So a photo is due for yesterday and admittedly, the one I quickly took was…bleech ! It was one of those times that the idea is sound, but the image doesn’t come out with what the eye sees.
But today’s adventure more than made up for with amazing photo opportunities and spectacular scenery. Heading out early to Maryland’s Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary to meet with two friends to go scouting for a hike, the fresh spring day greeted me. Today was to be a hiking day, a long overdue hiking day. I haven’t been able to truly hike since last October in Shenandoah for a number of health/body related issues. So excitedly I packed up my car with hiking boots, poles and a small pack.
I also included my full camera kit. iPhone 4s, Canon G12 to use during the hike. The Canon 60D with the 24-105mm lens for landscape shots; and finally the Canon 7D with the 500mm L lens attached in case I could do some birding.
Getting into the parking lot, houses filled with Purple Martins and birds singing in the woods promised to be a great day.
Purple Martin annoyed with the Papparrazzi
Canon 7D, 500mm L. f/7.1, ISO 400, 1/2500 sec
We began with a good trail, but ended up bushwacking through a good section of woods. Warblers singing and taunting me as I couldn’t see them. We stopped on the bridge for a short rest and enjoyed Osprey, Indigo Buntings, White Vireo, Orchard Orioles, Eastern Towhees, a sandpiper, a hummingbird resting in a tree and who knows what else. Alas, the lens baby and Canon 7D was back in the car.
Canon G12
Bridge leading from Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary to Patuxent River Park
There were all sorts of spring signs to enjoy along the hike. With expansive landscape views with verdant fields filled with wheat and color.
I even looked into a bird box and found some baby birds. They were sleeping, and mom was nowhere close by.
And the barns…Oh the barns. They were everywhere ! They all seemed to have built in the same era, mostly likely from the early 20th century.
Canon G12, P mode RAW.
Edited in Nik Color Efex Pro. Detail extractor, Grad ND, Lighten Center, Brilliance/Warmth
We were able to walk into this barn, I was hoping for an owl. Instead a little bunny ducked under some stuff stored in the barn. My friends walked further into the barn and saw sleeping on a hay pile a feral cat snoozing. Not too pleased, the cat ran through the barn eaves and out the front door. The bunny, seeing that the cat was high tailing it out of there, ran right after the rabbit as if chasing it. One went left, the other went right. Perhaps hoping to confuse us.
Bunny on the Road
Not the same cat, but one channelling what the other thought of us.
The day was complete after ten miles added to my boots. The day was truly picture perfect with so many birds, wonderful weather, great friends and barns galore.
Canon 60D 24-105mm L
Edited in Nik Color Efex Pro
Detail Extractor, Brilliance/Warmth, Lighten Center, Image border
Categories: 2013 Project 365, Annapolis, Foot Prints, history, Maryland Area Hikes, Nature, travel
Emily Carter ~ Nature as Art 
Thank you for sharing your hike with us. What wonderful finds and beautiful captures!
Thank you so much Soonie ! It was a truly enjoyable day and so happy to share it with you.
your images are like a slice of America
Thanks Ali. This place is birder, photographer, naturalist, historian heaven!
Well done, the grass even looked so pretty the way you took them. What is a baby lens and Canon 7D. I cannot really tell the difference what lens or camera you used just by looking at the pictures. Oh, I’m disappointed no barn owl.
I really shouldn’t have called it a baby lens. There is a lens line up called lens baby. What it is, I call my 500mm lens, which was 9 pounds my ‘baby’. Thus the Lens Baby.
I also was surprised about how these images looked similar in quality regardless of the equipment. Cool exercise to show others what they can do.
Me too about the owl…I really wanted to see one and I looked into 2 barns yesterday
Fabulous collection of images! A hike worth taking, I’d say. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
It was a fabulous hike Sheri, I think you would love it too.
🙂
I love the red barn shot!
Hi Michael ! So great to see you ! Hope things are going well with you. Will be through Orlando again next month and will think of you. Thanks for stopping by, and of course the barn is right up your alley.
Spectacular! 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much Maggie!
Absolutely delightful!!!
I wish you could have been on this walkabout. It was truly a day of heaven on earth.
It looks like a very nice hike. May I offer a suggestion? You should try talking your hiking companions into acting as “gun bearers” to assist you in carrying all your camera gear. 😉
LOL ! Now that would be a brilliant idea. It would have been okay except for the heavy bushwacking we did.
great pictures!
Thank you so much!
Bugs Bunny on the way to the carrot field… “lol lol”
Wow, these wonderful barns and old old well-used truck… 😉
Excellent captured, Emily… 🙂
I got to see two bunnies yesterday. They were so adorable, but neither posed for a photo this time. So happy you enjoyed these Drake.
What a nice place to hike and see Kewl stuff!
Thank you so much. Indeed, this wildlife sanctuary is a wonderful place to visit.
Great post and wonderful photos. The Red Barn photo is extra good. Love the way you edited it. You have a great eye. 🙂
Thank you so much ! It is so easy when you have great subjects. No ponies there though. 😦 Got my horse time today though.
Well looks like you certainly had a successful day Emily! Terrific pics!
Poor kitty looks hurt though.
I think that cat likes to scrap. That definitely was an abscess, but it healing well. Thanks Phil !
Great Captures – those baby birds are so cute and poor kitty has a wound! Happy Tuesday:)
You do make me smile Renee. Point out the cute and the ugly. The wound looked like it was healing though. Clearly it had come from a fight. 🙂
Aw wow…. What a gorgeous hike!! Jealous, jealous!!
This was so perfect ! The best part? No ticks !! LOL 🙂
Oh lordie… Those things TERRIFY ME! Oh eeks.
Wonderful hike, felt like I was on the road and pathways with you. Love your choices that showcase your finds. The barn and pathways are my favorites.
When you leave a comment Mary it always puts a wonderful smile on my face. This is a truly special place and I’m so happy you enjoyed going on this adventure with me. You would find tons of inspiration here for your artwork.
You surely had a wonderful day. I gave up on the Canon60D/400L and other Canon lenses for that reason, left at home or in the car. I have gone totally m43. It’s what I kept taking with me anyway. Now I need one or two more lenses to complete a set-up for that. All superb photos and I especially like the red barn..
That looks like a fantastic place, glad you had a better day.