Pond'erings

There is a hidden jewel in Lenawee I would like to keep to myself.  I was there Saturday morning.  I’ve been going there for years.  There are only a few places left in Lenawee to get away from developers.  Land is a valuable commodity.  But, thankfully there are a few people left who still believe in conservation.  This little Green Frog is surely thankful that her home has been saved.  I am certainly thankful.  After our brief photo shoot I continued down the trail.

I was pleased to hear one of my favorite bird calls, “Drink Your Teeeeea”.  They are a challenge to photograph.  I have never seen one stay still for very long.  But this Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Eastern Toweee) did, at least long enough for me to take his picture.  I rarely see or hear this bird in my own yard.  So I wouldn’t characterize him as one of my usual suspects.  So I was pleased to take his picture.  After our brief photo shoot I continued down the trail.

I continued walking the through the rolling meadows.  Occasionally, the trail would take me by a new pond with more frogs.  A Red-tailed Hawk has made this park his home.  I see him circling above each time I visit.  I also see and hear Song Sparrows and Field Sparrows.  I remember that the Spizella pusilla (Field Sparrow) is #9 on the Audubon Society’s birds in decline list.  I believe the reason was typical, loss of habitat.

Along the trail I found an Oak Tree that I didn’t remember seeing the last time I was there.  It was a Quercas macrocarpa (Bur Oak).  I tip toed through the poison ivy to get a closer look at its leaves to verify the species.  I continued down the trail.

The trail was leading to the wooded section of the park.  I unholstered my bug dope and applied it liberally before entering.  It was deet free.  I wondered if it would pass the test of the swampy woods?  I stopped at the woods edge to identify a Quercas rubra (Red Oak) and then shortly after a Carya glabra (Pignut Hickory).  After the second tree ID I decided to retreat.  The new deet free bug spray was failing miserably.  I back tracked a short distance and then continued down a new trail leading me further into the park.  The sun was getting higher in the sky.  The humidity was increasing.  Some people don’t like to sweat.  I love it.  It reminded me of high school wrestling practice.  Anyway, I needed the exercise.  I continued down the trail.

As I walked through the prairie I heard a familiar bird call.  It’s a call that I hear on my weekday walks.  I didn’t have my binoculars so I couldn’t be sure of what it was.  I watched it closely as it darted in and out of the brush.  And, then finally it flew out into the open.  I quickly snapped her picture.  In an instant she was gone.  After reviewing the photo I’m pretty sure it was a female Geothlypis trichas (Common Yellowthroat).  Her call note is a quick “chep”.  I never heard the more common song of “witchety, witchety, witchety”.  But, I’m almost certain it is the Yellowthroat.

It was getting hotter by the minute.  I decided to head back to my car.  I stopped to snap this photo of the Big Blue Stem and to identify another Oak tree.  This time it was a Quercas alba (White Oak).  It was a fruitful day.  I loved every minute of it….yes, I even loved getting chased out of the woods by mosquitos.  They provide me with humility.  We are not masters of the universe.  We are just food for mosquitos…and eventually worms.