An Autumn Ditch Walk

Our October was especially nice weather-wise, and a nice day is always the best for a walk to the Ditch.

 

They recently repaved the walking path, which is great. but apparently, while doing so, they had to knock down some of the fencing. I'm hoping it will be replaced soon. Not at all dangerous for a smart person who keeps to the path but you know kids -- they always want to explore! (Here's a little mood music for this post and those who miss October. So many wonderful versions of "When October Goes" but this is the Manilow. (Nancy Wilson's is wonderful too.)

 

It was a great day for sightings and I was absolutely thrilled when I saw this.

 

Yes, it's our old buddy Harry the Heron! I had not seen him more than once this year and that was early. I'd wondered if he'd moved to another pond. 

 

He was having a grand day, but eventually headed for the shoreline.

 

 I figured that might be it for Harry sightings! But then he took off. What a wingspan!

 

Never mind -- there were ducks and geese.

 

And then, on the island, thanks to fallen leaves opening the view, I saw this!

 

What a pretty doe! It seems deer often travel in a group of at least two or more, but I could only spot this one.

 

No matter. It was a rare viewing and I was grateful.

 

While most of the trees in the neighborhood still have plenty of leaves, you can see fall is here. Even so, on a warmish fall day with the sun out, the mix of colors -- the blue of the sky reflecting the greenish-yellow leaves, the brown of the grasses and bright red sumac was impressive!

 

As I circled the five ponds that make up the Ditch trail, I saw these two ducks sunning themselves on a log.

 

And then, again, Harry! He was checking out a smaller pond. Loved the reflections!

 

I'm not sure what he was looking for here. I've never seen a heron take the "looking up" pose. 

 

He held this position for a long while, sometimes looking one direction, then the other. I confess, I hated to continue on! 

 

But time was moving on, so regretfully, I headed home. On the way I spotted this -- a far cry from the natural beauty of the Ditch!

 

Fall. I wish it lasted much longer. And to be fair, until this week when we got some windy, there was still a lot of color. There's some still -- but it's going fast. 

 

As this posts, we are now in November and most of these photos are happy memories of a wonderful walk. Yes, there will be more walks where we drag our feet through the rustling of those dried, fallen beauties and the occasional burst of late color. But soon, the landscape will be a silhouette of dark, bare branches against the sky.

 

If that makes you as melancholy as I always feel in this month, take a hint from Harry.

 

 Keep looking up!

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