Vulture, Perhaps

We were approaching the parking lot at the dog park when this huge bird flew overhead. Of course, my camera was in my pocket, and I was fumbling for the keys in the other pocket...

I did get these photos of it, and it was playing in the thermals. And we do have vultures here, so I am guessing that is what it is.

Milkweed

When we were at the dog park, the milkweed was starting to sprout.

Grass

I have no idea what sort of grass this is,

but there is a good sized clump of it

growing at the dog park.

I have been told my fascination with it is quite unnecessary, as it doesn't smell of anything interesting to dogs,

although a lot of photographers have trampled paths through it.

A Walk in the Dog Park

Overnight temperatures are still cold, so there was ice on the puddles.

I know this is a terrible photo of Annie, but I wanted to prove to you that she was breaking the ice, and wading, if not for long.

I saw ferns in one place, growing on a log.

A cooperative robin posed for me, while singing.

The birch trees are showing their buds now.

I have never noticed the way birchbark forms scars around the branches.

This is a macro shot of one of those scars, on a tree that fell years ago. The wood has mostly rotted, but the bark is still there.

On another fallen log, moss was happily growing.

Above the moss was a pine tree, and the squirrels had been very untidy about clearing away the dishes after their meals.

The creeks were running high. I like the way the different water speeds change the reflections of the trees.

A Walk in the Dog Park

The sun was lighting up the clouds as we were getting ready to go to the dog park.

There is still a lot of ice in the woods. This is a half inch of water on top of ice. Just enough to reflect the sky and the trees, and splash. The next photo os a footprint with ice inside it.

Jake said the traction was fine for running, most places.

The sumacs are looking rather ragged after the winter.

Sometimes, a young tree will start growing either in or on top of an old stump. The stump dissolves, and the tree is left, slightly above ground level.

The birch trees often grow in clusters. They don't usually all die off at the same time, though.

The sky was lovely and blue when we were headed for home, and breakfast.

Walk at the Dog Park

There was still ice, but less than last week. The snow was quite granular. Much easier walking.

There was a contrail crossing the sky, and the sun was not very far above the horizon.

But the birch trees are visibly budding now.

All these pine cones were clustered on two branches of the tree.

And the geese were flying over.

Walk in the Dog Park

Annie is showing what the surface was like. Not too bad, if you walk slowly, when you only have two legs. I saw a man with two ski poles, and all I could think was "I want one!!"

The angle of the sun was making some beautiful shadows!

A tree fell during the winter, and the fungus is no longer parallel to the ground.

Jake, after his first burst of energy had worn off.

Another tree that fell, but this one was over a path, so they have used a chainsaw to cut it into more manageable sections. I like the way you can see the way the sap only travels in the outer rings of the tree. Before freezing in the cold weather.

Birch catkins.