May 25

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 41 degrees and no wind. Exiting the car, I was greeted by the pleasing song of a Mourning Dove. At the crest of the hill, I gazed west at the landscape. I walked down the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh where I noticed the family of geese had only three goslings instead of the four they had last week. Redwing Max was busy chasing another male blackbird out of his territory. Mike was perched in a small tree north of the trail singing loudly while Mark was in is usual spot west of the pond. Entering Bobolink Meadow, Redwing Bob met me and began flying just above my head giving off a piercing call. This aggressive behavior is typical of males as they defend their nest of hatchlings. Nests are typically built of cattail stalks woven together to form a basket above water level. Three to five pale greenish-blue, black or purple streaked eggs are laid per clutch. I entered North Woods and headed west where I spotted lots of colorful Wild Geraniums. Also, I admired a large Bracket Fungus growing on a dead log next to the trail. Exiting the woods, I was surprised to see hundreds of small spider webs clinging to the dead vegetation of Succession Field glistening in the morning sunlight. Following the path around the field, I spotted the cotton-like seeds of a willow tree and the white blossoms of a Nannyberry tree. I entered South Woods and followed the trail along the edge of Swanson Swamp where I saw a few Mayapple blossoms. Exiting the woods, I proceeded to Willow Wallow where I stopped to observe Will as he flew from perch to perch within his territory. Next, I hiked east along the pond where I spotted a pair of geese with two rather large goslings swimming on the south side. Also, I stopped to hear a Grebe calling. I climbed Reflection Hill to look down on Grebe Pond where I recalled earlier in the week my third sighting of what I think was an American Bittern flying west over the water being chased by a Redwing Blackbird. Continuing south, I approached Frog Fen where Redwing Fred displayed similar aggressive behavior to Redwing Bob by flying just above my head giving off a loud piercing call. I kept going south toward Brady Cemetery where I noticed the Red Osier Dogwood shrubs were blossoming. I also saw a small Honeysuckle shrub with lovely pink blossoms. I passed the cemetery and continued north through Native Grassland to Grebe Pond where all the male Redwings were visible tending to in their respective territories. I hiked north toward the barn and was surprised to see a pair of swans again on the pond as they have been visible several times in the last week or so. Finally, we passed the Barn, passed Classroom and returned to the car for our trip home.

In the chill of morning
I walk an earthen trail
Over a hill of green
Through a verdant dale
Spring is in the air
With pleasure I inhale
Nature tells her story
I enjoy her weekly tales
I enter a favorite forest
Where beauty prevails

D. DeGraaf