Field Pansies and Bluets

Today was the kind of day that makes you want to be a bird. Not just any bird, though. I am talking Hawk. Specifically, a Red-tailed Hawk, like the two I saw today, playing in spring air thermals rising from the sun-warmed Earth. I stood and watched for a while and tried to imagine how that kind of freedom must feel. As I stood on the hill the sun and strong breeze balanced each other perfectly - I felt neither too warm nor too cool. Just very alive.

I finally called to Daisy and Duke and headed downhill to Meetinghouse Creek. Butterflies were fluttering everywhere! Mourning Cloaks, a Zebra Swallowtail, Falcate Orangetips (male and female), Orange and Common Sulphurs, as well as Spring Azures, a Buckeye, and a Painted Lady all flew above the pipeline grasses.

I sat to check out the tiny flowers blooming near the creek and began hearing things: a Clearwing Dragonfly zoomed past me sounding like a miniature helicopter; fat bumblebees buzzed me while I drew. Grasshoppers moving about the grass made summery zzzzzzt! sounds the whole time I sat there. The creek gurgled and rippled, and last but not least, birds sang their little hearts out! My list:

Carolina Wren

Titmice

Carolina Chickadees

Pileated Woodpecker

Cardinals

White Breasted Nuthatch

Field Sparrows

Gold Finch

Kinglets

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Was that an Indigo Bunting I heard? Not sure about that one. Tomorrow I plan to go in search of the secretive Louisiana Waterthrush I saw beside this creek last year.

Spring! I am so happy it is here.

Heartleaf, Round-lobed Hepatica, Cicada Exoskeleton

Oh, what a day! Strong sun in a blue, blue sky, warm air with a cool breeze. The dogs and I hiked along Meetinghouse Creek, through the huge patch of creeping cedar, until it gets squeezed between two rocky bluffs. Here the creek looks like it's in the mountains as it tumbles over and between mossy rocks into small, silent pools. It's a special spot.

I found this (above) and other small groups of Heartleaf on the south-facing bluff, and started hunting for one with a flower. I searched quite a few before finding this one, and it wasn't even open yet. I decided it would have to do. The spot where I settled, on a natural flat stone, was so steep around me that when Daisy ran to me for a treat, and I told her to sit, she had difficulty doing it and then she began to sliiide downhill. She stood, repositioned herself, and sat for another treat only to slowly sliiide back down. Radu was smarter. He refused to sit and gave me the Radu stink-eye, which means you're crazy if you think I'm gonna sit. He has his moods, you know, and they have been more pronounced since Daisy's arrival last year.

After drawing the Heartleaf, I crossed the creek and did an all-out search for the Round-lobed Hepaticas. I've found them here before in early spring but I couldn't remember exactly where. I only knew they were on this extremely steep, difficult to scale, north-facing hill. Radu and Daisy didn't find it difficult, but I was holding onto small trees, almost crawling around on all fours trying to find the flower. I found the first one in deep shade at the base of a huge Red Oak. The leaves were very distinctive and obvious, but I had to get close to notice the one small flower bud. I drew the plant and bud, then I headed back onto the slope to try to find a fully opened flower. The second plant found was in the sun, and the flower was so bright there was no way anyone could miss it - except that the hill is so steep, I can't imagine that any other person has climbed around to see the tiny spring ephemeral.

Radu, Daisy and I finally returned home after a two hour outing. The panting dogs settled in the shade of a large azalea by the back door. I'm sending this out to you, and then plan to head back outside. Oh, what a day!