Lower Dogwood Female Cardinal And Chick

Lower Dogwood Male Cardinal And Chick

Lower Dogwood Male Cardinal

Peak Trail Eastern Cottontail

Tufa Terrace Chipmunk

It’s been a busy two days so I have combined photos from yesterday and today.  I started my hike yesterday with lovely Bunnies (Eastern Cottontails) grazing in the grass on the Peak Trail.  As I crept into the glen slowly not wanting to startle them.  For half an hour I enjoyed the beauty of these graceful creatures.  As I slowly back up I glance to my side and saw I had attracted an audience. I imagine somewhere out in cyberspace are photos of me photographing the bunnies.

I ended yesterdays hike with a hilarious encounter with a sweet perhaps pregnant Chipmunk. I noticed it was climbing down the Tufa Rocks and coming toward me as I stood on the Tufa Terrace Trail.  It came closer, closer and shot between my feet then headed up the terrace.  After a moment she turned around and came back toward me and between my feet again.  She went up a stump and sat in from of me, I can see the 106 degree heat has her feeling itchy. I think she is either pregnant or recently so.

This morning I hiked up the Dead Chief  to the Short Cut Trail and up to the Mountain Top.  The thunder storms from the night before  and dark morning skies has the residence of the park hidden away. I decide to hike down the Mountain on the Hot Springs Mountain Trail to the Honeysuckle Trail and onto the Floral Trail.

I cross over to North Mountain and hike up the Floral to the Lower Dogwood Trail.  I hike around the north side of the Trail, a surprise awaits me as I reach the west end.  A sweet Northern Mockingbird Juvenile is in the Tree above me.  It looks down at me then flies up to a top branch, picks a berry and holds it out for me to see.

Further along I see a flash of red moving through the Trees, a male Cardinal lands on the low branch.  It does not stay long and moves to were a female is nesting with a new chick. It is a blessing to see this beautiful family in the Forest today.  I cannot wait to get home and share my adventure with my Husband Rick.

Play in Nature everyday!
Love,
Lee