Howdy Folks,
Just hooking up the trailer I had to tie my hat on. Cold
wind gusts hadn't lessened any since Coffee Clutch earlier in the morning. Had
it gotten even more windy, and cold? Well, I'm one of those folks who, when I
have a plan in mind, hate to squash it just because of a little wind. But I
must admit, when a surprise gust just about tore the trailer door from my hand,
I had second thoughts. For at least half a minute. Then there's the fact that
Kessy was still in her on-again off-again trailer loading frame of mind and it
would be a cold night sleeping in the trailer at James River State Park … if
she decided she'd be off-again today.
However, it's hunting season and we can only ride here at
home on Sundays, and I needed a ride. No hunting at James River State Park, a
short half hour drive away, so I'd told Kessy we're going. She loaded nicely,
took about two minutes, Ravishin' Robbie handed me my thermos of Folgers, baloney
sandwich, carrots for Kessy, and we were off.
No one greeted us at the Park greeting station, must have
figured nobody would be coming on such a blustery day, so I put my $3 in the
little yellow envelope and set out to park by the big oak in the pretty grassy
lot on the edge of the forest.
Kessy and I were alone, with only the wind for company. When
I opened the door for her to step out, a great gust whipped up the shavings,
startling me. Not Kessy though, she stepped off like a pro. Pre-ride exercises done
and saddled up, we hit the trail. The trees groaned and branches rattled as
they swayed in the wind, but our first sighting was only a few hundred feet
into the woods. A Hairy Woodpecker busily tore at a dead limb, tossing chips
into the air. We paused a second to watch the show.
Down the trail we go - "The best view in the world is between your horse's ears." |
It's about a half mile through woods to the river trail,
with a nice hill to navigate. Along the way we saw several Chickadees and Titmice.
We entered the river trail through a canopy of brown vines and brush. The dense
thicket was alive with Robins. They flew all about us setting up a delightful
chatter. I stopped Kessy to watch as they bounced here and there. Mixed in with
the Robins were White Throated Sparrows, Juncos and White Crowned Sparrows.
There was no escaping the wind, and as we snuck along the
trail, riding among more birds than I'd seen on any ride in a long time, I
wondered if the blustery day had driven them down to the brushy cover along the
river. No matter, I welcomed their silly antics and lively banter.
On both sides
of the trail the thickets were alive with winged beauties. A Mockingbird sat on
the trail until Kessy could almost touch it with her nose, and then it flew
only to sit on a branch at eye level. For a second I looked right into its shining
eye!
At one point the trail meanders through a tall field of dry
reedy grass. As tall as my head. This had Kessy just a little nervous. The wind
had the reeds roaring, not rustling, but she worked through it with only a few
added dance steps. One of her moves would have had Derek Hough on Dancing With
The Stars smiling. It did me too.
It's a flat trail along the river, in and out of tall trees,
mostly Sycamore. Sometimes the trail is next to the wide river and the rapids
roared above the wind. Sometimes the river can't be seen. But always today
there were birds. Over the years Kessy has learned to stand quietly when I ask
to look at the birds, it almost seems she's looking for them too.
She had a tough time with it though at the pond. The wind
was creating tiny waves, and that worried her. A lot. She stood though and, in
the pond, among the reeds and stalks I spied a Great Blue Heron, a few Diving
Ducks, and I heard a Green Heron. And surprisingly some Red Winged Blackbirds.
I thought they'd be gone for the winter, but there they were.
Along the way yesterday we also saw 3 Pileated Woodpeckers,
several Hairy Woodpeckers, a Belted Kingfisher, lots of Goldfinches, Fox
Sparrows, Cardinals, and Bluebirds. Some others I couldn't identify. Every step
of the way we had birds. It was the right combination of great habitat, a great horse, riding
alone – and the wind.
Ready to go home |
Back at the trailer, Kessy capped a perfect day by stepping
right into the trailer, on the third try. We'd been working lately on
self-loading, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but yesterday, she was as perfect
with her trailer manners, and her trail manners. The wind was really bad, and
she truly was splendid. It's a lot for a horse to ride a strange place, alone
in high wind and stay solid, calm. And she did, even stood still whenever I
wanted to search the blowing brush for hiding birds. What a day, great birding
and a terrific partner. Thanks Kessy for your friendship!
Gitty Up ~ Dutch Henry
Such a nice girl! Sounds like the perfect ride :)
ReplyDeleteThanks anon! - It was a great ride! Kessy is a wonderful partner!
ReplyDelete