Leave Nothing But Footprints – #5 My Backyard Trails
This is my contribution for Heaven’s Sunshine’s weekly challenge, “One Step At A Time”.
So come along and hike with me, one step at a time!
Donna’s Backyard Trails, Bozman, Maryland~~
A peek at my ‘backyard trails’ that includes roaming my four neighbors’ vast properties. I am so thankful for their permissions!
This specific nature walk was last week when grandson, Jaxon (9 yo), visited us during Easter break. He loves nature walking and birding with me. This time he wanted to include “shed-hunting”, a first for me lol. Now he’s the teacher, telling me what to look for, and telling me we needed to sweep the farm fields too, not just the borders and woods. Okey dokey!
So let’s begin and follow one of my property deer trails….
that pop’s out to one of my neighbor’s farm field.
Jaxon is sure there’s a shed out there in the middle of that seven acres, so we walked and swept much of it. No sheds, but we enjoyed the sights and sounds of birds, wildlife footprints, and the several critter ‘dens’ we found dug.
We headed back to my little deer trail and continued our walk.
Below you can see the beginning of one of my “trails” that’s an almost mile-long private drive to my four neighbors’ vast waterfront properties.
At the bend above, to the left is the below marsh behind our property.
And to the right is the below tidal marsh pond that Jaxon and I love, love roaming around!
That yellow in the water is our Spring pollen that has been falling heavily and drifted in with the tides. Yuk.
Continuing on up the driveway, there are two more plats of farm fields, another marsh, many sections of woods and brush/thickets. Jaxon wanted to sweep the next farm field, so we did, again with no luck. We then followed a few deer trails in and out of the woods surrounding the second marsh. Birds were flitting about!
Jaxon in bird action!
Suddenly…..
What????!!!!!
Jaxon found a five-point shed!
(his 4th shed found to date)
We pretty much ended our walk there lol, Jaxon was too excited and wanted to go back and show Pop Pop and facetime Mom & Dad!
For this Grammy, this just became another top nature walk I’ll never forget. 😊
Since our walk also included birding, I’ll share a bird photo by each of us to round out this wonderful walk that recorded as 0.76 miles and 26 bird species total.
Tree Swallow
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Take a hike, short or long, one step at a time.
Mother Nature promises to reward you!
And please remember~~
Leave nothing but footprints.
Kill nothing but time.
Bay Photos by Donna 
Ah, Jaxon I would be more than pleased to make that find. Your Gran and you had a fine time in some gorgeous nature. I like the birds, too.
Thank you, Sandy! We went back out to look for the ‘other’ matching shed, they say sometimes the two can be laying close together. But no luck. Jaxon said it’s out there, we’ll find it next time. 😁
The next birding generation is hooked! Good job. 👍🏼 👏🏼
Thank you, Eliza! I’ve got me a great sidekick! 😁
Looks like you have a competitor there, Donna. Great photo Jaxon and a fabulous find! 👍👍😊
Yes, I do, Mike! 😉 And I will be sure to show Jaxon yours and everyone else’s comments!! 😊
Jaxon is a little like Barbara Rodgers’ granddaughter Katie who also loves nature and liked hikes with her grandparents, even taking photos with an iPad. How fun Jaxon has found four antler sheds … next thing you know, he will be starting a nature blog like yours – you should encourage him. He is one of the “grands” that give you the fun birdseed treats. You are lucky that your neighbors don’t mind you going there for hiking and photographs.
Jaxon is like Barbara’s granddaughter, Katie! He has an appreciation for nature and it’s a fab connection for me with him, as is for Barbara with Katie. Did you know Barbara is a “Grammy” too?!! 😉
This post had me smiling the whole way through, especially the pics you got of Jaxon. The smiles and excitement on his face is priceless.
I am happy you enjoyed it, Pepper! The smiles of our grandchildren are indeed priceless 😊