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