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| Pomps Pond. |
We walked down to a small pond, which during the summer serves as the community's beach, but today only a few teenagers were there sitting in the sun on the sandy beach. Technically, the beach isn't open 'til mid-June, but clearly some people had taken advantage of the gorgeous 60 degree weather, and had taken a quick dip. Following the edge of the pond, we left the sunbathers and headed down the sandy path. Quickly we came across evidence of some serious beaver activity; it seemed every other tree within 20 feet of the pond's shore had been gnawed on, or gnawed down. A bit further down the trail at a clearing, we could spot the beaver dam off of a wooded peninsula near the far end of the pond.
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| The beavers have been busy! |
The trail meandered through the pine and birch forest, and over a few small boardwalks to a small island in the middle of the pond. Oak leaves covered the path, making for slippery footing as we followed the path as it looped around the island. Taking a side spur, we came to a small marshland full of flooded dead trees. Looking up, we saw 4 blue herons take off from their perches and circle above our heads. In many of the dead trees were nests built high above the surface of the pond, safe from any predator. A couple blue herons remained on watch. My mom and I didn't speak for several minutes, we just watched in awe.
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| The flooded trees make happy nesting spots for the blue herons. |
We finished up the loop of the island and headed back to the trailhead as the sun sunk low in the sky. The pine needles and old dried leaves cracked underfoot, and calls of the spring peepers filled the air.
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| Late day sun on Pomps Pond. |
And if you listened very carefully, you could hear the sounds of cars passing by on roads unseen.
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