The Pond at Mid-Day

October 6, 2009

It's been over a week since a moose was spotted in the vicinity of Moreau Lake. No one that I know has actually SEEN the creature, but there were abundant signs of the presence of something just a tad larger than a white-tailed deer:

In the past week, these footprints were seen in various places, along with moose-droppings ( a.k.a. "milk duds"), and flattened areas that were like deer-beds, only larger and out in the open. (you can see photos of such things on Jackie's sublime blog www.saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com)

People were saying they'd seen a cow and her calf. If so, it would be best to not get too close to them. There's nothing like a mother's love, and moose are known to be very protective of their young. Then again, it is October, a time when bull moose are doing cross-country jaunts in search of love. Either way, you've gotta respect a critter that weighs in at 500 to 1000 pounds!

With hopes of seeing a real live moose, Jackie and I took a walk over at Mud Pond. The moose have probably moved on, miles and miles away ... but you never know.

We walked along the easement trail which is bordered in places by head-high hazelnut shrubs. The leaves were pretty in the slanting morning sunlight.

Of course I was fearfully imagining a moose around every bend. Jackie laughs. She'd like nothing better!

All around the trail are little moss-forests.

Shrub-sized sumacs, oaks and hickories were beginning to take on their fall colors.

There are still interesting insects to be found, in these days Before the Frost.
I don't know what these are, but their wings remind me of the stoneflies I saw this spring.

I like this guy's feet.

Jackie showed me an American Bittersweet and Shining Sumac, new plants for me.

In the sandy soil, we found some days-old moose tracks. I'm a size 7.

We wandered down by the water's edge, where Dwarf St. Johnswort, Water Horehound, Frostweed and Goldenrod were abundant. We followed some beaver-trails along the shore.

The Canada geese kept up a regular quiet gabble out in the middle of the pond. Once in a while, you'd swear you heard a human word or two on the breeze, but it's only the geese talking.

There were fresh cuttings around the beaver-lodge.

At noon, the beaver were elsewhere. The moose was not to be seen.

Is the water reflecting the sky, or vice versa?

It's a nice place to sit and think, or not-think.

After a while, you stop looking-for-things,

and for a few moments, are content to become just another part of the scenery.