June: K2 accompanies me on my first walk for observing wildlife and wildflowers after my recovery from Covid-19

While K2 was in his elements, I was totally exhausted during my long hike that I undertook immediately after recovering from COVID – 19.

Each step was a struggle as my weakened body asked for oxygen and water. I was questioning myself on undertaking this micro adventure in my weakened physical and mental state.

The good thing was that in the absence of humans due to the pandemic, wildlife of all kinds was out in force, providing me with endless opportunities of taking photos. Wildflowers were also blossoming with bumble and honey bees busy collecting nectar and in the process carrying their role of being pollinators without knowing.

Towards the end of the hike, I became disoriented and sat down by the trail side. After a respite of 30 minutes during which I was in a state of trance, K2 probably got bored and decided to get up and positioned his body towards home as if saying, “enough is enough, I am taking the lead”. I just followed him.

Here are a few shots from that memorable hike that I will never forget.

Above: K2 was intrigued by the man on his inflatable raft pedalling by us as we reached the river.

Above: A male yellow warbler singing his heart out.

Above: A wood duck with her brood of ducklings.

Above: A white-tailed deer, probably unused to seeing humans during the pandemic period, peeping through tall grass.

Above: A male northern cardinal.

Above: A beaver in the pond we hiked by.

Above: A domestic cat out in the wild peeping through thick foliage with guilt all over as it got busted. Cats in the wild are prone to getting killed by coyotes that abound here.

Above: A Fowler’s toad.

Above: Ebony Jewelwing damselfly.

Above: K2 cooling off in the river waters

Above: wildflowers and a gypsy moth caterpillar hanging by its thread (right).

Above: Wildflowers were blossoming with bumble and honey bees busy collecting nectar and in the process carrying their role of being pollinators without knowing.

Above: During my disorientation, I went into a trance best symbolically represented by the photo of the daisies.

Last words

Until our next blog, au revoir! Be outdoorsy, embrace diversity, and support causes for the conservation of nature!