Tag Archives: birds

Photos, Art and Nature

Posted on June 11, 2022 by rivertoprambles

Few words today, as I reflect on the activities of the past few weeks and look forward to my rapidly approaching trip to Newfoundland. With luck, I may have some interesting reflections to share with you from that Atlantic province … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, birds, birdwatching, folk art, nature, photos, Pittsburgh, transitions, travel, trout | 20 Comments

In Praise of Hemlock

Posted on November 19, 2021 by rivertoprambles

Indeed, the most precious things of life are often close at hand, obtained with little cost, and we give our thanks for what sustains us. A short walk from my home is a grove of hemlock trees. I often enter … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, ecology, forests, hemlocks, John Burroughs, nature, poetry, preservation, solitude, spirituality, woolly adelgid, writing | 34 Comments

A Good Day For It

Posted on March 27, 2021 by rivertoprambles

The sunlit day was beautiful. I found myself fishing in the cold water (35 degrees F.) of a Pennsylvania river where the trout seemed few and far between. I did manage to capture and release a first brown trout of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged bamboo fly rod, birds, fly-fishing, Genesee River, Pennsylvania, poetry, technology, trout, wildlife | 15 Comments

Spring/ Sprung!

Posted on March 20, 2021 by rivertoprambles

I love all four seasons in New York, but spring… ah…. Two days ago I stepped out into the gray and misted dawn and listened to the first real song of the American robin. I accepted what I heard as … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged American robin, birds, environment, natural history, nature, On the Helderhill, poetry, Spring, tracks, Vernal Equinox, William Christman, woodchuck, writing | 17 Comments

The Pulse of the Run

Posted on March 16, 2021 by rivertoprambles

The deep woods hike in middle March was a tough climb through the melting snow, two miles up the Pennsylvania tributary, and back. I wrote of this mountain hollow in Beautiful Like a Mayfly, 2015: “The tributary flows through the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, fishing, headwaters, hiking, nature, solitude, Spring, transitions, trees, tributaries, wakefulness, writing | 26 Comments

The Phantom Bus and Other Observations

Posted on January 21, 2021 by rivertoprambles

So let us leave behind a country better than the one we were left with… From the stunning piece, “The Hill We Climb,” by Inaugural Poet, Amanda Gorman, 1/20/21. Amen. Walking slowly up the hill, I had the best chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "The Hill We Climb", birds, changes, confrontation, fantasy, hiking, nature, phantom bus, preservation, ravines, science, tracking, travel, trees, wildness, winter walk, writing | 28 Comments

Two Ravens (Twa Corbies)

Posted on January 5, 2021 by rivertoprambles

The first days of the new year were an icy mess, although I still had a pleasant walk on the trail developed near the house. It’s been years since I’ve kept a feeder in the yard, but I still need … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birding, birds, hiking, myths, nature, poetry, Raven, solitude, Twa Corbies, winter, writing | 21 Comments

Planted Near Running Water

Posted on June 11, 2020 by rivertoprambles

“Happy the man who does not read advertisements,/ does not listen to their radios/ does not believe their slogans. He will be a tree planted near running water.” — Ernesto Cardenal Often in times of social and political turmoil, I’ll … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, E. Cardenal, fisher pair, fly-fishing, freedom, gas leak, gifts, healing, imagination, nature, plantings, poetry, protest, small streams, turmoil, wildflowers | 24 Comments

The Far and Fine, from Home

Posted on March 25, 2020 by rivertoprambles

1. The sun on rusted rails extending through a chain of ponds. Sun that softens the edge of ice; walkin’ blues colored by a smile. Sun reflecting from an eagle; thermals of the western ridge. The sun on a leaning … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged birds, deep woods, haiku, home, narrative, nature, pandemic, poetry, Spring, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water, writing | 18 Comments

Taking Flight

Posted on February 25, 2020 by rivertoprambles

Many of you who have followed this blog for a while understand that I seldom honk my horn, attempting to promote the books I write. Occasionally, though, a new work is issued and I’m justly proud to release it like … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged "Rivertop Rambles", birds, books, ecology, fly-fishing, natural history, nature, poetry, small press, Walt Franklin, Wings Over Water, Wood Thrush Books, writing | 12 Comments