Sunny Sunday at Siebenthaler Fen

"I want to go to the fen today!" said The Bug. "Um...you do know it snowed again last night," said I. "I know, but I want to see what it looks like in winter. It's on my 50 by 50 list!" And so off we went...to a fen...in Ohio...in mid-January. And it was amazing!

The Bugly, our vintage Pontiac Aztek, is great for Sunday rambles

 Ah, the Intrepid Explorer, impatient to see the fen

 There are lots of fallen trees in the fen...this one made a snow dog!

I think they are the result of a combination of beaver girdling, which kills overstory trees to allow new growth, on which beaver feed, etc., and damage by Emerald Ash Borers

 Beaver Creek, on the fen's eastern border

 A partially frozen run...fens have runs that drain water from them, unlike bogs

 Here is the upper part of the run

Runs typically are fed by springs, so they do not easily freeze over, unlike stagnant water

 I was infatuated with reflections on Beaver Creek

 And snow on fallen timber

 And water in its various forms

 Monet reflections...

 Ah, THERE she is!

The Shadow of The Bug

No stopping to rest today!

 We pulled up short, unsure of the footing on this section of the trail

We normally walk out to the observation gazebo and on to the raised platform, but walking in snow had tuckered us out

 Also, the wind had picked up a bit

 As evidenced by this puffy little Swamp Sparrow!

 The sights were amazing!

 If a bit frosty

 Me...without a hat. I would regret that by the end of our hike! My wife makes hats, you know...and scarves. I had a cap in the Bugly. Next time maybe I'll remember to put it on? We'll see...