Whenever there is a break in the weather,
we try to go somewhere for a hike
or a paddle.
A few days ago, we headed to a mature hardwood forest.
As soon as I got out of the truck,
I heard the ethereal song of a hermit thrush.
I remember the very first time I ever heard one sing.
It was so beautiful,
it stopped me dead in my tracks.
Have a listen!
I had always been a backyard birder,
but this was the defining moment
that turned me into a
birder-at-large!
As we were driving into this forested area,
The Ranger was telling me how,
the last time he was there, he saw a bear.
As he was relating his story to me,
I was watching along the edge of the forest,
looking for birds, of course,
and thought I could see the outline of a bear.
But the trees were so thick, I was sure my eyes
were just playing tricks on me.
He parked the truck a few minutes later,
and when we looked up,
what do you think we saw?
First one stepped out of the forest's edge, then another....
 |
| Black Bear |
....not 75-100 yards in front of us.
Pictured here is the second one, a bit larger than the first.
Probably the mom; the other, perhaps, a two year old.
She did turn and face us,
but by the time I felt confident enough to quietly open the truck door
without scaring her off so I could step out to take a clear picture,
she was already ambling away, unconcerned.
My other photos, taken through the windshield,
didn't come out very clearly.
So, off we went, into the forest.
And exactly where I thought I saw the bear through the trees,
was sign that they had,
indeed,
just been there...
...foraging for a tasty treat.
Grubs, most likely.
Grubs, most likely.
We spend a lot of time in the forests all around Nova Scotia,
and this is a first for me!!
We also came across a lovely beaver dam.
The water level was right up to the top!
It was easily 3 or 4 feet high.
Birdsong filled the air and
spring flowers littered the forest floor,
with the promise of more to come.
It was, indeed, a bear-y good day in the forest.
Hope you've had the opportunity
to get out and enjoy a little of
Mother Nature's blessings!
~karen
36 comments:
the bear sighting is amazing! but that thrush song is hauntingly beautiful! wow! have never heard something so lovely!
Great photos! I have seen and heard a hermit thrush in the woods in NH in the summer. I have also seen bears there, once on an island directly across from a national forest campground site where we were tenting. Now that I am older, I do not go tent camping and my forest walks are more limited due to knee issues so I have enjoyed your post very much today. Thanks for bringing the sites and sounds of the great outdoors inside ... :) Pat
love listening to the bird :) the bear! magnificent! we rarely see them and usually it happens so fast you can't get a good photo. You are having fun and enjoying yourself which is great.
A very nice songster Karen and congrats on the encounter with the Bears.
I agree the Thrush has one of the loveliest songs in the forest! Great Bear sighting and photos!!! Big foot print too!! And the beaver dam is really amazing, how can they hold all that water with a tangle of logs and branches and I cant stop a roof leak with all the man made junk in the world?
Oh my golly! You definitely embraced nature that day...bears and beaver dams! I am such a coward, I would probably still be in the truck! Great pictures!
LOVED this post! The Thrush song is just so beautiful, and great Bear shot too!
I can see what you mean Karen, that is a fantastic video of the Thrush.
We have one just like that one, Song Thrush, it sings really loud, but yours sings so much better than ours. Excellent photos.
You do have the most interesting adventures! I don't know that I would enjoy having a bear that close, but it is certainly impressive. Great pictures once again. Nola
What a lovely son the thrush has and wow , how neat to see that huge healthy looking bear , that must have been a fun experience . I love spending time in the woods , all ways calms me right down :-)
What an awesome post..thank you
what a special tiem out... and there is nothing that beats seeing a wild animal in it's home ground... fantastic
Hugz
I enjoyed this post so much! What a beautiful call that thrush has. A bear how exciting and a bit scary too!
That does indeed sound like a lovely day of experiences.
What a fabulous find -- a black bear! However I'd be wary of walking through the woods knowing it was out there. Gorgeous creature.
I enjoyed listening to the video. I hear birds all the time, they catch my attention some times....around here cardinals and mockingbirds make my ears perk up. As I read your blog I thought about what a fine tuned ear you must have for birds, an ability I assume one must practice.
...such a beautiful post. I loved your descriptions. I love the Hermit Thrush song as well. I only get to hear it a few times around here, though. They head north in the spring. (Exciting seeing the bear!!!)
What a great day in the woods for you. I have only seen a black bear once, it ran across highway 101 in front of me last year. His timing was perfect to make it across the twinned highway...
What a great day for exploring! Thanks for sharing the video with us, I love hearing birds. And to see bears like that, that must have been something to see. Neat memories, for sure!
I hear them so rarely now
Great post and fabulous shot of the black bear but I would be wary walking there..
Great post, Karen! I loved the pictures of the bear and thoroughly enjoyed the thrush song.
The Hermit Thrush call is one of the most beautiful calls. I have yet to find a bear on the trail and when I do, I just hope to be standing far enough away:) Love the video.
So much beautiful wildlife! What a blessed day you had!
Lots of neat discoveries.
There are Wood Thrushes in my woods and I look forward to hearing them each spring when they arrive. Their song is a little different from the Hermit Thrush but just as beautiful.
Karen, how wonderful! Great pictures and story!
Oh my! What an adventure!!! We certainly never get to see that kind of raw nature here in Nashville :) Thanks for all the wonderful pictures on this post and the last one - I almost feel as if I've been there too :)
What amazing pictures...thanks for sharing them with us.
I'm catching up on your posts--not only to see what you've been up to but also in hopes that I'll get the inspiration to return from my blog vacation!
I love the bear sighting and northern woods
Brilliant images, the Bear, a Hermit Thrush and everything, love them all.
Que bonito post, me he paseado por tu bloc y me ha encantado, te invito a ver el mío, esta semana viajamos a la India y decoramos con piezas hindúes terrazas y jardines, espero que te guste y si es así y no eres seguidora espero que te hagas ahora, gracias por visitarme.
Elracodeldetall.blogspot.com
Enjoyed the post. Polly (my cat) went wild looking all over the room for the Hermit Thrush when I played the clip!
It's really nice to read posts like this, Karen. Makes me realize how different lifestyles can be, all around the US. You definitely live in a wondrous place, with opportunities that the rest of us can only imagine... or read about in your posts! Thank you for sharing this get-away. It made me feel bear-y good.
Would love to see a bear in the wild but at the same time I'd be scared to death. LOL
Great photos
Love this Karen! When We were young my dad would take us to the ADK every summer.... More days than one we would come back from swimming in the brook and the bear were at our camp - one day just sitting on top of the picnic table. Beautiful creatures - lovely post...Hugs,. Karen
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