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