On the Trails of IES

Views

• It was a great day to be outside - blustery and in the upper 60s.
• The sky over the Sedge Meadow Trail was dramatic.
• The boardwalk below was quiet.
• But already, skunk cabbage was preparing for Spring.
• At the "Appendix" my favorite patch of spotted wintergreen had had a good year and showed some new growth.
• Near by, the end view of a sawed off log was a curious sight.
• Along the Cary Pines Trail, a bright brown shield bug dropped off a tree as I approached with camera, but I wouldn't have seen the even more interesting slug.
• On the return loop, the remaining honeysuckle leaves turned out to be those of meadowsweet.
• Clouds were thickening as entered the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• Glancing before moving on, I noticed a string of mole hills at my feet.
• One last look over my shoulder was enough to hurry me along...
• I got home just as the rain and temperature began to descend. Within an hour it was 45°F.

Plants

• 1 Skunk Cabbage

Herps

• 1 Spring Peeper

Birds

• 4 Mourning Dove
• 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
• 1 Hairy Woodpecker
• 3 Blue Jay
• 1 American Crow
• 1 Common Raven
• 6 Black-capped Chickadee
• 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
• 1 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 1 Dark-eyed Junco
• 1 American Goldfinch