April 8

Wednesday, Remi and I hiked once again at Forest Hill Nature Area. The mid afternoon weather was overcast with a temperature of 37 degrees and a steady breeze out of the northeast that brought an odorous reminder of the dairy farm next door. At the crest of Energy Hill, I paused and gazed west, looking at the landscape for any hint of green. I descended the hill and passed Mallard Marsh where I saw my first female Redwing Blackbird of the season perched on a cattail being courted by several noisy males. On the path through Bobolink Meadow, I saw another pile of decomposed, “hairy” Coyote scat. I entered North Woods and immediately noticed the mosses were in full bloom including: hair cap, fern and feather moss. Also, some fungi caught my eye including: a colorful slime mold and shelf fungus. Exiting the woods, I circled Succession Field where heavy overnight rain flooded the west trail. Off the trail, I spotted remains of some unidentified mammal. Passing quickly through South Woods, I wasn’t surprised to see a high water level in Swanson Swamp. Exiting the woods, I followed the trail east to Artist Overlook where I heard and saw my first Belted Kingfisher flying above Sora Swale. Following south trail, I turned north at Frog Fen where I observed my first Burrowing Crayfish of the season. I climbed Reflection Hill and paused to gaze down at the mirror-like surface of Grebe Pond. Descending the hill, I passed the classroom and approached my car where I was pleased to see another Killdeer had returned to the mulch pile to make a nest. Finally, we hoped in the car and headed home.

Early in April

Woodlands awake

On the forest floor

Crawls a garter snake

Inside the tree trunk

Rises sweet sap

Outside the trunk

Woodpeckers tap

On the vernal pond

Mallard ducks return

Wisdom from nature

I continue to yearn

D. DeGraaf