Crosswinds Marsh, October 29, 2010

Visited the wetland in mid-morning on a 43-degree day. Wind was nippy out of the north, and apparently kept the birds close to the ground and on the water. Weren't even many song birds flitting about in the cold wind.

I walked the Bald Eagle trail, which circles the main pond for more than 3-miles, inspired in part by the distinct trumpeting of what I thought were Sandhill Cranes off to the west. Couldn't get a visual confirmation of the cranes, but recognized the call from the way it echoed across the 1/2 mile of water and resonated as it hit the woods. I thought it odd the cranes which dwelt in Michigan would still be there until I considered that those I heard could have been moving through the area from the arctic to warmer climates for the winter.

The pond was definitely set up for a stop over, with hundreds of Canada Geese, and gulls on the water. Except for a few mating pairs and single stragglers scattered here and there, the ducks were gone. In early to late spring, there were several hundred on the water at that time of the day.

Checked for the Eagles, but saw no evidence.

Interestingly, while traversing the town of Belleville on my way home, Crosswinds Marsh, spotted a Bald Eagle cruising the shoreline of the lake as I neared the bridge. Doubt the other drivers caught at the light, many chatting on their cells, noticed the distinguished visitor.

I had to wonder if one of the Crosswinds eagles had ventured to another body of water in search of food.

Did come across some unexpected visitors, a couple of older pups scrounging in the weeds and muck at the edge of the water. They were obviously familiar with humans, as they didn't run when I approached, but stayed at their business. I hoped they were simply exploring the edge of their range from one of the nearby farms, as opposed to being abandoned in the marsh.

What caught my attention was an odd bird call, from what I thought was a mound of grass, until I realized there were two swans floating off shore not many yards from the dogs. As there seemed to be 40 or more swans on the pond when I usually spotted fewer than 10 on a summer day, I may have spotted some migrating tundra swans stopping by for a rest.

The day in nature was refreshing, not too polluted with humans, until the drive home in stop and go traffic.