March 26

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 17 degrees and a very light wind out of the north. The early spring snowstorm last week had whitened the landscape once again. It appeared that Mother Nature had suspended spring for a while. As I walked toward Bobolink Meadow, I was surprised to see a pair of stately Sandhill Cranes tip-toeing silently on the west side of Mallard Marsh.  As I got closer, they flew off while making their distinctive warbling sound.  At the entrance to North Woods, I noticed that some of the young Red Maple trees were sprouting clusters of red catkins from their branches. I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where I saw a few tree trunks covered with pale green lichens. Before exiting North Woods, I recalled on a recent hike catching a glimpse of a Black Squirrel (a subgroup of the Eastern Gray Squirrel) scampering up a tree. As I exited North Woods, I observed a large area where the deer had scraped away the snow to forage for acorns. I continued around the west side of Succession Field where I could see that the tracks belonging to the heavier animals like deer penetrated the hard, crusty snow while the tracks of the lighter animals like raccoons did not. I entered South Woods and followed the trail past scenic Swanson Swamp. I exited South Woods and continued on to Artist Overlook where I noticed a dozen Canadian Geese sitting silently on the ice of Sora Swale. I followed the south trail and observed the dog-like tracks of a Red Fox. Further down the trail I saw some tiny tracks of the Eastern Chipmunk. Approaching Frog Fen, I noticed some tracks of a Ring-necked Pheasant along with beautiful, rare tail-feather marks. Looking up, I observed a Common Grackle flying overhead. I turned at Frog Fen where I recalled a few days ago, before the snow came, seeing a couple of 3-inch long crayfish walking on the trail.  I climbed to the top of Reflection Hill and with my binoculars, focused on a dead Canadian goose lying frozen on the ice on the far side of Grebe Pond. Also, I recalled how a few days ago, I observed a pair of Common Mergansers swimming together on the pond before it froze over. The male had a distinctive black head and white body while the female had a crested, rusty-colored head and a drab-colored body. I suspected they had stopped there before continuing north to their summer breeding grounds.  I walked down Reflection Hill and came to the Classroom Building. Next, I walked over to the observation deck and down to the edge of ice-covered Grebe Pond. I hoped the ice would melt soon so we could put in the dock before the spring field trips start in 3 weeks. Another amazing hike was finished. So I got in the car and took off for home.

I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,


If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,


If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun


And crocus fires are kindling one by one:


Sing robin, sing:

I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring.

Christina Rossetti 

March 20

Saturday would have been a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  However, I had to postpone it until Sunday morning. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 31-degrees and a steady wind out of the southeast. Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I paused for a moment to recognize the Vernal Equinox. I faced east as the sun was peaking through a small opening in the clouds and welcomed it as today it crosses the celestial equator and begins to warm the northern hemisphere. As I approached Mallard Marsh, nine Mallards and two Wood Ducks flew off the open water. Walking on the trail through Bobolink Meadow, I noticed that since the snow was gone, there were several meandering ruts where small rodents had been tunneling under the snow. I turned at the entrance to North Woods and headed south toward Willow Wallow where I recalled how a few days ago I saw my first Turkey Vulture of the year as it soared gracefully high above Succession Field. I passed Willow Wallow and continued around Succession Field where I saw an Eastern Bluebird flying into South Woods. Instead of hiking up to Artist Overlook, I circled back to Willow Wallow and walked east along its edge. I climbed up the west side of Reflection Hill and followed the trail around the top where I noticed down on Grebe Pond, three pair of Canadian Geese and one pair of Mallards swimming silently. I hiked south down Reflection Hill past Frog Fen where I saw my first Song Sparrow of the year as it sang its beautiful song. I headed to Brady Cemetery, wandered around and stopped by one of the weathered monuments where I noticed some beautiful, yellow-orange Sulfur Firedot Lichen growing on its south face. I left the cemetery and followed the path into Native Grassland.  I walked along the east side of Grebe Pond where I observed some new, green vegetation on the ground next to the trail that included moss and some kind of unknown leafy ground cover. Approaching the red barn, I recalled gazing overhead earlier in the week to see and hear my first KIldeer of the year as it flew east across the road. Also, I noticed an 18-ft. Pussy Willow tree next to the pond. It had catkins on its branches that sprouted pea-size, grayish fuzz balls. These appear a long time before the leaves and are one of the signs of spring. I passed the Classroom Building, removed the bird feeders and put them away until next year.  Finally, it was time to get in the car and take off for home.

The fields are snowbound no longer;

There are little blue lakes and flags of tenderest green.

The snow has been caught up into the sky--

So many white clouds--and the blue of the sky is cold.

Now the sun walks in the forest,

He touches the bows and stems with his golden fingers;

They shiver, and wake from slumber.

Over the barren branches he shakes his yellow curls.

Yet is the forest full of the sound of tears....

A wind dances over the fields.

Shrill and clear the sound of her waking laughter,

Yet the little blue lakes tremble

And the flags of tenderest green bend and quiver.

Katherine Mansfield

March 12

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 38 degrees and a light wind out of the west.  Before descending the hill, I wondered if today I would get any hints from Mother Nature that spring was approaching.  Hiking toward Mallard Marsh, I was greeted by a pair of Canadian Geese who were walking on the ice and honking loudly to let me know that would be their nesting area. Walking past the marsh, I had to watch out for the Muskrat hole in the middle of the trail. Tracks near the hole indicated the animal had been out and about. Also, I recalled how earlier in the week I had spotted a Cooper’s Hawk taking off from the cattails and flying south toward Reflection Hill. As I hiked through Bobolink Meadow, several flocks of geese flew high overhead in all directions, honking as they went.  I entered North Woods where I saw numerous Wild Turkey tracks. I followed the trail west where I observed that the ice and snow on the vernal ponds was finally melting, bringing the water levels up to near normal. As I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field, I recalled from a recent hike hearing the loud drumming of the reclusive Pileated Woodpecker coming from North Woods followed by a second drumming from another Pileated Woodpecker in South Woods. This was repeated several times as each bird proclaimed its territory. Before entering South Woods, I saw the first of 5 small spiders crawling over the snow (two of them appeared to be Cellar Spiders). Entering South Woods, I followed the trail along the edge of Swanson Swamp. As I exited South Woods, I saw and heard a single Sand Hill Crane, flying very high over Bobolink Meadow. As I approached Artist Overlook, I was surprised to see a 1/4- inch long, brown ant walking slowly on the snow. Also, I spotted the 5-toe footprints and tail marks of a Raccoon on the snow near the benches. I continued along the south trail where I was surprised to see a 1/2 –inch long Ground Beetle larva crawling on the snow.  I turned at Frog Fen and climbed to the top of Reflection Hill where I noticed all around me perched in distant trees, solitary Crows and Redwing Blackbirds singing to announce their territories. I walked down Reflection Hill and came to the Classroom Building. My attention turned to the vine-covered tree next to the observation deck where several Tree Sparrows had gathered and were making quite a ruckus with their loud chirping.  As I walked to the car, I viewed through the binoculars a Robin hopping on the ground near the road. Finally, another hike was finished so I got in the car and took off for home.

All Nature seems at work. 

Slugs leave their lair


The bees are stirring,

birds are on the wing,


And Winter slumbering in the open air,

Wears on his smiling face

a dream of spring.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge

March 5

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid- morning weather was cloudy, snowy with a temperature of 33-degrees and a steady wind out of the north. Instead of taking my usual hike around the Nature Area, I walked directly up to Reflection Hill for an observation exercise that some of the school children did when they were here for field trips. My task was to move quietly around the circular path on the top of Reflection Hill with my binoculars in hand, pausing for a few minutes at each of the four benches to take in the sights and sounds.  Bench 1: Gazing north, I noticed how the large spillway west of the Mallard Marsh was clearly marked by dead Cattails and Reed Canary grass. My binoculars picked up a beautiful male cardinal perched in a small tree. To my left, the trees of North Woods appeared dark and dormant. I could hear the wind and feel some snowflakes touch my face. Bench 2: Gazing west, the dense thickets of Willow Wallow dominated my view. Sora Swale was hidden from sight by a small snow-covered hill. The birdhouse on the post next to the trail was vacant. However, I hoped the Tree Swallows would return to use it this spring.  Bench 3: Gazing south, I looked down and noticed that nothing was stirring at Frog Fen. The gentle hilly terrain suggested a glacial history. As I looked up the hill to Brady Cemetery, my thoughts turned to the people who were buried there and how different this land might have appeared to them when they were alive many years ago.  Bench 4: Gazing east, I noticed the perimeter of Grebe Pond was well defined by dead, broken cattails.  Beyond Grebe Pond, Native Grassland appeared as nothing more than a frozen field. The big, burnt-red barn with the green, gambrel roof was easily seen against the white snow. It wouldn’t be long before we opened it up for spring field trips. I could see and hear a pickup truck going south on Rich Rd. At the conclusion of my observations, I headed back to the Classroom Building and recalled how yesterday I saw a few immature male Redwing Blackbirds (no orange patch on the wing) perched in a tree. Their familiar shrilling song was an early sign of spring. Finally, I hopped in the car and followed a set of school bus tracks down the driveway reminding me that the last bus load of children left a few days ago marking the end of another field trip season.

The March wind roars


Like a lion in the sky,

And makes us shiver


As he passes by.

When winds are soft,

And the days are warm and clear,

Just like a gentle lamb,

Then spring is here.

     Author unknown