April 30

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The morning weather was partly sunny with a temperature of 57 degrees and a steady wind out of the southeast.  Frequent rains during the week had saturated the ground and flooded the wetlands. Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I looked to the west and was excited to see a subtle greening of the landscape. I passed Mallard Marsh and noticed a large American Toad sitting in some standing water on the trail. While walking through Bobolink Meadow, I stopped at one of the foot-high mounds just off the trail to see that several ants were moving about. I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where I noticed several tiny, 5-petal, pale-pink wildflowers, called Spring Beauty, growing along the trail. I continued walking and was amazed to see a beautiful, single, 2-inch-diameter Crimson Cup Fungus growing right on the trail.  I exited North Woods, continued around Succession Field and entered South Woods. Hiking along the edge of Swanson Swamp, I noticed that the mother Canadian Goose that I have been watching for several days was still on her nest out on the small island. Also, I recalled earlier in the week seeing my first American Red Squirrel running up a tree. This shy woodland mammal is a little larger than a Chipmunk and a little smaller than a Fox Squirrel. Further along, I saw a fresh 3-in.-diameter hole in a tree about 2-ft off the ground made by Pileated Woodpecker. At the exit to South Woods, I remembered on a previous hike stopping to observe a Golden-crowned Kinglet hopping from branch to branch. I was surprised that this small gray bird with a yellow patch on its head paused for a few seconds on a low branch only a yard away from me.  I suspected it was migrating to a coniferous-forest nesting area in Canada. I continued on to Artist Overlook where I was pleased to hear the call of the secretive Sora Rail coming from the thick willows on the west side of Sora Swale.  This small marsh bird has a gray body and black face. I continued along the south trail where I was surprised to see a yellow Dandelion flower already blooming. Turning north at Frog Fen, I was pleased to see that a pair of bluebirds was using one of the bird boxes.  At the top of Reflection Hill, I looked down on Grebe Pond only to see the usual 3-pair of geese swimming around. I continued down Reflection Hill and walked over the boardwalk where I noticed the Honeysuckle were beginning to leaf out. I came to the Classroom Building where I observed some tiny white flowers of Pennsylvania Bittercress sticking up along the east side. Finally, I got in the van and took 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 Mansifield,

April 23

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The mid- morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 47 degrees and a steady wind out of the southwest.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I was reminded earlier in the week that spring had finally arrived since I noticed a pair of Starlings was once again building a nest in the small metal cap on top of the propane tank behind the Storage Building. I walked past Mallard Marsh through Bobolink Meadow and entered North Woods. Following the trail west, I recalled a few days ago seeing a pair of reclusive Wood Ducks flying ahead of me making their familiar squeaking call. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I saw several small shoots of grass sticking up through the winter thatch giving the meadow a subtle greenish tint. Entering South Woods, I noticed a 3-inch-diameter birch log lying on the ground with some rare white, cup fungus growing on it. I hiked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where I could barely make out a female Canadian Goose sitting still on her nest on a small island. She was very well camouflaged against the surrounding vegetation. I suspected her mate was swimming nearby to keep guard. Looking up, I noticed a large rectangular-like hole high up a tree that was probably the opening to a Pileated Woodpecker nest. Continuing through South Woods, I came upon a 4-inch-diameter decaying log on the ground covered with white, scaly shelf fungus. I exited South Woods, continued past the picnic tables and turned north toward Willow Wallow. Hiking along the edge of the pond, I saw a few young cattail shoots sticking up above the water. Climbing to the top of Reflection Hill, I was pleased to observe a pair of Pied-billed Grebes swimming on Grebe Pond. A pair of these small diving ducks had nested here for many years. I headed south past Frog Fen to Brady Cemetery where I was glad to see that someone had cleaned up the trashed TV set that was lying next to the road. I turned north into Native Grassland where I noticed how the frequent rain during the week had left quite a bit of standing water in the field. Also, I saw some Velvetleaf and prickly thistle rosettes growing next to the trail. In addition, I was pleasantly startled to see a flock of about two-dozen Arctic Terns flying rapidly west over Grebe Pond. This medium-size shore bird is white with a fork tail, a black head and a red beak for catching fish. I passed the barn and headed for the van where I noticed some Common Chickweed with their tiny white flowers spreading along the ground on the eastside of the Classroom Building. Finally, another hike was finished. So, I took off for home.

The wood is decked in light green leaf.

The swallow twitters in delight.

The lonely vine sheds joyous tears


Of interwoven dew and light.

Spring weaves a gown of green to clad


The mountain height and wide-spread field.

O when wilt thou, my native land,

In all thy glory stand revealed?

Ilia Chavchavadze 

April 16

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The morning weather was hazy, overcast with a temperature of 47 degrees and no wind.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I scanned the landscape to the west and noticed that the meadow still retained the yellow, brown and beige colors of dead vegetation. However, the tops of deciduous trees near the horizon were slightly reddish due to spring catkin growth. Approaching Mallard Marsh, I was pleased to see a male Goldfinch with its yellow, summer plumage perched in a tree. Stopping at the water’s edge, I noticed a few green Duckweed plants floating near the shore as well as new green shoots of Reed Canary Grass sticking up above the water. Also, I could hear the rhythmic croaking of a Leopard Frog. I continued through Bobolink Meadow, turned at the entrance to North Woods and followed the trail south toward Willow Wallow where I remembered from a prior hike, being surprised to see a Raccoon sprawled out and sleeping in the crotch of a large tree branch on the south side of the pond. It never moved as I walked quietly by. I continued around Succession Field where my ears perked up to hear the chipping sound of a Sedge Wren. This small, brown, secretive bird is difficult to see as it blends so well with the meadow vegetation. Continuing toward Artist Overlook, I noticed 2-3 inch-long greenish-white fuzzy catkins hanging from the terminal branches of the Quaking Aspen trees.  At Artist Overlook, I remembered a few days ago seeing a half-dozen Painted Turtles resting in the sun on dead branches in Sora Swale. I followed the south trail and turned north at Frog Fen where I noticed how the green-colored grass on the trail ahead of me leading up to Reflection Hill contrasted greatly with the surrounding brown-colored, dead vegetation. I climbed to the top of the hill where I was glad to see the dock back in the water on the north end of Grebe Pond. Soon, school children would be walking on it to net and investigate pond fauna.  Also, I observed several Tree Swallows swooping low and skimming the surface of the pond to catch insects. In addition, I recalled earlier in the week observing a Belted King Fisher perched on a dead tree branch on the south side of the pond. This medium-size, bluish bird with its shaggy crest in able to dive head first into the water after fish. I walked down Reflection Hill and returned to the Classroom Building. Finally, another hike was finished so I got in the van and took off for home.

For winter's rains and ruins are over,

And all the season of snows and sins;

The days dividing lover and lover,

The light that loses, the night that wins;

And time remembered is grief forgotten,

And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,

And in green underwood and cover

Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

Algernon Charles Swinburne

April 9

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid-day weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 52 degrees and a steady wind out of the east.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I scanned the landscape to the west and saw no evidence of any snow cover. However, water from melting snow and recent rains had saturated the ground and filled the wetlands. Approaching Mallard Marsh, I was awestruck a few days ago by my first sighting of a Great Blue Heron swooping low over the water. I hoped this graceful bird with its 6-ft wingspan would establish this place as a fishing site. Also, on a previous hike, I saw a medium-size bird fly over Bobolink Meadow and stop in mid air to hover. I suspected it was an American Kestrel looking for a meal. This gray-colored raptor is a member of the falcon family. Entering North Woods, I looked to my right and saw the gray fur and skull of an Opossum lying at the base of a tree. It appeared that this marsupial had been killed and eaten by a predator several days ago. I picked up the skull and felt the sharp teeth of the upper and lower jaw. Also, I noticed its long, scaly tail hidden under the fur. I continued on the trail west where I was pleased to finally see something green growing. All around me mats of moss with different textures and shades of green were growing on a variety of surfaces. Some were growing on the bases of trees, others on decaying branches, still others on bare ground and some even on rocks. Also, some moss had a reddish tint due to the hair-like sporophytes sprouting up. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I walked past a few lingering patches of snow on the shady south-side trail. I entered South Woods and hiked over the boardwalk where I saw a pile of hickory-nut husks left over from last fall by a resident squirrel. I exited South Woods and continued on to Artist Overlook where I was pleased to hear a chorus of Green Frogs and Spring Peepers in Sora Swale. I hiked along the south trail, turned at Frog Fen and headed south toward Brady Cemetery. As I passed the cemetery, I noticed someone had dumped off an old TV and smashed it in several pieces, leaving quite a mess on the edge of the road. I continued north into Native Grassland where I recalled on an earlier hike, being surprised to see a reclusive American Woodcock take off and fly west. The long, sharp bill of this medium-size game bird helps it probe for worms in the soil. I continued past Grebe Pond where I was excited to observe a pair of Tree Swallows swooping over the water. I walked past the barn and headed for the van. Another memorable hike was finished so I took off for home.

Now that the winter's gone, the earth hath lost

Her snow-white robes, and now no more the frost


Candies the grass, or casts an icy cream


Upon the silver lake or crystal stream;


But the warm sun thaws the benumbed earth,


And makes it tender; gives a sacred birth


To the dead swallow; wakes in hollow tree


The drowsy cuckoo and the humble-bee.


Now do a choir of chirping minstrels bring

In triumph to the world the youthful spring.

Thomas Carew

April 2

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid morning weather was partly sunny, hazy with a temperature of 37 degrees and a light wind out of the northwest.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I looked to the west and noticed that despite it being April, a thin layer of snow covered about half of the landscape. Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I recalled how the hard, crusty snow earlier in the week had made the animal tracks very distinctive. It was easy to tell the difference between pheasant tracks, geese tracks and crane tracks. Also, I was able to key out the tracks of the Least Weasel, the Robin and the Bobwhite Quail. I turned at the entrance to North Woods and followed the trail toward Willow Wallow. At Willow Wallow, I observed a pair of Mallards taking off and heading east. As I started around Succession Field, I noticed a dead ground mole lying dead on the trail, frozen and undisturbed. I continued around Succession Field where I was entertained by bird calls coming from all directions including: Cardinal, Crow, Redwing Blackbird, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Chickadee, Canadian Goose and Blue Jay. I came to Artist Overlook where I saw 3 geese landing on Sora Swale. From previous hikes, I had observed that 2 pair of geese had established this place as their nesting ground. As I continued walking, I wondered if something had happened to the forth member of the group. Further down the path, I was pleased to see the 4th goose land on the pond to rejoin its mate. I continued down the south trail where it felt good to walk on bare ground again since much of the snow had melted. I turned at Frog Fen and climbed to the top of Reflection Hill where I observed 3 pair of geese swimming on Grebe Pond. I suspected they had now established this place as their nesting area. I recalled how a few days ago I saw a pair of Hooded Mergansers swimming on the pond. The male had a black head with a large white ear patch while the female had a brown-crested head and a gray body. These diving ducks were much smaller than the Common Mergansers that showed up last week. I walked down Reflection Hill and came to the Classroom Building where I noticed several houseflies buzzing around on the east side. Another hike was finished so I got in the car and took off down the driveway where I saw a pair of Killdeers hopping around the front yard. I turned south and headed for home.

The roofs are shining from the rain,

The sparrows twitter as they fly,

And with a windy April grace


The little clouds go by.

Yet the back yards are bare and brown


With only one unchanging tree--


I could not be so sure of Spring


Save that it sings in me.

Sara Teasdale,