Waterfalls of Catherine Valley

Catherine Creek is a normally gentle trout stream running northward from Horseheads, New York towards Watkins Glen where it feeds Seneca Lake. Along its twelve mile run, numerous waterfalls drop into the valley, some fairly common cascades and a notable few notable drops.

Near the village of Montour Falls, Havana Glen Creek drops over Eagle Cliff Falls at a town park.

I like this spot because it is almost always quiet during tourist season.  A few locals like to visit the swimming hole beneath the falls on  hot days. 

Now, I mention the quiet because my other favorite place is Watkins Glen State Park.  If I want it to be quiet, I'll be there at sunrise or before.  By 9 am, it is busy and sometimes difficult to work with a tripod.  Still, it is lovely.

On one summer morning, I arrived at 5:45 am to quickly stride up the gorge trail to Central Cascade.  It was in the early time called "civil daylight" before the sun breaks the horizon. By the time I reached my first destination, I found a beautiful soft light absent the harsh contrast of midday.

Some ten years ago, a flash flood roared down this gorge and swept the stone walls off the bridge spanning the waterfall.  That is the sort of event that formed this gorge.

However, my main objective that morning was another level up the gorge at Rainbow Falls.

Rainbow Falls is actually the thin, wispy stream that gracefully forms a curtain over the gorge trail.  It is arguably the iconic scene in the park and a real challenge to render in a fresh way.  The key challenge here is keeping the lens free of water drops, as there are more thin wisps of water right at the best location to photograph. It is lovely here in the early morning without the distractions that come with the volumes of visitors.

Just recently, I returned to Watkins Glen on a busy day. I got the last parking space, so you can  imagine how many were in the park. On this day, I wanted to test some new photographic techniques, so only went as far as the first major waterfall, Cavern Cascade.  It is so named because the gorge trail seen on the left passes directly under the most distant waterfall and then into a tunnel spiraling up to a view above the falls.

While I may prefer the quiet times there, I do meet some very nice people who share my love for waterfalls.  ( I usually encourage them to also visit Taughannock Falls on Cayuga Lake.)  On this day, I met two photographers from Colorado.

While showing the entirety of a gorge waterfall is necessary, there are also smaller scenes that capture the magic of falling water.  I found this midway up Cavern Cascade.

This log has been wedged between the walls of the gorge for at least eight years, placed there by one of the violent flash floods. I expect it to be there until another, even more violent torrent dislodges it.

As I walk the trails in the gorge, I nearly always reflect upon the work of hundreds of Civilian Conservation Corps men during the Great Depression. Without them, the wonders of this place would likely be inaccessible, hidden from us.  Building is a enduring thing, when the work you do outlives you.  I wonder if they thought their labor would be so important to future generations?

Paul Schmitt

Seen on the Wing

Summer seems to fly by faster than a bird in pursuit of its next meal.  Today I want to pause from the busy-ness to share a few results of my summer outings. Appropriately, they too are on the wing.

Early this month I made a short trip to central Pennsylvania to see a rare butterfly. The Regal Fritillary is very particular about habitat, so it's only location in the eastern US is at Fort Indiantown Gap.  While it proved to be a day not especially favored by the butterfly, we did get to see a few of these colorful insects. I'll have to try again next year and hope for a better day.  Here is my only good image of the Regal.

While the target butterfly was scarce, it was good habitat for the Tiger Swallowtail.

I felt pretty fortunate to actually catch a Tiger Swallowtail in flight.  They are fast and erratic.

Yesterday was another outing that ended up differently than expected.  The objective was water lotus in bloom. But on arriving, we saw we could not photograph. It was too windy, and they were slow opening due to cloudy, cool conditions.  So, the new target was a rarity for New York.  There were reports of Red-headed Woodpeckers near Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge. Based on postings I accessed on my iPhone, we found the pair of woodpeckers.  Their head is a deep, rich red that flashes even brighter when the sun catches them just so.

Now, I am especially drawn to observing bird behavior, rather than accumulating a list of new birds.  One of the pair -- both male and female are identical --was hawking for insects from a dead tree until it dropped down to some Woody Nightshade growing next to the tree.

I first expected it to be seeking insects, but it instead began picking the bright red berries seen in the lower left corner of the photo. Little did I know woodpeckers were also berry eaters.  There is always the opportunity to learn something new when your eyes are open and your mind is patient.

Enjoy the summer.

Paul Schmitt

A Really Old Bird- It's a Tin Goose, no less!

I love to photograph birds in flight, so the news that an eighty-three old goose was seen at the Elmira Airport was all that I needed to know.  Pack the camera and get out there.

Here she is:

She is a 1929 Ford Tri-motor nicknamed the Tin Goose, restored by the Experimental Aircraft Association's  Pioneer Airport in Kalamazoo.  She began her service in the forerunner of Eastern Airlines, and a year later began passenger service for Cubana Air between Santiago and Havana.  Her career went on to include barnstorming, crop dusting, aerial fire fighting, smoke jumper support and now touring for the EAA and offering short excursion flights.

This is one of the few planes that can guarantee every passenger both a window and an aisle seat.

But, don't expect a lavatory or beverage service.  The passengers don't seem to mind the Spartan décor.

The plane was not flying yesterday because it needed a new fuel pump, but that was fixed this morning; after running the engines up at the hangar, it was ready to go on a short test flight. I stationed myself at the end of runway 24 to watch the beginning of the test flight.  The sound of the three rotary engines was beautiful when compared with the whine of the executive jets preceding it to the runway.  How air travel has changed in eighty years - some for the better and more for the worse.

 

I don't recall ever seeing the pilot taxi and take-off with his arm hanging out an open window. 

Most of all, I wanted to get images of the plane in flight.  Thankfully, the test flight was a short loop around the south of the airport and back in for my first chance.  Here came the Tin Goose in a slow bank against a blue sky with beautiful puffy clouds. Perfect.

And as the plane smoothly glided onto runway 24, I saw the pilot with his arm still on the open window sill.  Don't see that on an Airbus.  Also don't get to see outside that often.

I  stayed to watch the next two flights with passengers and went home feeling that I had just had a glimpse what the beginning of passenger flying was like.  What a wonderful treasure this plane is.

By the way, I believe that I have seen Canada Geese flying faster than this plane's landing speed.

Paul

Spring Symphony

In 1842, Robert Schumann delivered his first symphony as a birthday present to his beloved Clara.  In a note he said:

" I wrote this symphony in that rush of spring which carries a man away even in  his  old age  and comes over him anew every year".

His instructions to  the conductor, Felix Mendelssohn, on its premier was for the beginning trumpets to be a summons to awaken to spring.  So it is with the photos I have just reviewed.

The hills are lush with the warm spring green of new leaves and the streams are tumbling down with ample flows.  The banks are lined with white flowered Viburnum.

Ganoga Glen at Rickett's Glen State Park  (Pennsylvania)

The beauty is not confined to large vistas, but also to an isolated boulder surrounded by cascading water.

Ganoga Glen Cascade

Rickett's Glen  is arguably the largest concentration of waterfalls in the northeast US.   Two separate gorges,  Ganoga Glen and Glen Leigh, converge at Watersmeet to continue their course to the Susquehanna River.

Glen Leigh at Watersmeet

Just as the streams summon us, so do the arriving birds intent on beginning the next generation.  The males are everywhere announcing the spring.

Yellow-rumped Warbler in Song

The warbler sings one song, and the towhee another, each unique but to the same purpose.

Eastern Towhee

 And, birds are pairing up at nesting territories.

Eastern Bluebirds

Nesting has begun, and the males continue to sing as was this most colorful Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Singing Rose-breasted Grosbeak

His nearby mate revealed her nest building. She was searching the wild grapevines for stringy pieces of bark to bind her nest together with.

Female Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Each time the female found a suitable fiber, she flew off to the same location with the male closely following.  Oh, if I can spot the nest from a hidden spot.  But, I expect they will be very hard to find it; it will be well-concealed with so  many crows about to rob them.

Now, I'll see if I can find Schumann's First Symphony on iTunes.

Regards,

Paul

A Big Week of Birding

Earlier this month, I spent a week at the Black Swamp Bird Observatory's Biggest Week in Birding.  It is a huge festival with lots of birders and a wide variety of birds. The main draw is arguably the warblers. There were few south winds to bring in birds, but the results were still good. Here are a few of the images that I made.

Magnolia Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler

Yellow-throated Vireo

While much of the breeding displays are by birds on their way north to Canada, there are local birds that can be observed. This pair of Downy Woodpeckers were among the many woodpeckers seen displaying, breeding and excavating nest holes.

Downy Woodpecker mating

On a nature trail near the hotel, I observed this Downy preparing a cavity.  I am always impressed with how perfectly round they make the hole.

Nest Cavity

Another delightful bird is the Wood Thrush who sings a flute-like melody.

Wood Thrush in song

And, the open marshlands are rich with Red-winged Blackbirds, both male and female.

Male Red-winged Blackbird

Foraging female Red-winged Blackbird

However, warblers are really the biggest show at the festival, and there are some more that I really enjoy finding - Palm, Yellow and Prothonotary.

Palm Warbler

Yellow Warbler

I felt lucky to finally capture that quick leap to the next branch. They are really fast.

Leaping to the next branch

Birders get really excited when a report comes along of a Prothonotary Warbler anywhere in the main marsh. On one marsh trail, there were easily fifty people clustered to see a pair of them.  Seems silly. Surprisingly, the birds are pretty tolerant, perhaps due to the rich food present. 

But, there are quieter places to search out.  On the last morning, we went to a little used nature trail by the hotel, and had this single male Prothonotary pop up into sight.  There were only four people present.

The same nature trail had a great number of nest boxes, and in one there was this little Screech Owl catching some warm sunlight before sunset.

Hope you've enjoyed these images.

Paul

Woodcock!

Last week, I was birding on the shores of Lake Erie near Toledo.  I went out on a showery evening at dusk to watch a male Woodcock's courtship display. Woodcock males wait until the light level drops to just 2 lumens.  They magically appear in the half-light at the same spot each evening and make this rattling "peent" call repeatedly. Then they ascent to a dizzying height and tumble down to the ground making this buzzing sound caused by air rushing thru their coarse wing feathers.  They repeat the "peent" call and again take flight.  They are often called Timber Doodles because of this odd display. 

We were rewarded with a good show. The male appeared a mere 50 feet away.  Before the first flight, a female flew in  just over our heads and landed 15 feet away. The male scurried over and began to display and cackle.  He held his wings out at the side and pranced about. (Too dark for photos, for sure!) After two matings, she left and he returned to his original spot where he began the "peent" and flight in earnest.  After all, one never knows how many other ladies are in the neighborhood.

So, the next day, I was directed to a female Woodcock setting on a barren, leaf covered bit of sand dune.   The area was marked off with yellow tape to prevent anyone from disturbing her, but it was still difficult to spot the bird.  Can you see her?

The bird was absolutely motionless among the leaves.  Only the slight reddish hues gave her away. 

But, there was another treat to see, as she had chicks.  For a few brief moments, one of them appeared from under her wing.

I was later told she had four chicks. 

The trip was for warblers, but there is no ignoring such a wonderful find as this.  I'll post some warbler photos in a few days.

Paul

Spring Wildflowers!

My love for nature photography began with landscapes. That is never more apparent than when the emerging colors of spring destroy the muted winter colors. Recently I revisited Lick Brook for both waterfalls and spring wildflowers where I found this magical scene with the first bits of spring green in the trees.  (Yes, my feet got wet getting to this spot. It was worth it.)

At one time this spring,  I went looking for birds with a big telephoto lens and found something unexpected that needed a wider view. What to do?  Why, pull out my iPhone and take the photo.  So it was that this renegade bunch of daffodils appeared in a wooded area.

I transformed the image to match the impression it made on me using the Mobile Monet app.

Sometimes the wildflowers are just outside my door.  I have a 4-foot square garden in a sheltered corner by our sun room. The quiet corner seems to encourage early blooming like seen in this Purple Trillium.

So, I've become so intrigued with testing my ability to capture a workable image with the iPhone, that I am becoming too lazy to switch to a wide angle lens when I see an expansive image like these Virginia Bluebells. With the small size of the camera phone, I can set the camera right on the ground and see the world like a bug.  Edited again with Mobile Monet.

Virginia Bluebells seem to have a changeable personality depending on the type of light.  During the same shoot, I found this, again from a bug's perspective.

Spring also brings a rich yellow and green display to the marshy areas when the Celandine Poppy blooms. 

Saving my favorite image for last, I found this lush Trillium grandiflorum on a leafy hillside in the Mundy Wildflower Garden at Cornell Plantations on a beautiful spring morning.

Now, if I did not have a lawn to mow, I could be out there right now looking for more beautiful finds. Maybe you can take my place?

Paul Schmitt