"Out & About" Photo Blog: 2nd Marsh -- December 4th, 2011

I can't believe it! I hadn't been to the marsh since November 1st. What with rainy days and a dragged out bout with the flu or whatever it was, and busy getting other things done in between, I was definitely getting antsy to get back for a visit.

Even today was drizzly but on the way to do another errand I dropped by the marsh anyway. I judged from the sky (especially out over the lake which is where the marsh is after all) that the rain was pretty much over so I figured I didn't need an umbrella or a jacket with a hood... wrong again.

The marsh is showing us various shades of December brown now, with touches of green or yellow here and there. Some of the green that's still there is brilliant. This looks like next year's crop of Garlic Mustard.

Light brown, dark brown, medium brown...

A resident pair of White-Breasted Nuthatches came out to say hi today and to see if I had any seed for them. I happened to have s few sunflower seeds in my jacket pocket so they followed me for a couple 100 yards.

A pair of Downy Woodpeckers joined the three of us but they weren't interested in sunflower seeds, preferring to dig in the tree bark for something tastier.

I only noticed when I looked at this picture the lack of symmetry on the female's back... didn't notice when I took the picture. It doesn't look like it's because she has her wings folded differently or anything obvious. Maybe she's missing some outer feathers.

Farewell Creek from the bridge.

I was about as far from the car as I got for the day and the rain started. It was light, but enough that I just tucked my camera under my jacket and headed back to the car at a pretty brisk pace, not being sure if the rain would get heavier or not. Luckily it didn't.

Even with the rain it was good to finally get back to the marsh for a look at things, though it turned out to be a quick visit.

The Friends of Second Marsh web site...