Sunny Winter Day

Hudsonville Nature center

Well after snow, snow and more snow we finally had a sunny day to get out and enjoy the beauty left behind from all this snow. It is beautiful even on cloudy days but so much more with the bright sun shining on the trees and giving a lovely contrast with the snow. It was a great day for snow shoeing as I did at the Hudsonville Nature Center for an hour and saw others shoeing near Grand Haven. The woods were so magical looking with all the trees covered in white. I think many people miss the beauty in the woods this time of year because they just don’t get out there. If you dress in layers and keep moving, its really not that cold.

Rush Creek

As I’ve mentioned before you don’t have to wander far from home to enjoy the beauty and wonders of creation. The stream photo is a block from the Credit Union where I bank.  I often drive by this creek but have never paid much attention to it until a couple of days ago when I noticed the snow covered trees hanging over it. Local parks, fields or woods that we drive by every day can be worth a look.

Grand River

If you are from the west Michigan area you have probably heard about the Grand River and the seasonal ice jam near Grand Haven. For several miles upstream the river is a field of ice. What looks like a field full of chunks of ice in the photos is actually the Grand River at Connor Bayou.

Bald Eagle

I also saw two Bald Eagles flying near the river, and was able to get a reasonably good photo of the one after a few attempts of traveling up and down the roads to follow its drifting eastward while soaring. I’ve included a photo of the eagle heading away from me to show the dihedral of the wings for identification. You distinguish an eagle from a vulture by the flat dihedral or flatness of the open wings. A vulture holds its wings in sharper “V” and rocks back and forth while soaring while an eagle has a smooth and graceful glide.

Bald Eagle

Again watch and listen for owls this time of year. Great Horned Owls should be well into their nesting by now. Look for nests in old crow, heron or squirrel nest. Roosting adults may be seen during the day in high trees with the leaves still on, such as oaks and beech. Others are in the area and moving around. Just last week a Barred Owl landed in the tree in my back yard and on the evening hike at the nature center we heard an Eastern Screech Owl calling.

Whether just for a drive, hiking, cross country skiing or snow shoeing, get out and enjoy this beautiful time of year. Spring will be here before we know it.