Getting ready for date night…So we both agree we want to try that new place down river…Hey what’s that thing in the water?I thought we were vegetarians?I can’t look…..let’s just stay home!
I don’t know what that was swimming by in the water – a river rat, possum, muskrat? – because I couldn’t look at it either. I was a safe distance away with the zoom lens on as mute swans can be nasty.
I wish the photos were clearer but I was a safe distance away and it was so sunny I couldn’t see to frame, so it was just point and shoot. They were taken Feb 28, and it was so frigid and blustery I couldn’t stay at the park more than 15 minutes. I wondered at them bathing in such cold temperatures but I guess they are used to it!
This was cute Joni. I like the colors – blue water, ice and beautiful swans … the only three colors until the “swamp thing” appeared in the water. Thinking perhaps it is a muskrat? Going by the tail as I see them in the Creek sometimes. They used to have a restaurant/catering place that served muskrat dinners. They are closed now, but people on the Facebook sites from the area talk about those muskrat dinners all the time. Apparently they were big during the Lenten season, which I don’t “get” because they are meat. Ugh.
HA! that’s a good name for it – the swam thing! I thought muskrat too, as the tail was too big/bushy for a rat, and possums have a long snout. It was disgusting anyway and that was from some distance away with the 4X zoom lens which is all I have on my old digital. I’m far behind tonight and going to try and catch up. Have a good weekend, and enjoy your shows!
I was going to suggest a mink … after I was at the Park in the Winter and spoke to the fisherman who told me he was feeding tiny fish to the mink who lived near the ledge, I thought “I walk there all the time and never see a mink!” They are dark, sleek fur and have long tail too. We do have muskrat in the Creek – I’ve seen them before. I was all caught up Thursday night – thought I’d catch up more tonight, but I was out about four hours at Elizabeth Park and Council Point Park and walking and taking photos. I have been doing comments and nodding off … it was a beautiful day, sunny, but cold. I saw some swans at Council Point Park today. I went there after Elizabeth Park. Mute swans are only there a few times a year … at least I only see them a couple of times a year. This pair were beautiful and catching/eating fish. I have not looked at the photos yet – hope they came out as I took enough photos of them each wrangling the fish, then trying to eat it. I did watch my shows last night … two episodes every Friday. Still enjoying it, on Season four, next the fourth episode. At least I’ve done that New Year’s resolution – resolved to watch TV two hours every Friday and step away from here a little by less posts. But stepping away keeps me behind all the time which is not good either. Tomorrow is another nice day, not so sunny, then rain off/on next week. That’s too bad.
Good for you for stepping away a bit. The blog can begin to seem like drudgery I find if I don’t once in awhile. I’ve never seen a mink, didn’t think we had them here, but I thought they were longer. You were probably right it was a muskrat, or maybe a baby mink. It didn’t look too tong. I went back to the park yesterday, but no bald eagles and no swans either! Now that the snow has melted too much green goose goop there so that will be it for that park now!
Thank you and I needed to do that Joni. I felt like I was here just too many hours in the day and especially on weekends. I still have photos I’ve not sorted through from 2020 and the Henry Ford and Clara Ford Estate from 2019. I had intended to use the Ford Estate pics with a trip there to see the lilac garden, which, according to the guard, were supposed to be magnificent, but they closed up for the pandemic. I then thought I’d wait til this year, but I don’t know if this is a big area or not … they are open again, just on the outside. I spent a good part of yesterday going through photos I had taken this past weekend and through the last two weeks. It takes a lot of time … and it is disheartening always behind in Reader or even comments, so I agree with you. The muskrats have a really long tail and it streams out behind them when they are paddling. I almost sent a note to our City website about the dog poop at the Park today. Dogs are not allowed and there is an ordinance/fine … but lots of dog poop this morning and yes, the goose poop is bad and give it another two months and the goslings are eating/pooping.
I know – you had lots of ice in the water. That day I saw the swan cutting through the ice, breaking it with his feet, I wondered the same thing. He looked exhausted when he climbed onto land, preened a little, then went back into the water. Maybe his feathers were too wet and he was too heavy to fly somewhere else?
I’ve actually been in search of bald eagles Ruth – there have been multiple sightings of them in that park , as many as nine, but never on the days I’m there! The swan were incidental, but are beautiful creatures. There are two pairs which swim up and down the river, these are the larger ones.
I had a brief eagle sighting last summer at the farm. I was pruning bushes and looking up while reaching for a branch and it appeared right above me from above a huge maple tree. It circled around an disappeared behind the maple again but it was low enough that I could see the white head so I knew it was an eagle. There are a lot of wooded properties in the neighborhood so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some nesting in the area.
thehomeplaceweb 
I don’t know what that was swimming by in the water – a river rat, possum, muskrat? – because I couldn’t look at it either. I was a safe distance away with the zoom lens on as mute swans can be nasty.
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Your captions are spot on and the photographs are lovely to see.
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I wish the photos were clearer but I was a safe distance away and it was so sunny I couldn’t see to frame, so it was just point and shoot. They were taken Feb 28, and it was so frigid and blustery I couldn’t stay at the park more than 15 minutes. I wondered at them bathing in such cold temperatures but I guess they are used to it!
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Wonderful photos!
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So fun! Your photos are great, as is your sense of humor.
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Thanks Ally! So is yours!
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Thanks! š
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This was cute Joni. I like the colors – blue water, ice and beautiful swans … the only three colors until the “swamp thing” appeared in the water. Thinking perhaps it is a muskrat? Going by the tail as I see them in the Creek sometimes. They used to have a restaurant/catering place that served muskrat dinners. They are closed now, but people on the Facebook sites from the area talk about those muskrat dinners all the time. Apparently they were big during the Lenten season, which I don’t “get” because they are meat. Ugh.
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HA! that’s a good name for it – the swam thing! I thought muskrat too, as the tail was too big/bushy for a rat, and possums have a long snout. It was disgusting anyway and that was from some distance away with the 4X zoom lens which is all I have on my old digital. I’m far behind tonight and going to try and catch up. Have a good weekend, and enjoy your shows!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to suggest a mink … after I was at the Park in the Winter and spoke to the fisherman who told me he was feeding tiny fish to the mink who lived near the ledge, I thought “I walk there all the time and never see a mink!” They are dark, sleek fur and have long tail too. We do have muskrat in the Creek – I’ve seen them before. I was all caught up Thursday night – thought I’d catch up more tonight, but I was out about four hours at Elizabeth Park and Council Point Park and walking and taking photos. I have been doing comments and nodding off … it was a beautiful day, sunny, but cold. I saw some swans at Council Point Park today. I went there after Elizabeth Park. Mute swans are only there a few times a year … at least I only see them a couple of times a year. This pair were beautiful and catching/eating fish. I have not looked at the photos yet – hope they came out as I took enough photos of them each wrangling the fish, then trying to eat it. I did watch my shows last night … two episodes every Friday. Still enjoying it, on Season four, next the fourth episode. At least I’ve done that New Year’s resolution – resolved to watch TV two hours every Friday and step away from here a little by less posts. But stepping away keeps me behind all the time which is not good either. Tomorrow is another nice day, not so sunny, then rain off/on next week. That’s too bad.
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Good for you for stepping away a bit. The blog can begin to seem like drudgery I find if I don’t once in awhile. I’ve never seen a mink, didn’t think we had them here, but I thought they were longer. You were probably right it was a muskrat, or maybe a baby mink. It didn’t look too tong. I went back to the park yesterday, but no bald eagles and no swans either! Now that the snow has melted too much green goose goop there so that will be it for that park now!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you and I needed to do that Joni. I felt like I was here just too many hours in the day and especially on weekends. I still have photos I’ve not sorted through from 2020 and the Henry Ford and Clara Ford Estate from 2019. I had intended to use the Ford Estate pics with a trip there to see the lilac garden, which, according to the guard, were supposed to be magnificent, but they closed up for the pandemic. I then thought I’d wait til this year, but I don’t know if this is a big area or not … they are open again, just on the outside. I spent a good part of yesterday going through photos I had taken this past weekend and through the last two weeks. It takes a lot of time … and it is disheartening always behind in Reader or even comments, so I agree with you. The muskrats have a really long tail and it streams out behind them when they are paddling. I almost sent a note to our City website about the dog poop at the Park today. Dogs are not allowed and there is an ordinance/fine … but lots of dog poop this morning and yes, the goose poop is bad and give it another two months and the goslings are eating/pooping.
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PS. It was freezing cold that day of the swans, too cold for me to stay long….I wonder how they can stand it.
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I know – you had lots of ice in the water. That day I saw the swan cutting through the ice, breaking it with his feet, I wondered the same thing. He looked exhausted when he climbed onto land, preened a little, then went back into the water. Maybe his feathers were too wet and he was too heavy to fly somewhere else?
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What a treat to see the swans. I’ve only seen swans a couple times in real life.
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I’ve actually been in search of bald eagles Ruth – there have been multiple sightings of them in that park , as many as nine, but never on the days I’m there! The swan were incidental, but are beautiful creatures. There are two pairs which swim up and down the river, these are the larger ones.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I had a brief eagle sighting last summer at the farm. I was pruning bushes and looking up while reaching for a branch and it appeared right above me from above a huge maple tree. It circled around an disappeared behind the maple again but it was low enough that I could see the white head so I knew it was an eagle. There are a lot of wooded properties in the neighborhood so I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some nesting in the area.
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I’m disappointed as I wanted to do a blog on it, with some of my mom’s paintings….
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Such fun, Joni. Glad you kept your distance. The photos were clear enoughāand you and your equipment emerged intact!
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No eagle sightings or swan sightings today….they must have gone south for spring break!
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“Honey, you forgot to call the exterminator. ” š
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Ha! That’s a good one!
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