love the woodpecker totem pole and also the reflections of the geese. I always enjoy your narration!

EcoRover said...

I love the tension of walking a railway trestle. Growing up in the Alleghenies, we called the white species of daffodils "jonquils."

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi CD, I haven't heard from you in awhile ---so am checking in. Now--you are out-of-town.

We just got home from a visit to Texas to see one of my sons and family. It was great---other than the terrible weather.

Beautiful pictures!!!!
Hugs,
Betsy

Annie Jeffries said...

I so enjoyed my birdwalk with you and said hello to the Canadian geese from the California cousins. The train story unnerved me a bit. Amtrak runs all up and down the Central Valley, Sacramento to Bakersfield, and we have lots of crossing accidents. Terrible but usually it is a walker or driver just using bad judgement.

NCmountainwoman said...

Incredibly beautiful photographs. I loved them all.

Mary said...

I love your non-bird bird walk :-) Even us birders love beautiful landscapes and yours are fantastic! Love the tracks and the marsh grass and those woodpecker totems (pileated maybe from the long hole)! What a fantastic place!

Loran said...

So many great pictures! Good job.