First Snow Creamer's Field 2011: Stephen Cysewski

First Snow Creamer's Field 2011: Stephen Cysewski:

'via Blog this'

Seasons Change

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Beautiful Morning at Creamer's

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

All the Cranes in the World?

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Cranes in Grain

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Cranes in grain.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Experimental Book: Creamer's Field Walk 07/31/2011

An experiment with book publishing, only $8.99 to experiment. I will see how they turn out.

Creamer's Field Walk 07/31/2011

http://www.adoramapix.com/cysewski/book/creamer-s-field-walk-07-31-2011

Morning Walk at Creamer's Field 07/31/2011: Stephen Cysewski

Morning Walk at Creamer's Field 07/31/2011: Stephen Cysewski

Raven's, Flooded Trail, and dew on insect webs.

A large flock, group, congregation, or gang of Ravens were in the far field. Some were in the woods, others in the field. They were chatting and commenting. Went into the woods to see if I could see a cause, but I did not notice anything but the Ravens. The far trail, by the bird observatory was flooded. The same place that is flooded in the spring. There were insect webs covered in dew on the trail that heads toward Joy School. I beautiful morning after all the rain and grey.

-40 Mosquito Day!

If mosquitoes were measured like temperature this morning would have been a -40 degree day at Creamer's. I was excited to see the fog this morning, I love weather transitions, and at Creamer's there was intermittent fog, it makes the tones and colors beautiful, but the mosquitoes were very aggressive. The beauty of the atmosphere trumped the mosquitoes so I just let my self get bit.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Plowed Fields and Wet Paw Prints

This morning, on the board walk there were wet paw prints. The prints appeared halfway along the trail and went about 300 yards. There were not human prints, my guess is a fox, but I really do not know. They plowed some of the fields yesterday, the dirt looks beautiful, for dirt.

Winnowing Snipe

Heard a Snipe winnowing this morning, I did not know they were still around. One of my favorite sounds. A new crop of Mosquitoes hatched and they bite and itch! Yesterday there were no problems. I looked around on the web for a link to explain the different Mosquito cycles in Alaska, but had no luck. Took some color photographs, did not feel very inspired, but we shall see the actual result later.

Yellow fields, Cottonwood, and an aggressive Crane

The fields at Creamer's are turning yellow and the Cottonwoods are dropping their seeds. Two cranes blocked the trail and would not let me pass for awhile. One Crane spread it's wings and came toward use three times, it finally moved away and we went on. We were on the trail by the edge of the East field.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com>

A new crop of aggressive itchy Mosquitoes has appeared at Creamer's Field. Had to keep jogging to keep them from swarming on us. The people at the Bird Banding Station were wearing Mosquitoe netting. It is not too bad on the Boreal Forest walk. I miss the older calmer Mosquitoes!

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Bugs and a Shower

Buggy morning at Creamer's, but a nice shower came over, it felt cool I did not even put up my hood, just enjoyed the feel of the rain. While I was gone they burnt the grass on some of the fields. It is not obvious now, the grass is green, you can smell the burnt area, a little, and the ground is black, but the grass has grown back quickly. The bugs are bugging me, hope the cycle changes a little.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Back at Creamer's and Mosquitoes

Damn the Mosquitoes were aggressive this morning, somehow I forgot about them over the winter. Went to Creamer's the first time this morning. The roses are out and the smells are wonderful, but even if I pause to let Mali explore, I am attacked. It makes me miss winter, well not exactly, maybe early spring.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Next post June 9th

I will not be back to Creamer's Field until June 9th. Yesterday got to Creamers's about 5:30AM and walked the perimeters of the Field. The trails are drying. There were many new song birds, especially on the boreal forest trail. Sat in the sun by the seasonal pond. Leaves are starting to appear. Still no Mosquitos. When I return the seasons will have changed and it will be summer.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

The trails are drying out.

Compare this photograph with the one from a couple days ago.



http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Dead Birds at Creamer's

I took photographs today in three different locations. Not sure what or how it is happening or even the kind of birds.

By the dead Moose

By the end of the Farm Road

Near the Bird Observatory



http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Mali Running in the snow. March

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Following a Fox trail in October

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

April 20th

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

April 8th

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Bird Feathers Detective Work

Went and looked more carefully at the two piles of bird feathers. Both piles look to be from the same kind of bird, grey feathers and down. I assume they are geese. Since there is no sign of goose parts I assume the body was carried away. The only species that I think could do that is a Fox. There is a trail of feathers, one every ten feet or so, as I walk along the trail to the Bird Observatory. Today was a no photography day, just walking and spending time with my dog and listening to birds and enjoying the sun.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Bird Feathers?

I saw two clumps of bird feathers, one over by where the dead Moose is, and the other over on the far side of the East field heading from the Farm Road to the Bird Observatory, just the feathers, no bird. I assume they were eaten. Guessing that it was a Fox, but maybe an Owl or Hawk. Today no photography, just Mali. I am jogging again, the trails are dry enough to start jogging. When I take photographs with Mali, and I have her on the Skijoring harness I get irritated when she pulls on me, not good for me or Mali. When I just am focusing on Mali it is fun and the relationship gives me joy.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

The trails are drying out, slowly

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

The Moose is Stinking and the leaves are appearing

The dead Moose, from last fall, is starting to stink again. The water is receding and I could walk back by the Moose remains this morning. The trees have color on them, they are starting to leaf. More and more places are becoming accesible. I see people at the bird banding station every morning.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com

Common Snipe and No Leaves or Mosquitoes

I heard the first Common Snipe of the season. I love the sound of the winnowing. I have been fascinated by the Snipes since I first heard their winnowing at Eklutna Lake in the 70's. It took me a few years to identify and understand what and how the sound was.

http://www.wanderinginalaska.com