More Blue Were the Reflections at Black Creek

The later the day got, the deeper and more blue were the reflections on this early Spring day

at Black Creek, near Black Creek Park in Fultondale, Alabama.

Early Spring Reflections at Black Creek

Reflections in Early Spring at Black Creek, near Black Creek Park, Fultondale

Darby at Full Speed, Ears Flailing at the Rails to Trails

Even when running at full speed, ears flapping furiously, the apparent smile on Darby's face gives evidence to the notion that this creature knows how to soak in life's simple pleasures. On this day that included swimming in Black Creek, hiking in the woods, hopping through piles of leaves, and running the Rails to Trails at Black Creek Park, all of which gave rise to the need for a bath (in which Darby found no pleasure).

Darby Navigating the Waters at Black Creek Park

In keeping with recent Darby-themed posts, my Golden Retriever and I recently went on a walk at Black Creek Park, at which one of us could not help but navigate and submerge herself into the creek's still-frigid waters.

Darby, Surveying the Landscape for Adventure

Having frolicked through the frigid waters that eventually flow into Black Creek, alongside the Rails to Trails in Fultondale, Darby ascends the banks and surveys the landscape to determine the next adventure that's on her horizon.

Decrepit Culvert at Black Creek, Fultondale

Presumably, when the railroad above this culvert was built many moons ago, the structure here was much more squared than what it has become now. In apparent danger of eventual collapse, this culvert allows the passage of one of the many streams that feeds Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama. Hopefully, despite appearances, it has many good years of service left.

Adventures with Darby: Sniffing It Out at Black Creek

There is little in life that Darby enjoys more that trouncing along Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama. From swimming to drinking to chasing anything that moves, Darby is at home here as in her own bed.

Adventures with Darby: Focusing on the Droplets

Adventures with Darby: Alabama Shakes at Black Creek

Darby shakes it out after a swim at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Adventures with Darby: Smelling like the Scenery

There is something peculiar and innate with Darby that compels here to roll around in strange foreign substances in an attempt to acquires their foul stenches. And as much as I want to curb this behavior, few activities seem to bring her greater joy than knowing she now stinks as badly as whatever that was that she found.

Darby rolling in a Foreign Substance at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Stones and Reflections on Black Creek, Fultondale

Stones and Reflections on Black Creek at Black Creek Park in Fultondale

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek

Taking a cue from its mother (seen here), this juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron has taken to a tree at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama, where it remained until any semblance of danger passed.

Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Yellow Crowned Night Heron Hides among the Foliage

This Yellow Crowned Night Heron stalks Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama, on a daily basis. When I first spied it on this occasion, it was contentedly fishing, but upon hearing some nearby dogs, it took shelter in a nearby tree, waiting for the danger to pass.

As much as I would have liked to coax it to resume its fishing activities for my photographic benefit, that seemed unlikely to yield a productive result. So I contented myself with photographing the bird in its attempts to escape the local canine populace.

Yellow Crowned Night Heron at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly at Black Creek

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly (Papilio glaucus) at Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Running Wild and Free at Black Creek

Every now and then, Darby and I find a patch of creek where nobody else is within eye-shot or ear-shot, and we get to run around to our hearts' delight. This outing found us at Black Creek just downriver from Black Creek Park near the Rails to Trails in Fultondale, Alabama.

Leaf and Vine over Black Creek, Fultondale

Leaf and Vine over Black Creek, Fultondale, Alabama

Stones in Rushing Water, Black Creek, Fultondale

Stones in Rushing Water, Black Creek, Fultondale, Alabama

Purple Violets Growing Amongst Stones at Black Creek

The Purple Violets are managing to grow along the stony banks

of Black Creek in Fultondale, Alabama

Vines Residing along Black Creek, Fultondale

A curtain of vines found on the banks of Black Creek, in Fultondale, 

Alabama, during a hike on an afternoon in early spring.

This and other photos depicting the natural beauty of Alabama can be found here.

Black Creek Park's Rails to Trails Now Complete

If you're familiar with this blog, then over the last couple of weeks, you've likely become familiar a new trail system in the North Jefferson County area. The City of Fultondale has undertaken a Rails-to-Trails project, whereby a former railroad line was been converted into a trail for walkers, runners, and bicyclers (motorized vehicles are prohibited).

The trail begins at Black Creek Park in Fultondale and runs about 3.5 miles to Shady Grove Road. There are markers every half mile and will be benches placed at those markers as well. Over the last several weeks, I've been on the trail either walking, running, or hiking, about a half-dozen times, and I couldn't be more excited about this development, so close to home. Darby's pretty excited too.