MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

 

…and to all a good night.  These famous words from Clement Clark Moore’s classic poem “The Night Before Christmas” sum up my holiday wishes to you.  As usual, Traverse City has outdone itself in decorating for the holiday season.  From downtown with it fruit trees bright with fairy lights to the huge lighted evergreen tree at the Cass and Front Streets intersection to all the city neighborhoods, TC is alive with the holiday spirit.  It’s not too late to take an evening drive to see these striking displays.  While 2020 has had its many challenges, viewing these lights are sure to lift your spirits.

 

 

WOODCREEK'S HOLIDAY LIGHTS BRIGHTEN SPIRITS

 

I always take pictures of neighborhood holiday lights and this year I started with my own neighborhood, Woodcreek, which is really decked out in the holiday spirit.

IN SEARCH OF SNOWY

 

It’s the time of year when Snowy Owls begin to arrive in our area.  It’s been a warm start to winter, however, and I wondered whether that would keeping them from arriving. 

 

 Still, I’d been going to Chums Corner a few times a week since Thanksgiving and had seen nothing except one false alarm…a plastic grocery bag in a field that mysteriously looked like a Snowy.

 

 Then Sunday morning, during Zoom church, I got an Audubon alert that there was a Snowy on the far right dock system at the Elmwood Marina.  By the time I arrived, I didn’t see a Snowy.

 

 As I was preparing to leave, I got another alert that the owl had moved to the rocky breakwater next to the docks.  Again, I wasn’t able to spot it.  

 

 I was getting frustrated.  I’d mostly seen Snowies high on light posts and building roofs.  I searched the many mast tops, hoping to spot one there.  No luck.  What was a Snowy doing in a marina anyway, I thought.  After all, they aren’t like Eagles who swoop into the water to catch fish.  I was disappointed and went home.

 

 The next afternoon I got another alert that the owl was still at the marina, but on one of the roof tops.  I headed out and quickly spotted this large female Snowy as soon as I pulled in. 

 

 The owl had its third eyelid, the nictitating membrane, closed, which denied me from seeing those piercing yellow eyes that I love to photograph.  The membrane protects the owl’s eye from dust and bright light.

 

 A bit after closing its third eyelid, the Snowy closed its other two eyelids.  Looks like it was time for a little snooze.

 

 The nap lasted only a few minutes and when she awoke, I finally got a peek at that yellow eye.  “I see you,” she must’ve been thinking as she took a sideways glance at me.

 

 The Snowy shifted her body completely away from me so I got the chance to see its heavily-barred body, indicating she was probably an immature female owl.  

 The owl turned again and began a series of big yawns, which made me laugh.  Was she still tired or bored with watching?

 

 The Snowy gave me one more direct look.  Her eyes were squinting and I didn’t capture much of the yellow eyes.  I did learn from the harbormaster, however, that they have a Snowy Owl visit the harbor every year so now I know of another place to visit in my search for Snowies.

 

ONE LAST LOOK

 

It had been three weeks to the day when I photographed the last group of cranes in farm country.  Part of me knew it was getting too late to see any migrating cranes.  Another part of me had to make one last visit to be sure. 

Right away, I went to the fields where I’d last seen the cranes.  It was empty and the whole area was quiet from all the unusual sounds that cranes make.  I decided to travel my usual route, hoping to see what else might be around.

Most all the fields had been plowed for the end of the season, although I saw one farmer finishing his.  Except for the low drone of his tractor, the area was totally silent and I saw no critters at all.

 

 The hay bales had been collected and positioned next to the barn, where they’d be easy to access over the winter.

 

 Really, the only activity going on anywhere in the area seemed to be at the Christmas Tree farm. I saw car after car on the county roads with Christmas trees atop their cars.

 

 The whole time I was out, I noticed how far south the sun had moved. The season was definitely changing.  I headed in a southerly direction, hoping to get some sunset pictures. 

I was as far south of M-113 as I’d ever taken pictures.  The Golden Hour had definitely arrived.

The sun finally set behind a hill and some distant farm buildings.  As I left the area, I got my first big surprise of the afternoon.

A waxing, nearly full moon had risen behind me in the beautiful, golden afterglow.

I followed the beautiful moon as I drove back north for one last look at the crane migration grounds.  Still no cranes, but the beautiful pinkening afterglow sky was glorious to watch.  The contrast of the setting sun and rising moon made the whole trip out to farm country worthwhile.

 

 And then I got my second surprise of the waning afternoon.  I heard them before I saw them.  A flock of migrating geese was flying just above the still vibrant sunset sky.  They topped off a beautiful photo experience.