Autumn Chill
The crisp autumn air has arrived in the east, bringing both a chill to my camera-clutching fingers and a warmth of color to the landscape. I drove to the northern tip of New Hampshire last week to get my first look at peak foliage. The forest was ablaze with color creating a dramatic backdrop for wildlife shooting. I headed straight for the water and paddled into the night beneath full moonlight. I shared the sunset view with a busy blue heron out for a bite to eat. The temperature dropped along with the setting sun and a fog began to envelop the feathered fisher. The scene was breathtaking, the night’s entertainment had only just begun.
The marsh had been relatively quiet since my arrival, but the silence was broken by a noisy group of geese passing overhead. Perhaps it was only a coincidence, but just as the raucous gaggle flapped on by, a bull moose began calling from across the water. Another bull in the woods behind me returned the call and the two proceeded to deliver an impressive chorus that reverberated through the cold night air. The sun had long set, and the heron continued swallowing up fish. I was now under a starry sky, and decided to finally paddle back to the truck.
The next morning I was racing the sunrise back to the water. On the drive in, my headlights met the backside of a bull moose bounding into the brush. This is always a great way to start the day.
With the aid of my cellphone’s flashlight (that’s about all it’s good for that far north) I un-ratcheted my kayak, and launched back into the dark marsh. My thermometer read 29℉ and my frozen hands confirmed the report. I paddled for half an hour expecting some additional body heat to reward my efforts. While I warmed up a little, the real reward was the stunning sunrise, revealing a frosty autumn landscape. The morning light also uncovered scores of canada geese swimming in my midst. I paddled in for some shots triggering a mass retreat. A hundred or more geese took flight all around me in a chaotic display of flapping, splashing and squawking.
A moment later, a bald eagle performed a high-dive for breakfast right behind me. The beaver pond had awakened. The cold finally forced surrender on me though, and I paddled back to the truck to defrost. It was 8 o’clock and I’d already been up for four hours without coffee. Not to mention the temperature still stood stubbornly at 29℉. I headed back to my camp on Back Lake to reboot. A quick nap, shower and a cup of coffee later and I was ready for the woods.
I spent the rest of the morning hiking some old clearcut hillsides taking in the views of Maine, Canada and of course New Hampshire. I spotted another bull, but once again found him darting into the woods. Some friends joined me later in the afternoon for a little bit of sight-seeing. We hiked to a fire tower at the top of Mount Magalloway and checked out a local waterfall. On the drive back we spotted a cow moose and a coyote along the dirt road. The sun had set again, and my frosty morning felt like a week-old memory.
The next day I treated myself to a couple extra hours of sleep, but the forest didn’t punish me for it. The overcast skies produced perfect lighting in the woods, and the moose were back for photo-ops.
Lovely images. Looking forward to beautiful fall color here.
September 30, 2012 at 7:25 pm
Thanks Pat.
October 1, 2012 at 9:04 pm
I’m so grateful for your blogs. Autumn is spectacular, isn’t it? I wish I could get a day in the life in the minds of the critters you find. What is fall like for some of them?
September 30, 2012 at 7:30 pm
Thanks Carrie, Autumn in New England is a photographers paradise. As for wildlife, there’s a lot of activity. Bull moose in the rut are among the most active, and I hope to capture it before the season passes.
October 1, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Beautiful! Nature seems so at peace with you, and you with it. (I have never been so close to a moose : ) Thank you for the lovely autumn trek! ~ Lily
September 30, 2012 at 9:56 pm
Thank you Lily…I am certainly at peace in the woods, and I hope to keep the wildlife that way.
October 1, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Ha, yes, that does seem like a good policy! ~ Lily
October 1, 2012 at 10:10 pm
Another beautiful post and photos. After looking at the pictures I was right there with yoi
October 1, 2012 at 2:05 am
Im glad to hear it Kathryn, thanks for sharing the kind words!
October 1, 2012 at 9:11 pm
Such amazingly beautiful vistas… The animals are perfectly poised and suited in their environments, in your images. Thanks so much for sharing your vision…
October 1, 2012 at 7:41 am
Thanks FeyGirl, it’s my pleasure. Glad you enjoyed the post.
October 1, 2012 at 9:12 pm
You make me want to get out there with even one of my cheap “mom” cameras to take pictures of the beauty in the forest. I like your accompanying text with the pictures too, Twenty -nine degrees? That’s much colder than here…it’s beautiful there though. Wonderful photos, thanks for sharing the nature with us.
October 1, 2012 at 8:50 am
Thanks Birgit, I’m pleased to hear it, and hope you do get out there with your camera. Yes that is cold, but luckily not quite the norm just yet! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
October 1, 2012 at 9:15 pm
I got out yesterday. I am going to be posting my photos today on my blog.
They are nothing near as nice as yours but I was surprised by how colorful some of the places around here are already.
October 2, 2012 at 8:33 am
Awesome…I’ll check it out.
October 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm
Well written with beautiful images…
October 1, 2012 at 10:35 am
Thanks Robert.
October 1, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Stunning.
October 1, 2012 at 11:11 am
Thanks!
October 1, 2012 at 9:17 pm
Really enjoyed the way you told the story and nice touches of humour (cellphone). Great photos.
October 2, 2012 at 12:27 am
Thanks Lyle…really appreciate the feedback.
October 3, 2012 at 5:51 pm
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing them! ~ Lynda
October 2, 2012 at 12:36 pm
You bet…thanks very much Lynda!
October 3, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Chris, I have missed you !!!!!!! Here are you back with my favorite season – the moose must know that you’re coming – is it the same moose ??? Stunning photos again – so I can hear the silence again. Just so wonderful. My pick here is the “Frosty Fall Morning” – for me is it like it’s only you, your camera and the world at it’s best. Chris .. a breathtaking post.
October 2, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Just as I’ve missed your comments here Viveka! Thanks as always for adding your insight and positivity to the forum. This moose is definitely a new one for me this year.
October 3, 2012 at 5:55 pm
Chris, somehow I don’t get the notifications when you have posted. WordPress is on the case now .. have a couple of friends here it doesn’t work with for some reason.
For a while I thought it was the same moose, but I understood from your post that you were on a new location.
Your posts are such an eye candy for me. Have a great weekend.
October 6, 2012 at 2:29 am
There’s just nothing like the quiet and graceful determination of a great blue heron. I’m out of superlatives for your photos!
October 2, 2012 at 7:48 pm
Thanks Sid, I’m a big fan of the blue heron as you might have guessed. It’s not often that I get to observe one all night, but this one was very gracious. Thanks for the kind words.
October 3, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Gorgeous! These are the perfect summation of autumn, my favorite time of year.
October 3, 2012 at 8:15 am
Thanks Nicole!
October 3, 2012 at 5:57 pm
What a delightful description of your adventures, accompanied by beautiful pictures. I felt like I was right there beside you (but without the cold fingers). Thanks for sharing!
October 5, 2012 at 9:23 am
Well I couldn’t be happier with your comments Carol…bringing these moments back to life for my readers is what I’m striving to do. Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts.
October 6, 2012 at 3:13 pm
So amazing photos, I enjoyed being “there”!
October 17, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Wow! Beautiful work on the pictures!
March 18, 2013 at 11:58 pm
Thanks Thelkarians!
March 19, 2013 at 6:59 am