New Yard Bird!

I had a very nice, late afternoon hike on Gildersleeve Mountain. Such a beautiful early spring day. The sky a beautiful azure blue. In the woods just across the creek I spotted a little bird working the small trees and lower trunks of the big trees. The yellow green color made it easy to identify. A Pine Warbler. Very cute, and a new bird for me here in my backyard.

Because I have lived much of my life I occasionally run into people I know on my hikes. Al and Connie also live here on Gildersleeve mountain but over on Chardon road. They do not cut through the woods to take a hike as I do, but instead drive to the parking area on Hobart Rd. I ran into them twice. The second time was over on the other side when we stopped to listen to the Barred Owl calling. The Owls have a nest over there and the owlets have hatched by now. The calling was probably either a signal that it was time to switch brooding duties, or that the babies were getting hungry.

The view out over the lake was beauty. The lake looked almost white. The calm waters reflecting the light blue of the sky. As I was enjoying the view I took a moment to listen. A pair of mallards came in, the hen quacking. Still it was quiet enough that I could hear them land in the pond about 200 yards away and 150 feet below me. I could hear the cars on the highways. but it did not drown out the Blue Jay or the Piliated Woodpecker.

The beauty of the woods is not yet apparent. The colors are gray, brown and dark red. A few dog tooth violet leaves a poking up through the leaves. The daffodils in my yard are in full glory.