Back Home -- Surprises at the Ditch

A gorgeous September day. Not too hot, not too cold. Goldilocks would love it. And, it was a perfect day to visit the ditch.

 

I didn't know what to expect but I was certainly surprised at seeing a pair of deer -- I think mother and young'un, in the distance. I never see deer during the day there, or very rarely. 

A Day at the Ditch

I hope you are in the mood for big birds and creatures because we're off to an amazing day at the Ditch!

So, settle back, have a seat on the bench and enjoy.

Time Is Flying. I'm Not.

Well, we can't say we aren't well into September, only a few days from "official" fall. Time is flying and I'm -- not!

I did get a very few fall things in the house. Here's a peek. I'll start to bring up Halloween the first week of October unless we are able to go to the lake that week, in which case I'll probably bring a few things up before I go.

A Week at Home: Harry and Ellie

Visits to the lake will soon be coming to an end and I fear that when I'm home, visits to Harry the Heron and Ellie the Egret will come to an end soon as well. But they are worth celebrating while we can.

So, first I grab a mask. I love my little mask station in the kitchen. It's easy to pull a clean one in a hurry. (I also have them hanging on the door knob, rear view mirror, in my purse.... no excuses.) Today, I pick this one. It says "I wear a mask to make sure I'm alive to vote on November 3." (Although hopefully I'll be voting more like mid-October.)

 Ellie was in her element, gracefully looking for fish in the pond. She's very deliberate but when she has luck, she's quick!

Then, she's just as likely to fly to another spot... and try her luck there!

Harry, too, is a cautious stalker. He's as likely to hunt frogs as fish and I've seen him dig out both from the ponds. Today, his luck seems a little less fruitful. Is that sadness in those sharp eyes?

And off he goes.

I love watching him fly.

I'll miss these two as off they go. Seasons. They go so fast these days.

Big Birds, Part One

I confess -- and you probably know -- I am a sucker for Big Birds. I love water birds with their long legs and patient fishing strategies. You've seen Harry the Heron here often, and you'll see him again. But today, a look at Ellie the Egret.

Pretty flashy, isn't she? When she spreads her wings, I think of an elegant angel -- with a big yellow nose!

I have seen egrets at the Ditch before but not often and rarely early in the summer. Ellie showed up in September and I first spotted her fishing.

She's incredibly patient, like Harry. Waiting, watching.

Then going for it.

And sometimes, she misses; sometimes she gets the big prize!

But Ellie is at her best when she spreads her wings.

At times, the look is a little awkward.

Or maybe it's the view! Certainly the take-off has a tip-toe kind of feel.

And sometimes it seems a bit clumsy, yet it always ends up gracefully.

But when it's good, it's very good.

Very, very good.

I'll miss her when she leaves for good.

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Early Autumn at the Ditch

Fall is definitely in the air. It is less than a week till the equinox and the changes are obvious. I wake in the morning and it isn't light yet -- or at least bright light. Rick's bike rides end earlier. There's a decided nip in the air, even when the days warm up. And of course, I see signs in nature. Changing leaves, more egrets at area ponds. It's early autumn.

At the ditch I've noticed the ducks are far more plentiful. I suspect all those babies of the spring are now gathered with their parents and siblings.

They seen to have two or three spots where they cluster -- a hill by the big pond (above); a spot by a narrow pond...

...and a shady place by the second pond.

Even on the cooler days, they are clearly enjoying the water!

They're not the only ones. I was lucky enough to see not one but two deer in the large pond.

They were so very beautiful -- seemingly unafraid of those who had clustered to take their photos.

But most definitely aware.

They seemed to be munching on something in the water -- the lily pads, perhaps?

I stood and watched them for a long time, until they moved off toward the woods.

I'm seeing more colors in the leaves...

...and the berries seem to be bursting with bright flashes of red.

I've only seen one egret at the ditch, but we've met up several times.

And of course, Harry is still here...

...but just for awhile. Ah, fall.

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Big Birds -- In Trees, Water and Taking Flight

When I uploaded photos for this post, I uploaded 83. Don't worry. There aren't 83 pics here. I just couldn't decide from the thumbnails!

And why? Well, two beautiful Ditch Days! There is a bit of color coming through...

...and it's beginning to look like fall.

Ellie and Harry are hanging enjoying the pond, along with the ducks. Word on the street is that there are two herons but I've only seen one at a time. So, it's Harry. Because it is. And one egret. (Though a Ditch Walker said she had seen two of those as well.) So, we're talking Ellie!

Half these photos were taken with my old camera (all the flight ones and the ones where the birds are in the trees).

The rest with the new one. I'm loving it!

I was lucky enough to catch two fawns on the run...

...and Harry was lucky enough to catch something, too!

Ellie, too!

The spot...

The dive...

The twist...

The dinner!

I had heard about both the birds hanging out in the trees but had yet to see them...

...until this day. Ellie was way up there.

Harry, a little lower and well camouflaged (which may be why I didn't see him before!)

But when they fly, it's glorious!

I was lucky enough to catch both of them on the wing. Harry's wingspan seems enormous.

But Ellie makes such a dramatic exit with her white reflected on the water.

I could watch all day. It was like seeing an angel fly.

For a bit of time I was joined by Dorothy Duck.

Loved her feather detail!

But time to move on and leave this lovely spot behind.

At least for a little bit! (By the way, if you really want to see fascinating bird photos, learn about banding and more, visit David at Travels with Birds. Some of the photography he posts takes my breath away, it's so dazzling!)

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