A Good Start

 

It seemed like a good day to stop alongside the stream. I had just picked up some books at the library and while the weather forecasters were warning about high temperatures and the need to stay indoors, I chose the stream.

    Really, it wasn't a tough decision to make, stay at the air-conditioned library or sit beside the quiet stream. In the end…it was a rather easy choice to make. I pulled up and parked in the shade of a small sapling. On a day like this, even though it was still morning, every little bit of shade was appreciated.

    It was quiet; the stream was low and wasn’t making any sounds as it slipped between the rocks. The wind wasn’t blowing and so, the weeds sat still, no rustling noises came from them. The birds were quiet; there was no chirping. Even in it’s quiet, the spot was a comforting place to be.

    Picking up one of my books I started reading, seeing if it would be any good. The book was written by Harry Harrison back in 1966. Its name is Make Room! Make Room! It was later made into a movie that many of us probably remember, Soylent Green. Chances are you still remember the famous catch phrase of the movie!

    Before I knew it, I was 20 pages into the book and pretty sure I was going to like it!

    Setting the book down for a minute, I glanced out the windshield of the car just as a heron flew over. It was low and looked huge! I had an idea of what it was but since it was flying away from me in a straight line, I wasn’t sure. It arced to the left, circling back around and I saw its legs hanging behind it. It flew over the stream and towards a tree flying around it rather than landing. It flew lower to the water, following its course and then disappeared behind the weeds and trees.

    What a great thing to see! The Egyptians viewed herons as symbols of resurrection. The Greeks thought of them as divine messengers as did ancient Irish folklore. The Native Americans viewed herons as a symbol of patience and good luck. I myself also think of them as good luck; I always consider myself lucky to see them!

    I just had a dream last night where my brother Ralph and my Mother came to visit me. Hmmm… perhaps there's a message here that I should be aware of!

    The day is off to a good start, visits from two people I miss and love and a close sighting of a heron. Plus…I also got some new (?) books to read! Oh yeah, it’s off to a good start!

Playin' Hide-N-Seek with the Heron

The day was cooling off as the evening approached. A little bit of exercise and some fresh air seemed appropriate and so I headed over to one of my favorite spots, the stream in Hampton Township. The sun was getting lower and the sky had a nice shade of blue, the trees were bright green where the sun still lingered.

    Pulling into the road leading down to the creek, I had to slow to a crawl to allow a couple small fawns and their mother to cross the road. The two young deer took one look at my car and jumped into the woods while the doe stood her ground, staring at me, daring me to do anything. I slowly passed, not six feet away and wished her a good night before continuing on. 

    I parked the car and started my stroll down the road. In the distance I could hear someone cutting their grass but other than that, it was quiet. No cars were on the road and soon the lawnmower shut off, all was still.

    I crossed a small rise and saw the cars of a couple fishermen. One could be seen in the creek trying his luck with a fly rod. I moved over to the railroad tracks which parallel the stream, being careful not to kick any stones, attempting to be quiet. I was watching the stream, searching for the heron that frequents the area.

    Taking my time, slowly working my way past bushes, he was nowhere to be seen. I came to a path which leads down to a flat beach and as I started down it, I saw the heron take off, flying upstream. I went down to the creek and looked for him but he had flown out of sight.

    Returning to the tracks, I backtracked a bit and returned to the road. There is a small swamp which often acts as a hide for all sorts of birds, this would be the midpoint of my walk. I could hear bull frogs calling as I neared the overgrown path which leads to its edge. Walking quietly, I kept an eye on the trees growing in the area.

    A huge dead tree sits on the edge of the muddy land encompassing the swamp. There in its branches, I saw the heron. The dim light made his chest, legs and neck look the same as the dead wood of the tree. The camouflage was perfect, if I hadn’t been looking for him, I would have walked right underneath him.

    I raised my camera slowly and he took off, dropping into the tree covering with a few squawks, effectively hiding himself from my lens. He was on his game tonight, or maybe I was just too slow, either way, he had won again!

    The swamp was mostly dry, what was covered with water a few weeks ago was now a thick mud, the water laying further out, barely visible. I stood and listened to the frogs awhile and searched the trees for my feathered friend. No other birds could be seen or heard. I returned to the road and headed back towards the car.

    Nearing my car, I saw another deer. Thinking it might be the doe and her fawns, I prepared the camera to get a picture. When I had a clear shot, I saw that it was a young buck, standing in the shadows of the hillside. He was watching me. A picture wasn’t worth attempting, the best shot was the one I retained in my memory. The two of us stood still, staring at each other, about 30 feet apart. He decided he had enough and turned and leapt off into the darkness.

    I walked over to the car and returned home. It was a great walk. Fresh air, a nice cool time of the evening. I saw four deer, two of which were fairly new to the world. I was serenaded by frogs singing in the swamp. I had watched a fisherman enjoying the pleasures of a quiet stream and got a couple quick views of “my buddy”, the heron. He had bested me tonight...but there is always tomorrow! It was another wonderful summer night in Pennsylvania!

A Visit to the Swamp

 

The path is nearly non-existent with high weeds growing alongside of it, some shoulder high. Footsteps need to be placed carefully to avoid slips or tripping. There is also the need to be on the lookout for poison ivy. Ticks pose another threat, though you won’t see them until later.

Why would anyone want to walk down this path leading to, of all things, a swamp?

Even though rain has fallen a few days ago, the small ravine leading to the swamp is dry. The mud in it is thick, deer tracks show how deep it is.

The Swamp

The swamp is about 8 or 9 acres of flooded land in-between a set of railroad tracks and a road. Bushes grow out of the water and carcasses of trees lay in it, their roots sticking up in the air, giving birds a place to perch. Flowers cover the bushes and bubbles pop up in the water, breaking the mirror images on its surface.

Button Bush

Milkweed Plant

There is a large variety of flowers, bushes and plants growing here. Some of the most prevalent are button bushes with satellite looking flowers, their roots sunk into the watery mud. (Interestingly, these plants are a member of the coffee family!)  Near the edge of the swamp is a batch of cat tail bushes, their brown hotdog shaped spikes growing higher every day. Milkweed plants add some purple colors to the scene. Milkweed flowers are important because they are a food source for Monarch butterflies.  In the early spring, one of the first plants to break through the muck in the swamp is skunk cabbage, their brownish-purple and green shells reminding us that spring is coming, along with more flowering plants. Thistle grows on the edges near the road and the railroad tracks, their pale flowers and prickly leaves decorating the borders.

Brown Tailed Hawk

Birds are all over the place and evidence of animals abound. Squirrels can be seen in the trees around the edges and the “handprints” of raccoons can be seen in the mud beside the deer tracks. Flocks of birds fly from bush to bush and every so often a woodpecker can be seen tapping on a dead tree. Ducks visit the pond and if you’re lucky you can see a hawk sitting in one of the higher trees watching for prey. Herons also stop by to search for food. Frogs can be heard croaking and then quieting down when the heron appears.

During my last visit to this area, a heron flew past me. I don’t think either of us realized the other was there until we were side by side!

The edges of the swamp are mud, the water level changes almost daily. The mud is thick and brown. Little pools of water with an oily sheen lay in the hollows. Further out the water is clear and reflects the plants and sky above. Pools of water hidden behind the button bushes provide a protected spot for the birds and passing ducks.

Why wouldn’t anyone want to stop by and spend a few minutes? It’s relaxing and peaceful, it’s nature! It's just a swamp, but it has all sorts of wonders hidden in it, hidden in plain sight! It’s there, just waiting for someone to stop by and visit! Try it; you never know what you’ll see!

Go on, stop by...visit a swamp near you!