Robin over at Breezes at dawn coordinates a walk each October called Walktober. People from all over the blogasphere participate by taking a walk, by themselves or with others, and then posting about the walk with or without pictures, linking back to Robin’s original Walktober post. Then at the end of October (or whenever she can find the time after that) she puts out a post with links to everyone’s Walktober posts and we get to visit and read all about them.
It’s so much fun to read about people taking walks in areas so different (and sometimes so similar) to our own places. I always look forward to October and one of the reasons is because I love doing Robin’s Walktober!
Of course right now I can’t find her post with this year’s dates, but you can read more about the idea of a Walktober at this post she did in 2014. This year the dates will be slightly different, and I’m sure she’ll let me know what they are. Then I’ll fix this blog and tell all of you!
EDIT: Robin says her Walktober dates are October 14 through the 28th. But if you want to walk sooner, go for it, and just wait to write that blog and link it to her when she posts on October 14th. And if you need to go later, let her know, she’s flexible and will wait (within reason) for your walk!
So anyway, Saturday was a rainy sort of day. Lots of downpours in the morning, and then sprinkles through the rest of the day. I couldn’t stand being inside, so I took myself to my favorite park after the worst of the rain had stopped.
Walking around under the dripping trees I was glad I wore my raincoat. I kept my camera under the coat most of the time. Oh who am I kidding. I was shooting pictures most of the time.
The trees haven’t really taken on their fall colors yet, but in the wetlands there was quite a bit of color. The bright reds and oranges showed off in the dim grey light of a rainy afternoon.
I had a pocket full of sunflower oilers too, to share with any birds that might be hungry. At first I didn’t hear any, but eventually, as I was taking pictures of some soggy berries I heard the familiar flutter of wings near my head.
I’ve posted pictures of the birds in my hand before, so this time I’m sharing those that were either just landing, or just taking off. Though these images aren’t as clear as some, I find the energy in them interesting. I figured you would too.
It was mostly chickadees and titmice that showed up. They’re the bravest of the little birds out there in the woods. Other times I’ve had woodpeckers and nuthatches land on my hand too.
These little guys were pretty soggy from the rainy day, and there was another batch of thunderstorms coming in so I didn’t stay there very long. In fact I had dropped my handful of seed on the path and moved on, taking pictures of the storm clouds moving fast across the horizon when I heard more fluttering near my ear.
I looked up and this little titmouse was standing on a railing near me. I told him there was a bunch of seed just down the path, but he wanted something directly from me.
So of course I offered him a little bit.
And this nuthatch showed up after I had emptied my pocket onto the ground. But he got his fair share even though he was late to the party.
It was a lovely, if damp, walk but it wasn’t my Walktober. Oh no. It was just a warmup, a good place to walk out my frustrations about things outside the woods. And I figured you’d enjoy coming along with me, even if it wasn’t an official walk.
Katie was quite put out that she didn’t go, so this morning I took her out to two of her own parks. She says every time I take myself for a walk without her I have to compensate her with walks in two parks.
I guess I better not leave her home very often. She’s debating whether she’ll do the official Walktober. Last year she did. She got hers in way before I got around to mine, but she’s like that. She says if you’re not early you’re late. Little stinker.
Anyway….I hope you all will consider going for a walk and sharing it with us this month! I’ll let you know the dates as soon as I hear from Robin. It’s a lot of fun and we all are looking forward to seeing something from your part of the world!
And if you live near me…well….I’ll meet you in the woods!
October 7, 2018 at 7:17 pm
SO beautiful Dawn. You are such a wonderful photographer.
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October 8, 2018 at 10:45 am
So are you. I love the photos you did of Joy and Shiloh. Is the puppy able to go for walks yet? It would be a wonderful Walktober if he were to take you for a little jaunt and then you wrote about it for us.
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October 7, 2018 at 7:24 pm
They feed right from your hand–that is amazing. The photos (and comments) are wonderful. And yes, Katie, you look beautiful.
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October 8, 2018 at 10:46 am
At this park and in these woods they have become accustomed to people having treats for them. I know it’s not really good for them but I can’t resist their begging.
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October 7, 2018 at 8:10 pm
Oh what a wonderful walk! And seeing those chickadees in your hand I just LOVE!!! The impending storm clouds make a beautiful photo with th colors in the reeds in the foreground. Just love it
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October 8, 2018 at 10:47 am
Thank you. It WAS a beautiful walk.
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October 7, 2018 at 8:17 pm
Oh, I do love the Walktobers!! I think I did one last year and would love to participate again, so let us know the dates when you find out. I cannot imagine what it must feel like to have a bird land in your hand. Must be a special slice of Heaven! You’ve got some dandy shots here, even if the fall colors aren’t their best yet.
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October 8, 2018 at 10:49 am
Robin says dates are Oct 14 thru 28 and she will post officially about it on Oct 14. If you want to walk earlier you can and just wait to post and link to her Oct 14 post. If you need longer she’s flexible.
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October 7, 2018 at 9:26 pm
I’m in awe of the birds feeding from your hand. Amazing!
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October 8, 2018 at 10:49 am
It feels amazing too.
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October 8, 2018 at 8:41 am
This is such a beautiful walk, Dawn. I still can’t believe you can get the birds to eat from your hand! Amazing. 🙂
Thank you for the Walktober mention. This year’s dates are October 14-28. I’ll probably do the round up of the posts on November 1 unless someone needs more time. The dates are not set in stone. I’ll put up the official “link to this post” on the 14th. If anyone wants to walk earlier, all they have to do is wait for that post to put in their link or pingback.
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October 8, 2018 at 10:51 am
Thank you for the dates. When I get home I’ll do an edit on my post.
Come on up and we’ll go for a walk in these woods. The birds will come to you too.
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October 8, 2018 at 9:33 am
“If you’re not early, you’re late.” That Katie is my kind of person. Er, dog.
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October 8, 2018 at 10:52 am
Yep she’s pretty rigid about her rules. We all march to her drum.
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October 8, 2018 at 2:25 pm
This is indeed fun and beautiful captures
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October 10, 2018 at 8:42 pm
Thank you Arbrie! We’d love to have you do a Walktober too!
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October 8, 2018 at 9:02 pm
I like the birdie caption about how u are keeping the good seeds in your pocket.
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October 9, 2018 at 9:16 am
He (or she?) was a very persistent little bird.
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October 8, 2018 at 11:13 pm
What a pretty walk…yes Katie should get two maybe three walks:)
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October 9, 2018 at 9:17 am
Wait…whose side are you on? 🙂 She would love to go on 3 walks….but I’m not giving her that option. Yet anyway.
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October 9, 2018 at 9:01 am
I love the little birds. How fun they eat out of your hand.
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October 9, 2018 at 9:18 am
It is very fun. I don’t get out there very often, but I try to remember to take them something if I head that way. I feel very bad if I go and forget to bring anything. They just fly around my head and don’t understand.
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October 10, 2018 at 4:11 pm
I enjoyed walking with you, thanks, and I’d forgotten all about Robin’s Walktober, I’ve been so busy this year that I’ve hardly had time to do a proper walk other than back and for work.
The pictures of the birds eating out of your hand were wonderful, I’ve been feeding swans and I’ve got them to (almost politely) take bits from my hand now. But eating out of the palm of my hand is a whole different level. 😊
Thanks again for the reminder of Walktober, and thanks for dropping by my blog too. 😀
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October 10, 2018 at 5:41 pm
Thank you so much for walking with me! I hope to see you in Robin’s Walktober project. And I’ll stop by your blog again too!
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October 13, 2018 at 7:06 am
Wow. Just plain wow.
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