Landscape Transition

Here in South Central Pennsylvania we have undergone rapid transitions to our landscape twice in the past two weeks.  After an autumn and winter without snow cover, we were inundated with over two feet of snow arriving the evening of January 22nd and continuing through the entire day of the 23rd.  The snow compacted, evaporated, and melted some over the next week until about six inches remained.  This week the days warmed into the 40's to lower 50's melting the snow rapidly.   This was the situation on Tuesday when I shot the first four of photos posted here.

The creek ice which was safe to walk on a few days before was beginning to show signs of cracking due to water levels rising.

Areas of water pooled on the softening ice in some areas.

And in the rapids areas of open water with floating ice made it clear that the ice break-up was underway.

Rain arrived during Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning it was heavy at time.  The rain exacerbated the melting sending a heavy flow of water into the streams.  By Thursday morning the creek bordering our farm was flowing freely.

Remnants of the winter's ice cover remain strewn on the creek banks.

And Daffodils have already emerged in anticipation of the arrival of Spring.

Unexpected Encounter

 

 

With winter fully upon us the creek that borders two sides of the family farm has frozen sufficiently that it is mostly safe for walking.  I took advantage of the ice conditions yesterday to hike along one side of our farm looking for photo opportunities. 

 

 

The perspective one gets from walking on the water is quite different than what is available most of the year.

 

And the frozen water lends a different look to the scene as well.

 

As I was taking this walk looking for landscape shots and not wanting to be burdened down with heavy gear, I was carrying a Canon EOS 6D with a 24-105mm lens attached.  With that outfit I was unprepared for what was to happen next.

 

As I approached a small area of open rapids I noticed a small animal swimming in the water.  At first glance I thought muskrat but a moment later as it pulled itself out on the ice I could see that it was mink!  Now mink are not uncommon in my area but seeing one certainly is as they are a very secretive animal.  As the mink hadn't seemed to have noticed me I continued moving its way as it hurried along the shoreline towards me, searching for a meal.  While the smooth ice allowed me to walk quietly I was surprised that the mink as so engrossed with checking the shoreline that it didn't notice me walking towards it with no cover whatsoever.  I was able to get to within about forty feet of it before the ice cracked under my weight, making a hollow booming sound as the pressure crack seemed to run the length of the ice sheet.

With that the mink took notice of me and after staring me down for a moment wheeled, ran to the open water, and slipped in.  The encounter was over as quickly as it had began leaving me with both memories and images of a rare sighting in the Pennsylvania Outdoors.

 

Looking Ahead to Spring

While Nemo didn't impact my area winter is still holding us in its icy grasp.



Windblown Cattails

 With the early spring waterfowl migrations in mind I stopped by some of my favorite local waterfowl spots yesterday.  The cattails in a swampy area are shedding their fluff but the only birds I spotted were a red-tailed hawk and a northern mocking bird; both year around residents.

 A wood duck nest box sits empty, suspended over ice covered water

However this will all change very soon.  This photo taken on February 22, 2012 was my first migratory waterfowl encounter last year.  Upon checking back through my records I find that Red-winged blackbirds usually arrive in my area during the last two weeks of February and are soon followed by a progression of waterfowl species.  While the lakes can hold ice longer, wetlands are usually thawed by the first week of March and waterfowl will arrive as soon as the water is open.

First migratory waterfowl encounter of 2011.  This photo was captured March 4th.

 

While spring doesn't officially arrive until March 20th this year those that are attuned to natures cycle know that wildlife will begin reacting to the change of the season very soon.  It's time now to check out the spring photography gear for with only a couple of weeks to go the wonder of the spring migrations will be upon us here in southern Pennsylvania.

The Edge of Winter

The changing of the seasons are gradual with little noticeable change from one day to the next

However as winter loosens her grip the point where ice meets open water presents a visual reference;

 "The Edge of Winter."

A Goldfinch perches beside the wetlands awaiting the change of the season.

I heard Red-winged blackbirds for the first yesterday and observed my first common grackles today.  Although official spring is still nearly a month away the signs of the changing season are unmistakable.

Ice

Early this morning a cold rain began falling, blanketing our area in covering of ice.


After the rain had stopped and with temperatures on the rise I took the opportunity to photograph some of the beauty left in the storms wake. The falling water drop creates a blur in this photograph. Shutter speed 1/160th sec.

A lonely leaf that has yet to fall finds itself partially incrusted in ice

The bright colors of these berries, which I believe to be American Bittersweet, are made even vibrant by the icy sheath.

Ice Patterns

Cold spring nights sometime result in delicate ice patterns that soon disappear in the morning sun. While pursuing waterfowl with the boat on a recent morning I discovered these feathery ice patterns on the shallow water of a small cove.

While I do not comprehend the how’s and why’s of the formations of these interesting patterns produced as the liquid becomes solid I certainly do appreciate the fleeting intricate beauty that nature sends our way.

Ice Patterns

When I went looking for waterfowl Saturday morning I was greeted with thin ice covering the entire wetland and no waterfowl to be found. I had expected as much as the thermometer read 19 deg F when I left home.

Although I could not photograph waterfowl I was delighted to capture the geometric patterns in the ice.

Winter Patterns

We are now in that time of winter where the ice covering our wetlands melts on the warmer afternoons and refreezes over night.

Sometimes the patterns formed by the thin ice are striking. Backlighting accents the patterns found in this natural ice formation.

Cold

With high temperatures barely rising above the single digits and tonight’s low to drop below the 0 F point the bone chilling cold is seeping into every nook and cranny. As if that isn’t bad enough today the company I work for sent over three hundred employees on their way clutching a bundle of papers containing their unemployment information.

At first it looked as though we could possibly weather the downturn in the world economy by moving more work into our facility but eventually, as with the winter, the chill of the economy began to take its effect on the 2009 build schedule.

I now wait the awakening of spring, the first shoots of new grass, the first leaves, and the first signs of a rebirth in the economy.

Icy Lane

The beautiful ice formations I have been sharing these last few days were all found along this road.

My wife was particularly drawn to this photograph and found the scene “inviting”. As pretty as it was I knew it was not wise to venture far from the main road for my car could easily have become stuck.

This final post will conclude the “Icy” series. Today we experienced temperatures nearly 60 deg. F. Although this temperature is unusual for our area, it is far from a record. With the strong cold front now approaching, we will be returning to more seasonable temps by morning.

Icy Buds

Mountain Laurel buds encased in Crystal

The ice storm transformed the appearance of my surroundings. What previously was mundane and unattractive had become amazingly beautiful.

Icy Power

If the storm resulted in any power outages, I was unaware. I marvel how electricity can flow through these cables without any outward sign of the power rushing within.

I captured this image with a Canon 30D using a 100-400 L IS lens

Icy Trails

Saturday morning found me on top of Sidling Hill Mountain.
Friday’s ice storm had passed by leaving a thick coat of ice everywhere.

Today the temperatures soared into the upper 40’s F and now only photographs and memories of this ice storm remain.

Icy Blue

Coated in ice and shrouded in fog, Sidling Hill Mountain as seen from in front of our home.

I captured this image with my Canon S2 IS using the full power of its zoom. The lens on the S2 is a 6mm-72mm. With the tiny image sensor it employs the S2 gives the same effect at 72mm as a full frame 35mm camera gives with a 420mm lens.

Although this high of magnification is seldom used in scenery shots; in this case it gave me great results.