May 14

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The weather was drizzly with a temperature of 55 degrees and a stiff wind out of the northeast.  I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and walked through Bobolink Meadow where I saw several 5-petal small white flowers of Wild Strawberry scattered in the field south of the trail. I entered North Woods and followed the trail over the first footbridge where I noticed several small blue flowers called Marsh Blue Violets coloring the leaf litter. Continuing down the path, I observed some attractive Orange Peel Fungus growing on a dead log lying on the ground. Also, I saw several tiny Smooth Yellow Violet blossoms mixed in with the pink Spring Beauty blossoms. Next, I noticed several new ferns growing from the forest floor. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field. I entered South Woods and hiked over the boardwalk where I saw some dainty, white flowers of Wood Anemone growing close to a decaying tree branch. Stopping by the bench, I recalled a few days ago observing an elusive bird called a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher hopping from branch to branch. I suspected it was passing through on the way to its summer breeding grounds. I hiked along the edge of Swanson Swamp to check on the nesting mother goose. Much to my surprise, she was nowhere to be found. With my binoculars I could see the nest had been destroyed. I moved on and noticed several green Jack-in-the Pulpits sticking up among the brown leaves. I exited South Woods and instead of turning toward Artist Overlook, I headed toward Willow Wallow. Walked along the edge of the pond, I looked up to see a male Redwing Blackbird hovering about 10 feet above my head giving out a loud distress call to let me know I was too close to its nest. I proceeded east toward Reflection Hill where I was surprised to see a Common Yellowthroat hopping in the dense underbrush.  I ascended Reflection Hill and was unable to find the baby Whitetail fawn that had been spotted a few days ago by one of the nature guides. I moved south past Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery and saw some Yellow Warblers hiding in the Dogwood. I entered the cemetery and wandered over to the southern boundary where I noticed several Barn Swallows swooping above the neighbor’s cornfield. I exited the cemetery, entered Native Grassland and hiked north toward Grebe Pond. I followed the trail along the edge of the pond and checked the Killdeer nest. While observing the 4 eggs still in the nest, one of the adult birds was calling out and walking ahead of me on the path so I would follow it and move away.  I walked past the barn and was surprised to see that a pair of House Finches had built a nest above the security light above the front door of the Classroom Building. This place had been used as a nesting spot by Barn Swallows the past few years. Finally, I got in the van and drove down the driveway and headed for home, rejoicing in another wonderful hike. 

‘Tis like the birthday of the world,


When earth was born in bloom;


The light is made of many dyes,


The air is all perfume:


There's crimson buds, and white and blue,


The very rainbow showers


Have turned to blossoms where they fell,


And sown the earth with flowers.


Thomas Hood