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All posts for the month June, 2011

Summer at the Fordyce Ricks Pond and Gulpha Creek

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 30, 2011
Posted in: Desoto Park, Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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My beloved Rick is off for the morning getting therapy for his ankles at the wonderful Levi Hospital.  He is much stronger and I am thankful for the expert medical care they provide.

I went to Ricks Pond in Hot Springs National Park expecting to see water fowl.  Sadly there were no ducks, swans or geese were in residence.  The Hawks, Herons and Kingfishers I saw in the winter months were nowhere in sight either.  Although the sunrise is spectacular and everything looks beautiful I felt a lonely in the silence.  The smooth surface of the water is broken by a fish seeking the many moving insects hovering above the pond.  I miss the Hawks and Kingfishers teasing me with their loud calls and staying just out of lens range.

As the sun crests the Pines a light mist is traveling through Tree tops and all is sill quiet.  With the sun at my back the still water of the pond reflects the beautiful summer greenery.  It is in stark contrast to the bare winter Trees this past winter.  New Trail, Ricks Pond, Colorful Fungi and Birds

I hike into the Forest along the sunset trail and in the distance a lovely song is filling the air.  Further along the path I see to tiny birds flitting between small Trees and Bushes.  They are a pair of young Red-Eyed Vireos, the first I had seen in the park.  Although I could hear rustling in the distance I was never able to see the source of the many cracking sounds paralleling my movements along the trail.

As I left the pond I decided to pay my respects at the wonderful Purple Heart Peace Memorial located in DeSoto Park.  The parks gardeners were replanting the Purple Heart shaped flowerbed, I will have to come back in a few days to see it’s beauty.  Sadly as I was leaving the park I noticed oil had been recently dumped into the Gulpha Creek

At the Gulpha Gorge Campground I noticed the creek is extremely low and several gravel islands have formed.  Taking into consideration the heavy rain the day before this was surprise.  A lovely Blue Jay lands in a Tree above me, unlike those found on the west side of Hot Springs Mountain this one has both aqua and royal blue feathers.  As I turned I noticed a Squirrel standing and observing my photographic endeavors.  A beautiful butterfly landed at my feet when I began to unlock my van, a perfect end to a beautiful summer morning.

Love to You ALL!
Lee

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Beautiful Blue Jay, Foraging Squirrels and a big Fly?

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 28, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Today as the storm rages across Hot Springs National Park I am reminded how quickly Nature can change what is familiar.  Thunder drowns out the once melodic bird calls and heavy rain obscures Hot Springs Mountain from my view.  Life giving rain has come to the state and thankfully will reduce the fire risk in the Mountains surrounding our home.

Yesterday a beautiful dark cloud sunrise awaited us as we left home to head into the park.  The sweet female bob-tail Squirrel watched us from her perch at the base of a lamp post on the Arlington Lawn. When we reached the Promenade the park is awash in Squirrels foraging for there breakfast.  As we passed they watch us from the Trees lining the Promenade. Perhaps based on today’s weather their activity was a clue to the impending storms.

Further along we witness the same Mockingbird singing and hopping as seen in my video from my last blog.  Even House Sparrows are now perching atop the bath house roofs in the National Park.  Appears the song birds are selecting territory in the Historic District. A large Fly looking Insect (Horse Fly?) with psychedelic eyes is using it’s proboscis to feed on something that spilled on a bench. Not far from the hot water cascade a tiny female House Sparrow Peeks out from between green leaves above above me.

As we are leaving the park a gorgeous juvenile Blue Jay is flying between the Trees leading to the entrance. It settles in a nearby Tree and glance back at me as I take many wonderful photographs. It was a lovely morning in the park with my beloved husband.

The rains continues to feed the park with life giving water as I finish my blog…. Water Is Life!

Love of Nature fills my Soul with joy.
Love to ALL,
Lee

Lets All do the Mockingbird Hop

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 26, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Although many beautiful creatures were seen visits to the Hot Springs National Park this week it was the hopping Mockingbird that really grabbed my attention. On two separate occasions I spotted hookbeak the Northern Mockingbird was perched atop the dome of the Quapaw Bath House.  His loud singing was echoing through the Historic District and into the Mountains.  While watching his serenade to the park I noticed he would hop up flapping his wings momentarily hovering above his perch.  I am uncertain if this is a mating or territorial ritual or both, but I had to share this wonderful display. My husband Rick and I were mesmerized.  Please see the video below…

My other favorite sighting is set of photos is of the lovely female Squirrel with the bobbed tail.  I felt a be voyeuristic peering through the leaves watching her graceful grooming. A lovely Blue Jay landed in the Tree above me and what I thought was dried leaves turned out to be a white Moth shedding a rust colored covering. Oh and don’t miss the sweet trio of House Sparrow Chicks.

Don’t forget Nature is waiting to wrap you in her beauty!

Love to ALL,
Lee

Hiking with a Tufted Titmouse, Box Turtle, Squirrel and Chipmunk

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 24, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Due to the extreme temperatures I have been hiking much earlier in the morning. The limited light often makes it difficult to photograph the many beautiful sights.  I have begun to see another world as the rays of the rising sun crests the surrounding Mountains.

Colorful Flowers glow in the half light along fences  as I hike toward North Mountain. Small shadows take shape as I move closer, a Chipmunk climbing on the rocks and a Squirrel foraging in the grass.  A faint song draws me closer and I can see a lovely little Tufted Titmouse chick grooming on the branch above me.  A lump on the trail ahead of me comes into focus and it is beautiful Box Turtle stretching it’s neck.

So much is revealed in the light of a new morning, Nature lifts my Spirit…
Love to ALL!
Lee

Pileated Woodpecker Brothers in Hot Springs National Park

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 22, 2011
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

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Many of you will know the Pileated Woodpecker is one of my favorite Birds. In Forest without feeders to lure them they are often shy and stick to the highest Trees.  I often spot them after hearing their wonderful chicken cackle call or very loud pecking on Trees.  Today it was pecking that caught my attention as I was heading home.  I looked up in a nearby Tree and saw a flash of red.  My first thought was that it was a Red-Bellied Woodpecker, I was happy to discover a Juvenile Pileated Woodpecker busy looking for a meal. After a few minutes it flies over to a very large Oak Tree.  I hiked up the hill to discover two male Pileated Woodpecker high above me. Two! It was wonderful to watch them jostling for control over Tree territory and pecking rights.

Later one flew off and I decided I had better video the one still in the Tree.  Soon the other brother spreads his wings and I watched him fly to another Tree.  As I turn my head I see the Woodpeckers  are side by side each on their own Tree.  As other hikers approach they fly farther away.  I track their path and am split as to which one to follow as they each head in opposite directions.   I catch up to the one closest and take a couple of photographs, but soon it is airborne again.

I discover the two brothers have again chosen to be on the same Tree.  Both are now frantically pecking using beaks and tongues to grab their targeted meal.  As I get closer I can see they are unaware of my presence, this allows my to take many photographs and video their activities. This was only one of the blessings from Nature today and I will share the rest of my hike tomorrow.

Much Love,
Lee