This dried Queen Anne’s Lace caught my eye the other day—I like the way it holds its seeds like a basket ready for the coming growing season (whenever that arrives!)
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 800, f/8, 1/320″ exposure.
The bloodroot down by Fargo Brook is starting to push its way up out of the soil. This little shoot was less than a half-inch tall.
Panasonic GX8, Olympus 60mm macro lens, ISO 1600, f/8, 1/125″ exposure.
I went for what might be one last ski up on Lion’s Ridge at Camel’s Hump Nordic yesterday. With spring coming on, there was all kinds of activity recorded in the snow. I saw tracks from turkeys, weasels, mice, bear—all going about their early spring businesses. I followed this ruffed grouse track to where the bird took flight leaving the impression of its wings in the soft snow.
Panasonic GM5, Lumix 12-32mm lens @ 26mm, ISO 400, f/9, 1/1000″ exposure.
I came across this set of bear tracks while skiing this morning up at Camel’s Hump Nordic (yup, there’s still a lot of snow up there!) I’m pretty sure I was looking at more than one bear walking in the same set of tracks—perhaps a mother and cubs?
Here’s a close up with my glove for scale. Big animal!
We’ve had a couple of robins hanging around all winter (judging by their accents, I’m guessing that they were Canadian…) and they’ve probably headed back north across the border to their summer nesting grounds. I’ve been hearing a lot more robins now, and I’m pretty sure that this fine bird is one of our own migrants returning for the summer. It was quite willing to let me get a good shot as it poked around in one of the apple tree in our front field.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 100-300mm lens @ 300mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/1300″ exposure.
Rain, warm temperatures, and rapid snow melt make for fast moving water in Fargo Brook where a branch of a fallen tree cuts the water. Dialing in the right shutter speed freezes the action creating a satisfying sense of flow.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 140mm, ISO 100, f/7.1, 1/30″ exposure.
The posse was in good spirits at the top of Bald Hill yesterday morning as we transitioned for our first run in untracked powder. A perfect day!
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 14mm, ISO 800, f/8, 1/400″ exposure.
We came across the crew of chipmunks on the top of what we’re now calling “Chipmunk Hill” up above East Street and Delfrate Road. They were not particularly shy. Several were bold enough to come within a couple of feet of us, and both Robin and I were wondering if they might crawl up our legs in their flighty curiosity.
Given that we didn’t have much cold weather in February, I wasn’t particularly surprised to see so much chipmunk activity. They spend the cold months in a torpor state (as opposed to true hibernation) and start emerging as the temperatures warm in March to kick off their spring breeding season. The seven or eight chipmunks we saw were no doubt “busy”…
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 140mm, ISO 800, f/9, 1/500″ exposure.
While exploring the top of “Chipmunk Hill” the other day, we came across a couple of still frozen vernal pools. This moss covered rock looks like the iris of an eye carved in the ice.
Panasonic GX8, Lumix 14-140mm lens @ 34mm, ISO 800, f/14, 1/500″ exposure.
John Hadden Photography 