Our Second Act-I heard something scratching…

This is in the category of … you never know what you might see on any given morning! Yesterday I went to Edge Hill in Ashfield - a gorgeous late April morning - 39 degrees, clear skies and no wind. The birdsong is definitely picking up a lot… which is really heartwarming to hear. I decided I would go up the steep area first and work my way towards the northeast corner where I have been wanting to explore. I wanted to be up in that area before sunrise to figure out where to be when for my next outings over here. Dawn’s chorus was getting louder but I still couldn’t spot any of our feathered friends as the lighting was still not quite light enough for me to see what I was hearing.

I finally made my way up to the corner. Some light was now starting to filter in through the trees . Just as I was deciding where to set up I heard something scratching… and the sound was very close. I thought - what could I possibly be hearing? I looked in front of me, behind me and left and right and I could not spot anything all while continue to hearing the scratching sound… I moved as quietly as I could a few steps to my left, stopped, and was looking over my right shoulder when I spotted this!

I could not believe it!! I have wanted an opportunity to get photos of a porcupine for a very long time. I have seen them twice before and have never been happy with my results…. No wonder I heard the scratching sound - we were very close to one another! Porcupines are great at climbing trees and can spend most of their lives in trees. They are herbivores and just want to live a quiet life eating leaves and twigs etc.. I knew that it was important that I not startle this little cutie as that is when it might go into defensive mode and might set off its quills. I quietly removed my camera from my tripod so that I could handhold it as I wanted to try and continue to get shots and not be limited but my stationary tripod. I was afraid moving my tripod would make too much noise and frighten him or her.

I also had read that if they start chattering their teeth that they are becoming agitated - I was really tuned it trying to hear that sound - and thankfully I did not hear that. I don’t ever want to make anything feel threatened by my presence.

And then it went down a little further down the tree and struck this incredible pose… I was so excited!