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All posts for the month December, 2010

Ice, Steam And Sparrows

Posted by Lee Hiller on December 30, 2010
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

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Field Notes:
12/27/2010 – It is a bitter cold morning, 18 degrees with a wind chill of 11.  Cold enough for the bubbling Hot Spring Cascade to form ice cycles and the surrounding grassed to be layered in snow like coating,  Jack Frost has also been busy painting organic and inorganic materials.  Midnight blue metal as been transform with white fern patterns that appear to grow right before my eyes.  The Autumn leaves curling on the ground have spiky shards of ice that resemble crystal rock formations.  Old Man Winter decorates the Forest with flair.  At the Hot Spring Cascade the combination of glinting ice cycle teeth and steam reminds me of a dragons mouth.

This is the kind of morning you hike for warmth and stopping to take photographs is a measured event, especially it require glove removal to find the right settings.  Grateful for the harder inclines that increase the circulation to your fingers.  Blessed to have the strength to be able to see the beauty a cold morning. Thankful for the energy in Hot Honey and Lemon with a dash of my cayenne herbal tincture mix.  Just ordered a cayenne cream, a test to see if it will keep my fingers warmer on the sub freezing hikes. Update to follow.

The term “just us chickens” needs an amendment this morning to “just us sparrows”.  Why? Because other than myself they were almost the only creatures I saw moving during my hike.  The sweet White Throated Sparrows looked uncomfortable but,  fluffed up their feathers and greeted the day.  I always seem to see more of these lovely Sparrows during the winter months, I guess no one told them it get cold here too. Previously I used the term almost, a sweet Mockingbird bid me farewell as I left the park and a rustling of leaves in the wind was more than just air gliding over autumn’s last stand.  When I returned home and began editing my photographs I discovered a barely visible Golden-Crowned Kinglet had taken shelter in the autumn leaves high above me.  I love finding an unexpected gift from Nature in my photographs.

There is a contentment in coming home and fixing a hot bowl of soup on a day of ice and steam.  Sipping it slowly while I look out the window at Jack Frost’s art decorating the Forest, remembering the beauty as I edit my photographs.  The steam warming my face, a feeling of gratitude for all that has lead me to this moment.

Much Love Dearest Readers,
Lee

PS Sorry this post come a few days later than usual… it is a change of holidays Christmas to Valentines and I am still in the business of designing and selling “stuff” Books, Home Decor, Gift, Apparel, Shoes, Jewelry etc.  htp://LeeHillerBooks.com and  http://LeeHillerShopping.com (end of commercial).

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Beautiful Birds As The Cold Winds Blow

Posted by Lee Hiller on December 26, 2010
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Field Notes:
Day after Christmas is always perfect for hiking off the excesses of the holidays.  The cold blowing wind means I have the park trails to myself, which is rare on a Sunday morning.  I am mindful that hiking in the winter months means layer up, hydrate and use sunscreen, the cold can drain your body quickly.  Special thanks to my friends at Ouachita Outfitters in Hot Springs for helping me prepare for winter hiking.  They are locally owned with a large variety of the best brands for all your outdoor needs.  No they did not pay me or give me free gear to say this… great products, advice and service ALWAYS deserves recognition.

Those of you who regularly read my blog know of the ongoing saga of “The Brats” aka the juvenile Blue Jays.  Today one of them was trying to ride out the cold winds in the bramble.  So cold the sweet thing did not fly away or chide me for being on it’s favorite trail.  They were hunkered down against the wind and this was the first time I had seen one of them subdued.  It felt as if I had an unfair advantage in our ongoing dance in the Forest. Please note that the photos on display of this juvenile Blue Jay accurately show the obstacles of branches, vines and bushes I face to take many of my photographs.  There are few areas in the park that the birds Love to hang out that don’t have a weave of growing and changing photographic challenges.

I Love observing the topsy turvy antics of a female Cardinal foraging for breakfast.  Even though she was clearly aware of my presence she continued to feed. Looking at me from her vulnerable upside down feeding position I was careful not to make any movements that might be perceived as threatening.  When I reached the the top of Hot Springs Mountain a Northern Mockingbird followed me across the picnic area.  The wind was fiercely buffeting and ruffling its downy feathers, yet it still could not contain its curiosity.

Today the cold wind was mostly a blessing, it slowed down the movement of the birds… however we all had the that pinched cold expression in our eyes.  I admire the bravery of the birds that stay with us for the winter.  I respect the strength of their ability to survive the harsh winter months.

Love to ALL,

Lee

Blues Singer, Warblers and Wildflowers

Posted by Lee Hiller on December 24, 2010
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Field Notes:
Lovely Birds of Winter, new favorites are the sweet Yellow Rumped Warbler and the Pine Warbler. Last Spring I caught brief sightings, now my new lens allows me to get higher into the Trees to capture lovely warblers.   The beauty of these strong little birds that spend the Winter in with us in Hot Springs National Park is now revealed to me.  To look in the highest Trees and marvel at the gorgeous winged friends that stay with me through the ice and snow is a welcome treat.  I am blessed to hear their joyous songs and graceful antics.

In a distant high Tree a Juvenile Blue Jay watched me, slowly limb by limb it came a bit closer.  Juvenile Blue Jays often follow me at a safe distance, sometimes in silence and other times loudly giving away my presence to the entire Forest.  Even though I could barely see my blue shadow I snapped off a couple of shots.  Imagine my surprise when I began to edit my photographs and discovered this Forest “Blues Singer” wearing vintage Ray-Ban Wayfarers.  I hike in the hippest Forest in the South 🙂

A storm is nearly upon Hot Springs National Park so I decide to revisit the Goat Rock Trail to see all the lovely violets before they get hammered by rain, sleet and wind.  These beautiful Springs flowers are a gift I do not want to waste.  Their colors vary in each patch or single flower, even the shapes are different from most I saw last Spring.  As my regular readers know I adore Wildflowers and these, Bird-Foot Violets are my favorites. Global warming or a semi regular occurrence, I do not have the answer.

I hope to learn more about what has caused Spring to arrive early in the park.  I spotted Spring Violets on the Dead Chief Trail  on December 11th this year.  Two lone blossoms pushing up through the autumn leaves.  I went back the next day to see if I had miss others along the trail.  On December 22nd I hiked over to the Goat Rock Trail and discover 11 different patches of Bird-Foot Violets.  There was snow on Hot Springs Mountain Christmas last year, I do not believe this will occur in 2010. The intense Summer heat that usually arrives in late July or August began early in June this year and did not let up until mid September.  Now it appears the park is attempting to skip from Autumn into Spring.

Have a Lovely Holiday Weekend! Merry Christmas 🙂
Much Love,
Lee

PS School holidays means trail runners, I wish they would run the park road instead.  Runners leave a wake of smashed Insects, trampled Wildflowers, frightened Wildlife and I hate being pushed off the trail.  Runner you have miles of road within the park please consider some of seek peace within the Forest, stopping and listening to witness nature’s mircles.