Category: Insects

Hike 141 – The Details

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Hike 141 refers to the fact that my recent hike at Miller Woods was my 141st trip to the Indiana Dunes in the last 3 years.  This was also my 27th visit to this particular trail at the western end of the national park.  Obviously I enjoy hiking and photographing this trail.  It simply never gets old and I come away with something new each time.  One of the reasons I enjoy this trail as much as I do is the diversity of ecosystems it spans in just over 1.5 miles.  I illustrated some of this diversity in a series of 3 posts; Miller Woods Trail pt1, Miller Woods Trail pt2, and Miller Woods Trail pt3.  While those posts focused on the nature of the land and how it changes between the trail head and lake Michigan, I also captured many of the little details which I find so fascinating when out in nature.

The reeds along the shore of the lagoon were still flowering. The low angle of the sun in Autumn means plenty of opportunity to capture backlit photos. In this case the flower appears to almost glow.

The seed of a Milkweed plant has caught on a patch of moss, next to a small clump of Lichen. The delicate snow white hairs contrast wonderfully with the earthier tones of the seed.

It is pretty late in the year for pollenating insects. This wasp was barely moving. I didn’t try, but I think I could have picked it up without it stinging or flying off.

November is a great time to mosses. Although they are around all through the spring and summer, they tend to get lost in all of the ground clutter. However with most of the surrounding foliage having retreated and turned brown, the vibrant green of the mosses really stands out. They never fail to produce fascinating up-close photographs.

Another example of back lighting turning something ordinary into something extraordinary. The detail in the structure of the leaf stands out so well in this light.

Yet another example of backlighting. With the low sun in the sky this sort of image presents itself all along the trail, as opposed to summer when the sun is higher in the sky and you would have to get down pretty close to the ground to see this.

This one last seed just does not want to let go and fly off. Leaving home can be difficult.

The patterns, textures and colors of Autumn are very satisfying to photograph.

 

Camping Excursions

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Now of course the point of going rain camping is not to simply experience rain while sitting under a tarp (see my previous post if this makes no sense).  A three day camping trip to the dunes means three days of hiking and nature photography.  As it turns out however, rain does in fact produce some of the best conditions for both hiking and photography.  So rainy weather really is a win/win.

The following is a sampler of the photos I took over during these camping excursions.

Bailly Calumet Trail – Day One Before The Rain

The False Solomons Seal is fading fast.

I love the intricate detail and depth in this spider webbing.

Great Marsh – Day Two, Constant Rain

(I mean what beats a wetland ecosystem for rain hiking?)

Spider webs in the rain are simply beautiful and provide a never ending source of wonder. Notice how the water drops tend to collect at the vertices where different threads come together. They really highlight the structure of the web. Click on the image to see a full resolution version and zoom in, each drop also forms a perfect image of the world around it.

Dunewood Campground – Late Afternoon Rain

Relaxing with a coffee beverage after an afternoon spent in the Great Marsh. Here is the view from my camping tarp rain shelter. When I was not looking over the images from the day, I simply sat and took in the campground vibe.

Cowles Bog – Day Three, After The Rains

Not the brightest or most saturated colors among the wildflowers along this trail. But one of the most compelling for sure.

I am guessing that mid September is getting late in the year for bumble bees. Of the few that I saw they all seemed pretty lethargic. Earlier in the summer they are very active and almost never sit still, so it is difficult to get a good clear image of their faces.

The carcass of a dead hawk, lying just off the trail. I smelt it before I saw it. No idea how it died. It was right alongside a recently fallen tree branch, but it is difficult to imagine that it what killed it. I could not figure out if it’s head was missing or just twisted underneath the rest of the body.

More rapidly fading False Solomons Seal. I like to capture the foliage when it is decaying as much as when it is at it’s peak. It is all part of the cycle of nature and no less beautiful.

Early signs that autumn is approaching.

Cowles Bog has been undergoing an extensive restoration for at least the last 10 years. Although it may not look like it, the ground in this area is very soft and marshy. I always knew that the park’s resource management teams did a lot of work in the heart of the marsh. This photograph of a Marsh Master vehicle shows how they gain access to these areas.

The view across the wetland which is Cowles Bog with the forested dunes in the background.

Can you spot the young buck in this photograph? He is standing up and looking back at me. A nice illustration of how tall and lush the vegetation is.