Über Nacht hat es wieder geschneit gehabt. Also wollten wir ein bisschen Zeit im Neuschnee verbringen. Wir besuchten das Wildgehege in Warstein (da, wo da Bier herkommt).
The woodlands of Sauerland make it a prime destination for wild animals. Wildlife is able to roam free in this widespread forested area. Since we were early chances were fair that we got to see some of them. In fact we got really lucky, we spotted more than we hoped to see. From an elevated Plattform we discovered fallow deer.
Die Wald reichen Flächen des Sauerlands sind für wilde Tiere ein Paradies. das Gehege erstreckt sich über viele Hektar Wald und Wiesen. Wir waren recht früh dran, denn dann sind normalerweise die Chancen groß, die Tiere auch zu beobachten. Von einer überdachten Aussichtsplattform aus konnten wir Damwild entdecken.
And around the corner wild boar youngsters played it rough. But then a grown up (wild sow?) approached, and the little punks preferred to get out of the way and hide behind the trees.
Und um die Ecke ließen sich doch tatsächlich ein paar Wildschweine beobachten. Die halbstarken Jungs balgten miteinander, doch als die Mama hinzukam, zogen es die kleinen Punks vor, sich zu hinter den nächsten Baum zu verdrücken.
And so we continued our trek through this winter wonderland, happy and content with the wildlife spotted. But nature had some more surprises for us in store.
Und so gingen wir weiter durch den Winterwunderwald, froh und zufrieden mit den Tieren, die wir bisher gesehen hatten. Aber die Natur hatte noch ein paar Überraschungen für uns.
A red fox! He must have escaped his compound, and did some sightseeing on its own. This was indeed confirmed later, when we reported the encounter.
Ein Rotfuchs! Er war wohl seinem Gehege entwischt und streunte nun auf eigene Faust durch das Gelände, dass dem tatsächlich so war, wurde uns am Eingang später bestätigt.
It couldn't get any better, or could it?
Nun konnte es nicht mehr besser werden, oder doch?
We passed an eerie looking rock formation called Bilstein, and passed a cave which was open to visitors. Later more on this. A sign showed us the way to the area where lynx, a cousin of the bobcat, might be seen.
Wir kamen an einer eigenartig aussehenden Gesteinsformation, dem Bilstein, und an der gleichnamigen Höhle vorbei, die man besichtigen konnte, aber dazu später. Erst einmal folgten wir den Schildern zum Gehege der Luchse.
And we lucked out. Are you looking at me? said the lynx. And three more were watching us watching them from the other side of the hill.
Und wir hatten tatsächlich Glück. Schau mich an, scheint der Luchs zu sagen, und drei andere beobachten uns vom Hügel gegenüber.
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| three more lynx on the hill |
What a wonderful day. Sometimes getting up early does make so much sense (so much more than it does for work...).
Was für ein toller Tag! Frühaufstehen macht so viel Sinn, besonders, wenn es nicht für die Arbeit ist.
ich bin ja schon leicht neidisch auf den Schnee! Und die Luchse sind ja toll *schmacht*. Wir hatten erst einmal Glueck in unserer Nachbarschaft, auch morgens im frischem Schnee. GsD blieben wir bisher von den hier anzutreffenden Bergloewen verschont.
ReplyDeleteIm Schwarzwald soll es ja auch Luchse geben, aber ich habe bisher nicht einmal Spuren gesehen.
DeleteWow! Wild boar and bobcat? That is something you don't see every day. The deer and fox were cute too. A lovely day for a morning walk/hike. Did you find a lovely treat and hot tea after?
ReplyDeleteThis was indeed quite the treat by mother nature. Of course the day had a nice treat for us in store later on. We met with my mom, and had coffee and cake together.
DeleteSeems more like central Pennsylvania than Germany -- animals included. One big difference that I remember is how many crosses appear on summits large and small. Seldom see one here other than as accident reminders along the highway.
ReplyDeleteMy own memories of Germany and travels with my mother were more Alpine in nature. I remember always going up. And of course food at little mountain inns.
Hi Steve, there are indeed quite a few similarities scenery-wise. The summit crosses have been around since the early middle ages, and like cairns once simply marked the top of a mountain or a boundary. The religious aspect took over several centuries later during the Thirty Years War. Nower days the crosses are rather war memorials or simply tourist attractions. And a proper reason to visit one of the many mountain inns around...
DeleteWow you did have some great close encounters with wildlife....as to Warsteiner Beer.....mmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteThis was an unexpected encounter, Dom. I new you'd appreciate the mentioning of a famous German brand.
DeleteSeeing wildlife in their natural habitat is always a sign of a successful walk in the woods. But the lynx must be pretty tame to let you get that close. Here you're lucky if you ever see one, and it's usually just a flash glimpse of one bolting into the woods.
ReplyDeleteSo true, David. I guess the lynx were somewhat used to the occasional human visitor, as were the others. Still, we were completely taken by surprise as we expected them to be night active, and there they were at 10am.
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