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

April 25

Friday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early afternoon weather was overcast with a temperature of 45 degrees and a steady breeze out of the west. After leaving the car, I spotted a Killdeer sitting on her eggs in a wood chip pile north of the parking lot. I proceeded to the crest of the hill to look over the greening landscape to the west. Descending the hill, I paused at Mallard Marsh to listen to the Chorus Frogs. I followed the trail through Bobolink Meadow where I noticed my first Crayfish chimney of the season. Entering North Woods, I stopped to listen to a singing Robin and then followed a nesting pair of Bluebirds as they flew in front of me before perching on tree branches. On the ground, some Trout lilies were ready to blossom. Exiting the woods, I stopped in Succession Field to see that hair and bones was all that remained of the deer carcass. Entering South Woods, I found a fresh carcass of a Snapping Turtle just off the trail. Near the exit to the woods, the ground was littered with caterpillar-like catkins that had fallen from the Aspen trees. I turned east and then north and followed the edge of Willow Wallow where I saw a pair of noisy geese. As I climbed up Reflection Hill, I spotted a Tree Swallow checking out one of the new bird boxes. From the top of the hill, I gazed down at Grebe Pond where dozens of Tree Swallows were swooping near the surface. I headed south past Brady Cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland. Near the barn, I was pleased to see a few green cattail shoots sticking up through the water along the edge of the pond. Passing west of the barn, I admired the Wigwam the 3rd graders from Alma had assembled yesterday during their field trip. Finally we completed the circuit and returned to the car for our trip home.

Hiking the forest

I see you from afar

Bird of the trees

Wonder what you are

You perch and pose

As I quietly get near

Your striking colors

Becomes very clear

Rust on the breast

The rest, royal blue

Bluebird on a branch

I enjoy watching you

D. DeGraaf

April 18

Friday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 45 degrees and a slight breeze out of the east. I stood on the crest of the hill to gaze at a slowly greening landscape. Proceeding to Mallard Marsh, I spotted a half dozen Redwings, both male and female fluttering about and perching on the cattails. I continued through Bobolink Meadow where I saw a pair of noisy geese walking in the neighbor’s field to the north. As I watched, another pair of geese landed nearby at which time a noisy scuffle took place. Entering North Woods, I hiked west along the leaf-covered trail where I noticed patches of Nut Sedge growing and greening up the forest floor. I exited the woods and stopped by the deer carcass in Succession Field where I observed several green, Ham Beetles feeding on the remains. Their name comes from being found feeding on stored meat including smoked fish and ham. Continuing around Succession Field, I entered South Woods and walked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where I spotted a mother goose nesting on a small island just off shore. Last week’s wind storm had toppled several large trees including a 16-inch diameter Ash tree that lay across the trail. I exited the woods and followed the trail past Artist Overlook along the edge of Sora Swale where I paused to listen to a very noisy Spring Peeper. Continuing east, I turned south at Frog Fen and hiked past Brady Cemetery into Native Grassland. Heading north, I stopped to admire the new rock display area that had been set up my one of our nature guides, Ivan Palmer in preparation for a new, spring field trip activity. Next, I came to Grebe Pond where I was surprised to see what appeared to be a Double-Crested Cormorant circling high overhead before it headed north. Population control methods have been used on these fish-eating ducks in Michigan since they have depleted desirable fish populations of many lakes. Following the edge of the pond, I passed the barn and walked over to the west side of the classroom to check out one of six new birdhouses installed by a Cub Scout troop from Alma. Finally, we found the car for our trip home.

Tell me your story

Stone of the ground

Where have you been?

Why are you round?

Born in the depths

Hot molten rock

Cooled at the surface

Part of earth’s stock

Moved by a glacier

From a mountain crest

Weathered and worn

Laid down to rest

D. DeGraaf

April 9

Wednesday, I returned to Forest Hill Nature Area for a hike with my dog, Remi. The noontime weather was sunny with a temperature of 50 degrees and a steady wind out of the west. At the crest of the hill, I gazed west at the ever-changing landscape. Descending the hill to Mallard Marsh, I spotted two male Redwing Blackbirds perched on cattails and my first female Redwing perched in a willow tree. I continued through Bobolink Meadow where a pair of noisy Sand hill Cranes flew past me. Entering North Woods, I spotted a few shoots of Wild Iris poking up through the mud. The trail was covered with dry leaf litter after finally being free of snow while along the edge a few Nut Sedge began to green up the forest floor. At the boardwalk, I noticed the vernal pond was overflowing from the spring thaw. Approaching the exit to the woods, I was surprised to see my first reptile of the season, a garter snake slithering among the leaves. Leaving the woods, I turned west where I saw that the deer carcass I found a few weeks ago had been dragged into Succession Field where it continued to be scavenged. Entering South Woods, I paused at Swanson Swamp to hear my first amphibians of the season, Spring Peepers. Exiting the woods, I turned east and walked over what I assumed would be the last patch of snow for the season. I arrived at Artist Overlook and was pleased to spot my first sighting of four Tree Swallows swooping above Sora Swale. On the path was a pile of rabbit fur indicating an earlier predator kill and consumption. I followed the south trail to Frog Fen and turned south to Brady Cemetery where I noticed one of the small White Pines next to the road was dying. Turning north into Native Grassland, I arrived at Grebe Pond where the water was finally open and clear of ice. I followed the trail past the barn and ended our hike at the car.

It’s that time of year

Spring shows its face

You finally returned

From a winter place

You swoop and dive

You fly with ease

Above the pond

A sight to please

One of nature’s best

Showing white and blue

I’m glad you’re back

Tree Swallow, I welcome you

D. DeGraaf

April 1

Tuesday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 45 degrees and a steady wind out of the southeast. At the crest of the hill, I gazed at the western landscape that was devoid of snow after a recent thawing period. I descended the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh to hear several male Redwings announcing their presence. Passing through Bobolink Meadow, I approached the entrance to North Woods where I saw and heard my first Killdeer of the season flying high overhead from north to south. I turned south and headed toward Willow Wallow where I was pleased to see my first Song Sparrow of the season perched high in a tree singing its melodious song. At the pond, I turned west and entered Succession Field where much of the trail displayed a labyrinth of mouse tunnels that had been previously hidden by the snow cover. Following the trail along the edge of North Woods, I stopped to view the deer carcass that I discovered last week and noticed most of it had been eaten by scavengers. Continuing along the edge of South Woods, the trail remained covered with snow and ice. I arrived at Artist Overlook where I spotted a nesting pair of geese on Sora Swale anxiously waiting for the ice to melt. Continuing on South Trail, I noticed on the snow, the unique, cylinder-shaped scat of a Raccoon. Proceeding toward Frog Fen, I turned around to view a welcomed, patch of blue sky to the west. I turned north at Frog Fen toward Reflection Hill where I spotted another harbinger of spring, a Burrowing Crayfish crawling slowly across the trail. At the top of the hill, I counted three nesting pair of geese walking on the ice of Grebe Pond while a pair of Mallards took off from a small pool of open water on the northwest corner. I descended the hill and continued toward the Classroom Building where I noticed my first Grackles of the season, a half dozen or so as they flew among the Aspen trees next to the pond. Finally, we got back to the car for our trip home.

Seasons are changing

Some ice is still there

Ground is still hard

Fresh is the morning air

Morning sun peaks thru

Mostly silence around

Nature begins to wake

With a special sound

I welcome your tune

From a leafless tree

Song Sparrow of spring

You’re singing for me

D. DeGraaf