May 29

Thursday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early evening weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 77 degrees and a light breeze out of the northeast. At the crest of the hill, I stopped to admire the verdant landscape. Down the hill, I passed Mallard Marsh and walked through Bobolink Meadow where I noticed the Autumn Olive shrubs were blossoming while I searched in vain for nesting Bobolinks. I entered North Woods where the leaf litter was greening up with Poison Ivy and Virginia Creeper. Above me, the tree canopy was lush and dense. I exited the woods and wandered off the trail to admire the blossoming Nannyberry Viburnum tree. Circling around to the rear of Succession Field, I spotted many tiny Leaf Miners crawling on the Basswood leaves, making lots of small holes. I entered South Woods and paused at Swanson Swamp to listen to a male Redwing Blackbird. Near the exit, I spotted a baby toad resting on the leaf litter. I left the woods and arrived at Artist Overlook where I heard my first cricket call of the season. Hiking around Sora Swale, I was surprised to see a female Painted Turtle laying her eggs in the middle of the trail. Also, I noticed a few Hawthorn trees still had blossoms. Turning east, I followed the south trail where I stopped to watch a Turkey Vulture standing in the neighbor’s field feeding on a carcass. I turned at Frog Fen and headed south toward Brady Cemetery where many of the Red Osier Dogwood shrubs were blooming. I paused at an abandoned nest in a Honeysuckle bush that I’d been watching for several weeks. At first, the nest was occupied by a Robin with 3 eggs. After it was destroyed and abandoned, it was taken over by a Morning Dove with 2 eggs. Shortly thereafter, it was destroyed again and abandoned. I passed the cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland to the edge of Grebe Pond. Continuing north, I passed the barn and wandered to an area east of the parking lot where I spotted the white froth on a Goldenrod stem made by the Spittle Bug. Finally, we made it to the car for our trip home.

Black buzzard that soars so well

You find a meal with your smell

You fly with grace, fly so high

You float on the wind in the sky

Sometimes alone or just a few

Your keen eyes give you a view

A big bird with lots of skill

You clean up much road kill

I love to watch you, love to peer

Turkey Vulture, you’re welcome here

D. DeGraaf

May 21

Wednesday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The mid afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 81 degrees and a steady breeze out of the southwest. At the crest of the hill, I viewed a lovely spring landscape. Moving down to Mallard Marsh, I spotted a Leopard Frog sitting still in the water. Continuing through Bobolink Meadow, I recalled with excitement the sight of my first male Bobolink earlier in the day as it flew south from the neighbor’s farm toward this meadow. On the path, I noticed some Dandelions were already going to seed. Also, I spotted patches of a green groundcover with a very tiny white blossom with a very long name-Thyme-leaf Speedwell. Passing through North Woods, an 8-inch diameter shelf fungus and a few blossoms of Blue Phlox caught my eye. Exiting the woods, I circled around the back of Succession Field and entered South Woods where some Mayapples were beginning to blossom. Also, a few Wild Geraniums were making their appearance. Leaving the woods, I turned east and noticed the apple tree was blossoming. I turned south and hiked around Sora Swale where I enjoyed the sweet aroma of blossoms from a Wild Cherry Tree. Following south trail, I turned south at Frog Fen and headed toward Brady Cemetery where I stopped at a Honeysuckle bush to see a Mourning Dove nest with two eggs. This nest had been built by a Robin and had three of her eggs in it before it was ransacked and taken over by this Mourning Dove. I turned north into Native Grassland, stopped at Grebe Pond and continued toward the barn where I noticed a single plant of Hoary Cress with it’s cluster of tiny white blossoms. Next, I walked around to the east side of the barn to see the tiny blossoms and smell the leaves of Ground Ivy. Finally, we came back to the car for our trip home.

One of nature’s finest

I look for you each spring

I waited for your arrival

I longed to hear you sing

Daily, I searched for you

On a bush and in the sky

No sightings did I report

I paused and wondered why

Suddenly, you did approach

Your markings very clear

Bobolink of the meadow

I’m glad you’re finally here

D. DeGraaf

May 13

Tuesday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early afternoon weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 75 degrees and a steady wind out of the west. At the crest of the hill, I gazed at the western landscape to see lush green grass nearby, further away, Mallard Marsh was surrounded by dead cattails, still further, green Bobolink Meadow and finally, on the horizon far away, North Woods filling out with leaves. I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and hiked through Bobolink Meadow where the color yellow caught my eye including: a mixture of Dandelions and Wild Mustard on the path, a buzzing Bumble Bee flying from blossom to blossom and Goldfinches flying from bush to bush. Continuing through the meadow, I was pleased to sight my first Green Heron of the season as it flew south and landed in Willow Wallow. At the entrance to North Woods, I spotted a few blossoms of Wild Strawberry and some vegetative stalks of Horsetail. Hiking through the woods, the leaf litter displayed purple Wood Violets and Downy Yellow Violets along with a few Jack-in-the-Pulpits. Exiting the woods, I was reminded of my first sighting of a Baltimore oriole earlier in the week perched high and singing in a tree nearby. I left the path and wandered around Succession Field where I saw a Yellow Morel Mushroom while the sky to the west began to clear. Circling the field, I noticed a 2-foot long Garter snake lying motionless on the path before it saw me and slithered into the tall grass. I entered South Woods and walked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where a few May apples were beginning to grow fruit. Looking at the water, I could see a Painted turtle resting on a log. Leaving the woods, I continued on south trail past Artist Overlook, around Sora Swale to Frog Fen where I turned south to Brady Cemetery and then north into Native Grassland. Under a grove of Box Elder trees was a puddle of water where I spotted a large American Toad sitting still waiting for a meal. I glanced north at Grebe Pond where I saw a few Redwings along the shore. Heading to the barn, I turned west and walked down by the dock where I could see a few Indian Hemp plants beginning to sprout. Finally, we came to the car and headed home.

Sun warms the earth

Spring arrives late

Creatures stop hiding

Nature ends her wait

Frog on the pond

Snake on the ground

Bee on the flower

Birds all around

Cattail shoots appear

Maple leaves unfold

Time has finally come

Wildlife can take hold

D. DeGraaf

May 7

Wednesday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early afternoon weather was cloudy with a temperature of 48 degrees and a steady wind out of the east. At the crest of the hill, I gazed west at a landscape that continued to green up. Down the hill, Mallard Marsh was busy with male and female Redwing nesting activity. Next, I passed through Bobolink Meadow that was also greening up as the spring season unfolded. Entering North Woods, I noticed the trail had been cleaned up by Alma College students who are doing lots of service-learning projects throughout the property. Exiting the woods, I turned west and immediately spotted a wild turkey egg on the trail. I left the trail and walked into Succession Field where the deer carcass was still being eaten by Carrion beetle larvae. Passing through South Woods, I was pleased to see the log seats next to the trail that the Alma College students had made after cutting up a huge Ash Tree that had fallen over the trail. The muddy trail revealed some fresh deer tracks. Exiting the woods, I turned east and saw a few Wild Mustard plants in the field beginning to blossom. At Artist Overlook, a Pin Cherry tree was beginning to leaf out. I followed the south trail toward Frog Fen where I just about stepped on a Painted Turtle laying motionless in the middle of the trail. Looking south, I could see one of several brush piles the college students made for wildlife habitats. I turned south, entered Brady Cemetery and climbed up the hill to the back end where a huge Red Maple had been broken apart by a prior storm. The ground nearby was littered with its red flowers. These trees are classified as polygamo-dioecious. Thus, some trees are entirely male, producing no seeds; some are entirely female; and some are monoecious, bearing both male and female flowers. On monoecious trees, functioning male and female flowers usually are separated on different branches. Leaving the cemetery, I headed north and stopped by Grebe Pond where not much was seen except a few swooping Tree Swallows. Finally, we headed north past the barn and arrived at the car for our trip home.

Nature seems reluctant

Moving through May

No Bobolinks in the meadow

Few blossoms on display

Bees remain reclusive

Chill remains in the air

Butterflies still in hiding

Sight of sun is rare

Earth keeps her promise

Her cycles have no end

Despite a slow beginning

Spring has sprung again

D. DeGraaf

May 2

Friday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The mid afternoon weather was cloudy with a temperature of 52 degrees and a stiff wind out of the southwest. At the crest of the hill, I gazed west at an early May landscape. I climbed down the hill past Mallard Marsh where three female Redwings were perching along with their mates. Moving through Bobolink Meadow, I spotted my first Thistle rosette along with my first Dandelion blossom of the season. I entered North Woods where I was pleased to see patches of Spring Beauty flowers coloring the forest floor. At the vernal pond, blossoms of Purple Cress were on display. Before exiting the woods, I noticed the May apples were starting to pop up from the leaf litter. I turned west and circled Succession Field where I saw one of the new Blue Bird houses put up this morning by some Alma College students who have joined us for a few weeks while enrolled in a spring term course. Entering South Woods, I was delighted to see a blossoming Trout Lilly under the large White Oak and surprised to see another dead Snapping Turtle next to Swanson Swamp. I exited the woods, turned east and came to Artist Overlook where I noticed how expansive Sora Swale was after frequent spring rains. Following south trail, I stopped to admire the dainty flowers hanging from a branch of a Box Elder tree. I came to Frog Fen and turned south toward Brady Cemetery where I flushed a mother Robin off her nest, sheltered in a Honeysuckle bush next to the trail. Passing the cemetery, I turned north into Native Grassland and came to the edge of Grebe Pond where two-dozen Tree Swallows performed their aerial acrobatics just above the water surface. I followed the path to the barn where I spotted a young Burdock rosette near the front entrance. Before finishing up, I went out on the dock of Grebe Pond to check on the Redwing Blackbird nest, well hidden in the cattails. Finally, we made it back to the car for our trip home.

Nature’s music of the season

While I await a warming sun

I hear a pheasant’s call

Before it begins to run

I hear the blackbird’s shrill

As it protects a nesting site

I hear the honking goose

Before it takes to flight

I hear the croaking frog

Hidden in the duckweed

I welcome every sound

Spring symphony indeed

D. DeGraaf