Tune In

I walked the Beaver Pond trail today at Elk Island.  The snow was drifting across the open areas, creating deep banks that I had to make my way across.  I left my snowshoes in the truck so my boots took on a bit of snow.

It was cloudy so the light was flat and not great for photography.  As I walked, the tall trees creaked as the wind swayed them to and fro.  I decided to turn today into a sound walk versus a photo day.

The snow crunched under my boots as I made my way along the trail.  Every now and then I would stop and listen.  

The leaves that were still holding on from last season, rustled in the breeze.  Those not able to hold on any longer were blown across the surface of the snow.

A coyote howled in the distance.  Its call was answered back by another in the opposite direction.  There were tracks across the open areas where I could see they had been hunting under the snow.

The first gully that I walked through has birch trees with trunks that are more than a foot in diameter.  Green lichen covered many of them; their bark peeling between the lichen patches.  The chickadees called from the high branches where they were searching for food.  The old trees were a good source of seeds for them.

The second gully is filled with evergreens.  The hare tracks in the snow disappeared under the bottom branches of the spruce trees.  The blue jays in the gully didn't show themselves but their calls echoed along the trail.

Just before I got back to the parking lot, a pileated woodpecker called out.  I stopped to see if I could spot the bird.  I heard the tapping on a tree trunk and I heard it call out again but it wouldn't show itself to me.
 

As I rounded the final corner, a squirrel was digging under the snow, searching for a hidden store of seeds.  When it saw me, it scurried behind an interpretive sign and scolded me for the disturbance.

The drive home was uneventful; no signs of wildlife.  I pulled into my driveway and noticed that there was lots of action at the birdfeeder.  I scared away numerous grosbeaks and redpolls.  It didn't take long for them to return.

As I waited for my coffee to brew, I walked passed the patio door.  A bright red spot at the back of my yard caught my eye.  It belonged to a pileated woodpecker.  It made its way up, down and around the tree.  

The day turned out to be great for a 'sound walk'; both at the park and in my yard.  In addition to all the sounds that I experienced at the park, the pine grosbeaks, chickadees, blue jays, magpies, a hairy woodpecker and a pileated woodpecker added their songs to the repertoire from my backyard.

The day was dull, grey and blustery but my hike turned out to be a very relaxing one as I tuned in to the sounds of the forest.