An Afternoon at Jack Pine Trail (part 1)
April 3rd, 2010
I didn't expect to see much at Jack Pine Trail this afternoon. I figured most birds and animals would be laying low, hiding from the heat.
I was wrong. It was hopping with activity.
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I was on the boardwalk when a couple of ladies came by and told me about the "wild rabbit" a little ways down the trail, who had "beautiful colors." I thanked them and walked on. This news didn't excite me much since rabbits are a dime a dozen at Mud Lake.
Then it struck me: this is deep woods and cattail marsh. There are no open, meadowy areas for cottontails to hop around in. And what did they mean "beautiful colors"? Cottontails are brown.
When I found him, my suspicion was confirmed: their "wild rabbit" was a Snowshoe Hare! One who was in the process of shedding his white winter coat for a new brown one. Not sure I'd call him beautiful in this state--dishevelled, maybe. He was much tamer (and much less nocturnal) than the hares I've seen on Old Quarry Trail, so I was able to get a close-up.
1680x1050 wallpaper
1680x1050 wallpaper
The chipmunks are quite tame on that trail, too.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Apologies for the close-up if you are not one of those weird people who thinks snakes = OMG CUTE. I am in fact such a person.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Red Squirrel sez: it's hot. Way too damn hot. April 3rd. 29 degrees. Mother nature: you're fired.
American Crow sez: there are ways to beat the heat, you know.
April 3rd, 2010
I didn't expect to see much at Jack Pine Trail this afternoon. I figured most birds and animals would be laying low, hiding from the heat.
I was wrong. It was hopping with activity.
1680x1050 wallpaper
I was on the boardwalk when a couple of ladies came by and told me about the "wild rabbit" a little ways down the trail, who had "beautiful colors." I thanked them and walked on. This news didn't excite me much since rabbits are a dime a dozen at Mud Lake.
Then it struck me: this is deep woods and cattail marsh. There are no open, meadowy areas for cottontails to hop around in. And what did they mean "beautiful colors"? Cottontails are brown.
When I found him, my suspicion was confirmed: their "wild rabbit" was a Snowshoe Hare! One who was in the process of shedding his white winter coat for a new brown one. Not sure I'd call him beautiful in this state--dishevelled, maybe. He was much tamer (and much less nocturnal) than the hares I've seen on Old Quarry Trail, so I was able to get a close-up.
1680x1050 wallpaper
1680x1050 wallpaper
The chipmunks are quite tame on that trail, too.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Apologies for the close-up if you are not one of those weird people who thinks snakes = OMG CUTE. I am in fact such a person.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Red Squirrel sez: it's hot. Way too damn hot. April 3rd. 29 degrees. Mother nature: you're fired.
American Crow sez: there are ways to beat the heat, you know.
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