Yesterday the temperature hit a balmy plus 10. It was a perfect day for walking across the ice, then along the berm. According to Wikipedia, a berm is a level space, shelf, or raised barrier separating two areas. The word originates in the Middle Dutch and German berme and came into usage in English via French. Our berm was put in place by Duck’s Unlimited. Years ago I thought Ducks unlimited was a good thing, a place that shelters ducks. Someone had to explain to me that it was a good thing until hunting season. The hunters provide the habitat for ducks, insuring plenty to shoot come duck season.
The rest of the year it is a great spot for bird watching. This little fellow was hard to spot at first, but the steady knocking on the tree while he foraged for bugs, was a good clue.
The bank beavers have been busy cutting down trees. We stopped counting muskrat houses when we hit 30.
There is so much to explore along the water way that DH and I walked a good 4.5 kilometers without getting tired. Mind you that was a different story once we arrived home and sat down.
Be careful on that ice. AZ is cold…. NB must be warm.
I love watching woodpeckers. While it’s hard to tell from just a picture, I would say that one looks like a Hairy woodpecker. Last year a beautiful pair of Downy woodpeckers set up shop somewhere along Lincoln road in the woods close to the Princess Margaret bridge. I also caught an old male Pileated woodpecker on the ground right behind my apartment building!
I’m always surprised at the things you can see if you just walk around looking at stuff.