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Autumn pastoral: photos of the October countryside

By JIM NIGRO

A gently rolling buckwheat field, splashes of red-orange in the hardwoods and a sky filled with blue-gray clouds -- October in Genesee County.

Downstream from the Powers Road bridge, a mirror image on a placid stretch of Tonawanda Creek. 

Dim light inside a woodlot and blue sky beyond really set off this maple's foliage.

A hint of early morning mist on Bowen Creek.

One of the many things I enjoy in autumn is seeing red maple leaves against a deep blue sky.

Hardly more than a trickle on this day, the Little Tonawanda nonetheless flows onward to its confluence with the mainstream Tonawanda.....

Further downstream fallen maple leaves blanket the shore while others are caught in a shallow riffle.

Just my opinion, but.....the spectacular hues of these crimson oak leaves underscore the brilliance of the autumn of 2014!!!

JIM NIGRO

Hi Ange ......here's something Claudia and I saw posted outside a village church yesterday......"Autumn is God's way of preparing nature for its winter sleep."

Oct 24, 2014, 11:34am Permalink
JIM NIGRO

Hi Kevin - This is pure speculation, but I'm thinking not a porcupine for two reasons: its six feet up and most porcupine damage I've come across is near the base of the tree. Second, the bark looks a bit too thick and coarse from the type of trees where I'm used to seeing gnaw marks from porkies.....Bear? Could be. What else could tear apart the trunk of a healthy tree? Might it have been a strong-willed predator, one fairly "new" to the area,say fisher, rooting out prey?

Oct 24, 2014, 2:52pm Permalink
JIM NIGRO

Kevin - just a thought - might you be able to contact Dick Thomas and run the pic by him? I'd be interested in his opinion.

p.s. thanks for the link!!

Oct 24, 2014, 3:17pm Permalink
kevin kretschmer

I sent the photo to him earlier today as well. Maybe while I'm in the park this weekend I can convince Doug or Stevie to go have a look.

Oct 24, 2014, 4:17pm Permalink

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