April 23

Last Friday, I stayed close to home and hiked again in Alma’s 50-acre, Conservation Park. The midday weather was sunny with a temperature of 41 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the northwest. From the parking lot, I followed a paved path west where I could see the Pine River on my right while on my left, remaining snow-cover from last weeks snow/ice storm. On the riverbank, I could barely make out a Song Sparrow perched in a leafless Dogwood shrub (can you find it?). Overhead, I observed the exposed, sac-like nest of a Baltimore oriole left over from last year. Continuing west, I paused on one of the decks where I spotted a Double-crested Cormorant perched on a log far out in the river. The noticeable crests on the head are a sign that it’s a breeding adult. Further ahead, I saw a perching male Goldfinch with it muted spring plumage that will soon turn golden yellow. Next, I turned south on a dirt road and passed the pump house where I watched a Fox Squirrel searching for its buried cache as well as a pair of Canada Geese taking off from one of the vernal ponds. Turning east and following the paved road a short distance, I stopped at the Eyer Bird Observation Hut where I could see a Dark-eyed Junco on one of the feeders. Nearby, high in a leafless Walnut Tree, I observed a perching male Cardinal calling for a mate. After turning around and retracing my steps back to the west, I proceeded south to the Girl Scout Cabin where a major remodeling project is taking place. Just east of the cabin, I paused by another vernal pond to listen to a very loud amphibian chorus of Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs. Following the trail as it curved east, I got a good look at a perching Red Squirrel and paused again at yet another vernal pond to hear the squeals of a Wood Duck along with the calls of Chorus Frogs. Continuing east, I entered the shade of a coniferous forest where I approached a curious deer. Next, I followed the trail as it curved north past mature Red, White and Jack Pine as well as White and Norway spruce. Finally, the trailed ended back at my car.

Calls of the wild

From a hill above

In the morning mist

A cooing dove

From forest afar

A cardinal tweets

From vernal pond

A peeper greets

Nature around me

My ears explore

As spring unfolds

She stirs once more

D. DeGraaf