April 6

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 32 degrees and a slight southerly wind. Before starting my hike I gazed at the neighbor’s farm and thought back to the 1990’s when the former owner illegally piled dead cows on his property adjoining North Woods that was both an eyesore and a source of rotting flesh odor. After, reporting him to the authorities, he reluctantly covered the pile with dirt. Fortunately, he has long since retired, moved away and the current owner seems quite neighborly Standing on the hill, I looked west at a bleak landscape. Descending the hill, I spotted Redwing Max in is usual perch on a willow tree next to Mallard Marsh. Next, he flew down and clung to a cattail only about eight feet from Redwing Mark. In the meantime, Redwing Mike sat high in a Cottonwood tree north of the trail surveying his turf. Suddenly, a pair of noisy Mallards exploded from the water and headed south. Passing through Bobolink Meadow, I turned south and headed toward Willow Wallow where I noticed several Mole mounds on the trail. Approaching the pond, I thought I saw Redwing Will perched in his usual spot. However, as I got closer, I was surprised to see that it was a male Cowbird while Will was perched on a cattail several feet away. I circled Succession Field where I could barely make out 10 deer that blended so well standing in the brown grass staring at me. Also, I walked by what maybe the last patch of snow for the season. At Artist Overlook, I stopped to hear a pair of noisy geese staking their claim to Sora Swale. Following south trail, I noticed a few snowflakes and came to Frog Fen where I heard Redwing Fred, but did not see him. I continued south to Brady Cemetery, turned north and entered Native Grassland. Continuing north toward Grebe Pond, I spotted Redwing Gabe, flying from a Box Elder tree to his usual perch next to the pond. Arriving at the pond, while unsuccessfully looking for Redwing Gus, I heard the haunting call of a Pied-billed Grebe. Also, up ahead along the pond’s edge was a group of blackbirds flying at each other in Redwing Gordy’s territory. As I got closer, I noticed they were Grackles intruding on his territory. As he chased the away, I saw Gordy return to a favorite perch close to a female Redwing; the first one I’ve seen this spring. Looking back, I also noticed Redwing Gill at his perch. Approaching the barn, I was pleased to see a pair of colorful male Buffleheads swimming near the north shore of the pond. I assume they will be heading north to their summer breeding grounds in Canada. Finally, we passed the Classroom Building, got in the car and headed out.

Early spring the meadow sleeps
No cricket or grasshopper leaps
Patches of snow dot the ground
Green grass cannot be found
On a cattail stalk a Redwing clings
Claims his turf. Perches and sings
Ice on the pond continues to thaw
Crows of the sky will caw and caw
Trees of the forest are mostly bare
Mother Nature has much to prepare

D. DeGraaf