Something big .. in the water

Afternoon before Halloween evening, perfect time to return to the Woods. Yesterday Norman received 1.5 inches of rain, soft and long with some heavy rain bouts included. The week before we had had an earlier inch of rain. The Woods were clearly in autumn mode. Maybe 30-40% of the leaves are down and the Woods are beginning to have a more open feel. Much of the canopy remains; but the understory is opening up.
As I approached the NW toe slope pond there was a deeper ripple on the far side.. as of a turtle pushing off and swimming underwater, perhaps a big snapper. There was also the rippling of the surface from smaller creatures, flies and beetles skittering about.
The NW pond was full to a good degree.. much of its depth and diameter restored. I noticed a small group of two or three tall darker green cattails growing near Carpenter's old steel survey post there. The eastern pond, too was in good shape, although only 0.95 feet in depth. It can hold 4-5 x that in volume.
I walked the Northern Loop to Island Crossing (water gently flowing) and then back west along the Trans OWP trail. Most flowers are gone except Verbesina virginica frost weed. The abundant trailside Elephantopus elephant's food have all gone to seed. Interesting to see what will be winter green: Lonicera Japanese honeysuckle, Ligustrum privet, Geum Avens. I clipped back green shoots of Rosa multiflora rose extending out across the trails. A few fresh green pecan hulls have fallen.. not much.
I stopped to tug and pull at a modest pole-sized tree fallen across the path. It was tough like an elm.. although long dead. Just south of the three big cottonwoods along the levee, the English ivy was beginning to ascend trunks of trees. I pulled out and cut it back.
There were just two white-tailed deer I saw. There will likely be several more when hunting season starts up. I waved and sang to them. They kept a safe 100 foot distance and didn't seem too skittish.
With El Nino forecast for this winter, the Woods may see some cold days soon and more snow and deeper cold than normal.