Close encounters

...on my Sunday hike on our land.

With the wind chills in the slightly below zero range, I thought I'd break out the fox and protect my eyes at the same time while walking across the open places. 

One of the very first encounters that surprised me was blue birds. Blue Birds!

They were in and out of a box elder tree that sheltered them somewhat from the winds. There were plenty of plant bits and seed in the snow near the tree and in the field.

Lucky me, I got a shot of one.

I decided then to walk into the valley and go find the area of the creek where the underground spring still kept a small area open for water. In years past I've find all sorts of birds feeding in that area in the winter. 

Last year on Christmas day I found Robins in this same area. Over the years I've found different species that I thought should have migrated!

When I got to the valley, I felt the colder air from being in the creek bottom. Granted it was not windy, but I was in the shadow of steep hills and surrounded by a frozen water and land.

Just ahead of me a yearling deer stood up awkwardly. It stared at me and didn't move. It stood for a long time. I recorded it with my cell phone, took photos with the phone and then slowly pulled out my camera.

It simply blinked at me from the other side of the deadfall.

I took several shots and moved a bit to try and get a shot without the weeds in its face.

Still it stood and watched me. Then I realized that it was cold. I mean like shaking humped up cold ... or it was injured.

I kicked myself for not bringing my pistol, if it was injured, best to put it down so it wouldn't suffer.

I decided to get closer. That is my gloved hand in the photo so you can see how close I got. I talked softly and babbled a bit. It shook, then slowly turned around and tripped through the rest of the downfall.

She stopped for a drink in the open water and slowly and on shaky legs started to climb up the sunny hillside.

I wondered if she/he hadn't bed down in that spot to avoid the winds from yesterday and just got too cold. I've found other deceased deer in the creek bottom over the winters with no apparent injuries. 

Nature takes its course.

I found the area I was curious about and was happy to see a small area of open water.

This is where most of the odd birds gather during the winter, Robins and Bluebirds were here last year on Christmas Day.

No such luck on Sunday. So I headed back up the hill to the sunshine in the meadow near my house. Halfway up the hill I stopped to catch my breath and look back on the opposite hillside.

The deer was eating. Then it lifted its head up and watched me.

Don't be fooled by how close it looks, it was easily 500 yards away on another hillside. I stood and watched for a while and eventually it dropped its head and continued to browse. As it walked, I could see the stiffness was gone so maybe it was just so cold when we ran into each other.

Hike at Weister Creek

 

I'll be parking at Pott's Corners, I told hubby as I was getting ready to go on my B-day hike with Charlie. I'd wondered about taking him on the sort of new-ish grass trail I'd planned on doing.

Only local folk really know what 'Pott's Corners' is. I never did find out the story behind it, but I assume that it is where a farm used to be and generally I would think the families last name would have been Potts.

Potts Corners 

with a new sign!

The local names for places like Mule Camp, Horse Camp, Ma & Pa's Camp, Pott's Corners Camp, have changed slightly over the years. Some places retained their original names but now are labeled on a map with letters. The letters aren't as charming as the fun names were.

There used to be an old trail along Weister Creek and the Reserve changed it to only foot traffic. It runs along a beautiful trout stream. I had never explored this trail and thought it would be a nice one to try.

It was relatively cool and breezy so walking in the grass and alongside water might be pleasant.

I took my infrared camera because all of the amazing things that are combined for good IR were absolutely perfect. Clouds, green grass, leafed out trees, and water.

I nearly turned back right away. They had just mowed and poor Charlie was struggling to walk through the thick chaff left by the mower. Pretty quickly he started to gag and cough. I scooped him up and decided to go ahead and carry him. 
What is an extra 14 pounds anyway?

The scenery did not disappoint at all. In fact in its natural colors of green and blue, it was amazing also.
I could see a woman walking with her dog on the other side of the creek and knew our paths would eventually cross if she didn't turn around.

Charlie and I stopped on a bridge and found a shady spot to have some water and share an apple. My arms needed a break and sitting in the grass seemed to be just the thing to do.

The woman and her dog came around the bend. She said her dog was friendly, could our dogs meet? I asked her for sure was... her dog friendly? Charlies last dog encounter was a bitey dog.

She assured me so and introduced us to her dog Kona Tree.

He was friendly. He actually paid no attention at all to Charlie other than to check out his parts and then walk over and pee on a weed to show Charlie how a bigger dog marked his territory.

We chatted a bit and then she told me she was just going up to the bridge and then taking this road...she pointed back to where she parked. 

I pointed to the road she was talking about and said it was a dead end and no road would take her back to her car. I explained that the roads in our area were not usually what they seemed to be.

I pulled out my map and showed her the layout. 

Her husband had taken the day off work and come out to Weister Creek to go trout fishing and she thought it would be fun to take a nice long walk with Kona.

Kona Tree

We eventually found her hubby who was enjoying his fishing. Tayanna [her name] introduced Charlie and I. The hubby then went on to tell her how the roads ran and when he pronounced Weister Creek properly I laughed out loud.

I said the locals pronounce the creek as "Wooster" Creek even though it isn't spelled that way." 

We laughed over local name pronunciation and spelling. Looking back, I hope I didn't offend anyone.

Apparently not. Tayanna and I walked to her car with our dogs and she offered Charlie and I a ride back to Pott's Corners. I didn't want to cause more confusion as technically Pott's Corners didn't exist and I couldn't recall the name of the road I did park on.

Besides with the rest of the trail ran along Wolfe Hollow Road Charlie's nose wouldn't be in the chaff and he'd be fine.

We exchanged numbers for texting as she asked if she came out again, could we hike a trail together. I said of course.

What a nice unexpected birthday surprise. 

Chalk it up to serendipity.

Two guys fishing under the bridge over

Wooster [Weister Creek].