A Saturday Drive: Lake Wilhelm
After lunch (see previous blog post), we drove to Maurice K. Goddard State Park. Specifically, we went to Lake Wilhelm in search of birds.
Our first stop was at Boat Launch No. 4 on the north side of the lake. We saw several tree swallows and enjoyed watching their acrobatic twists and turns. Of more interest at this boat launch, though, was the family whom we met.
Pastor Tim and his family
Tim is pastor for a small church in Meadville. His family moved to that area a couple years ago. What a very nice family! We talked a little bit about Lake Wilhelm and our plans while there (looking for birds), as well as the Allegheny National Forest, near where Bob and I live. Tim and his wife, Dana, expressed interest in visiting Kinzua Dam and points of interest in the Allegheny National Forest. After I took this photograph of Pastor Tim and his family, we exchanged Facebook information. Before we made it back home, we were friends on Facebook. We hope that our paths cross again one day!
Leaving Boat Launch No. 4 we turned left onto Lake Wilhelm Road, crossing a bridge over Lake Wilhelm. At the end of the bridge, on the right, we stopped near a waterfowl observation area.
Lake Wilhelm Waterfowl Observation Platform
From this observation platform we saw a great blue heron, geese, a red-wing blackbird, an osprey and an eagle.
Osprey
I focused my attention on the osprey for some time, hoping that it would dive into the water and catch a fish. I turned away briefly. The osprey flew off! I managed to capture a photograph of its tail feathers!
Osprey Tail Feathers
What held my attention the longest, though, was the eagle.
Eagle on a Nest
The eagle’s nest was WAY across the pond. It did not move from the nest during our entire stay at the waterfowl viewing platform.
Leaving Lake Wilhelm Road we turned left onto Creek Road and drove along the southern shores of Lake Wilhelm. We stopped at the dam, where we once again enjoyed watching the acrobatic twists and turns of tree swallows.
Tree Swallows
This is what we saw, while stopped alongside Lake Wilhelm Road.
This is one of several red-winged blackbirds that we saw,
This is the view from on top of Lake Wilhelm Dam.
Can you spot the Great Blue Heron?
a Pair of Canadian Geese at Erie National Wildlife Refuge
What a cool-looking barn!
The Beauty Around Us 