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Friday 6 December 2019

The sounds through the trees

Our walks on the trails this time of year are predominated by the grey trunks of the trees which stand majestically along the paths. While colour is lacking, my husband and I sometimes feel compensated by the sounds we hear through the trees.





Tractors are a curiosity, many still busy in the fields, completing the last of the ploughing before the ground is frozen. It is a challenge to take a photo of a tractor through the trees although their colour helps.





Previously ploughed fields are alive with the sounds of crows and gulls. They are obvious overhead but we need a gap in the trees to see them feeding from the rich red soil. They make their unique calls to others of their kind as we watch and listen. The haunting cry of the gulls stirs up memories of salty beaches while the caw of the crows sounds utilitarian by comparison.





The most pleasant sound is that of a squirrel and its rhythmic squeaking from among the grey branches along the trail. “It’s in there somewhere,” I say as we search its location. 


“There it is,” my husband says after several minutes as he points to where the tiny creature is sitting in the grey menagerie.





Can you find it?





Answer to a question from a previous post:


From the post about Red squirrels, Joanne at http://cuponthebus.blogspot.com/ asked “Do squirrels feed from those cones over winter?”


The red squirrels collect cones and place them in a pile called a midden where they add the discarded bracts as well. The squirrels collect enough cones in the midden to last all winter and beyond in many cases.


27 comments:

Laurel Wood said...

Thanks for taking us along on your walk. We enjoy watching the squirrels in our yard. They are whimsical. Hope you have a nice weekend.

DJan said...

I looked and looked and couldn't find the squirrel, so thanks for the closeup. Cute little thing. :-)

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Yes I did spot him there Marie, but he is incredibly well camouflaged there, I love the gorgeous tree skeletons in winter.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

You have no snow yet in PEI? Or did you have some and it's melted already?

Rhodesia said...

You are right the sounds carry further in winter with no leaves on the trees and tree-dwelling animals are so easier to see. I just wish it s=did not have to be so cold to do this 😊 Keep warm Diane

Anvilcloud said...

I didn't know about that specific habit of read squirrels but I do know they are very cheeky.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I'm enjoying the novelty of the bare trees at the moment; suddenly there are all kinds of birds which one couldn't see when the leaves were in place - and squirrels too.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

I love the sounds of the forest, the birds and even the squirrels fussing. I found the squirrel, it took a little while. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend!

Celia said...

Love the bare trees, the art of winter. It also lets us see the nests the birds and other critters have hiding up top. Looks very chilly.

Ruth Hiebert said...

That squirrel is well hidden, blends in with the trees.

Debbie said...

i really love how you describe your walks, the forest and the sounds from beyond!! i don't mind the bare trees but mr. squirrel illustrates that even with not leaves, he can be difficult to find. i did see him in the first image!!

At Home In New Zealand said...

It took some searching but I found that squirrel! He was certainly well hidden.

Elephant's Child said...

I did indeed spot him - eventually.
Thank you for taking us with you. Again. I am very grateful.

Bill said...

The squirrel was well hidden among all the grey branches. It took me a couple of looks before I noticed him. Thanks for taking us along once again, Marie. Have a lovely weekend!

Lea said...

Cute squirrel! It took me awhile, but I found him!
Have a wonderful weekend!

Sandy said...

Glad you blew the picture up, I didn't find him, should have tried longer perhaps. Nice pics. I get skiddish sometimes while walking when I hear noises as.....I'm very afraid of snakes and things like that, and am almost always walking alone. The tractor looked really close to you.

Tabor said...

Lovely. Thank you for the pause in my busy day.

William Kendall said...

What a cute squirrel!

Rose said...

Yes I seen it...squirrels are just so cute. It is a different sound out now...had not thought of it till reading your post though.

Joanne Noragon said...

Amazing. The only squirrel behavior I ever "documented" was the burying of acorns, and that mostly by pulling oak seedlings the next year. Perhaps I'm blaming squirrels for chipmunk behavior, or blue jays.

baili said...

first image is captivating dear Marie !
walking in the lap of nature is soothing indeed

silence in the woods is dramatic sometimes , the rare voices created in the depth of the ocean of silence :)

squirrels are adorable ,i love their voices specially in winters when they seem more vibrant

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Ploughed fields here attract gulls and crows too, often in huge numbers. The gulls are still predominantly Ring-billed Gulls but it is interesting at this time of the year to watch as the flocks are augmented by Herring Gulls arriving from farther north.

Retired Knitter said...

It took me a long time to find him - so well hidden. The beauty of nature - animal and plant combined.

Linda said...

Good hunting and well worth it. He's lovely.

Barbara said...

I was watching an Indian language film about a young school girl and the teacher asked the students what their favorite tree was. The heroine answered some tree that I was not familiar with but the reason was that she like the sound of the wind whistling through the leaves. I loved that answer. I love the sound of wind through the forest too

Kathie said...

I love being quiet enough to hear the sounds of the forest around me. It truly comes alive!

Stewart M said...

When you go for a walk its good to take all of your senses I think!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne