Some days, more’s happening above my head that at eye level. There almost always are a few crows in the trees across the creek. They are a noisy bunch and can be heard long before they come into one’s field of vision.
This resident red-tailed hawk does a flyover every time I visit.
Canada geese like this park too and …
… always sound super dramatic whenever they fly by.
There were at least a couple of hundred unidentifiable birds in this noisy flock.
And yes, there are hummingbirds at the park!
This guy always perches at the “entrance” to the Justin Bieber Corner.
If you follow this little girl and her grandpa and turn right after the second log,
you will arrive at the Justin Bieber Corner!
But first check out this tiny ruby-crowned kinglet hiding in the conifers.
I had been walking at this park all year during the pandemic and people often stop and chat, asking what I’m looking for. One day, a couple of woman pointed out the gnawed tree trunks right around the corner from the Lookout. I had never noticed these tree before and just like with the otter, I had no idea that beavers live in this park.
When I shared this with my sister in Germany, she instantly named the culprit
Justin Bieber
In case you don’t speak German, Bieber is the German word for beaver!
😉
Justin lives right next to these cute squirrels.
A few weeks later I noticed that a tree had fallen into the creek.
I didn’t think much of it, because trees can topple over …
… until I came around the corner and saw the broken fence and a freshly cut tree trunk.
Justin had managed to chomp his way through two tree trunks!!
One tree had landed in the creek, the other across the walking path.
I haven’t seen the beaver(s) because they are nocturnal.
After this excitement, I kept on walking …
… into a vibrantly colored autumn day!
🙂
in cahoots with muddy boots 
What a delightfully eclectic post, Sabine. I love that photo of your crow, singular and in full flight. That is a great shot. And your story about beaver/bieber was entertaining. I am so glad I read this pretty much first thing this morning. It’s a very uplifting post; a great way to start the day.
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Thank you LuAnne! The crows seem to always gather when I’m in that corner of the park, but that day it was just one of them. I’ve been keeping an eye out for more nibbled on trees but haven’t seen any. Maybe Justin Bieber is on spring break! 😉
I am glad that you enjoyed this post and that it helped give you a nice start to your day. 🙂
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I feel like I had a walk in your park, Sabine. A few years ago there was a program on OPB about urban beavers in the greater PDX area. It was quite fascinating. Have a great weekend!
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I have never known all that much about beavers and should probably read up on them, given that I live in the Beaver State! 😉
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Ha ha – I am glad to read Part Two of your story and I did not know “bieber” was “beaver” in German. When I was at Lake Erie Metropark last week, I went to the area where I saw the last beaver handiwork. I was horrified to see all the trees had been leveled and the area cleared. I am 100% sure it was the beaver’s doing, not that of the DNR. But, since the Cherry Island Trail was open (and not a pathway of mud for the first time in 18 months), I went past several areas of “beaver chews” – I could not believe the damage either. One was a huge tree that had fallen into the water and not moved from there. I took some photos to go along with the rest of my marsh meander. I wish I could see the little varmint, er culprit and/or his dam. 🙂 I love the pair of squirrels peering out of the nesting box entrance – so cute! Your up-close birds and profile of the hummingbird – so delightful Sabine.
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Linda, I have to confess that I had forgotten about the Bieber/beaver connection until my sister reminded me. I had heard of beavers around here but had never seen any or signs of them until seeing the trees at the park. I hope that you will post some photos of your beaver hangout! The hummers are everywhere now and the whenever I see the squirrels looking out of their little home I think “Linda would love this”! 😊
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I will be posting that walk probably in the next week Sabine. The photos are ready but I took the time and did the lengthy Wildlife Preserve Parts I and II and Wordless Wednesday this week. I wanted to do that for a couple of months. That encompassed my day yesterday. Next Sunday’s post will involve Easter, so it will be next week. I was trying to limit myself to two posts a week, but sometimes I want to make an exception. That was a great trek – for the first time ever I saw a Canada Goose on the nest and the water was so calm and the reflections from the dead marsh reeds was very serene looking.
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It sounds like you had a really good time visiting this nature area! I look forward to the other posts! 😊
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Your Justin is a supper star! 🙂
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Yes he is!
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