Carolina Wren

All posts tagged Carolina Wren

Nature lifts my Soul up into the Universe and I am filled with Love

Posted by Lee Hiller on November 1, 2012
Posted in: Hot Springs National Park. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

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Nature lifts my Soul up into the Universe and I am filled with Love. ~ Lee Hiller

As we send prayers and support to the people devastated by Hurricane Sandy it is clear Global Warming is no longer waiting for us to admit its existence.  Can we Please consider small changes in our lives to reduce the carbon footprint we make upon the Earth.  Hot Springs National Park was cooked by a severe drought this spring and summer.  Fires sprang up all across Arkansas threatening the Forests of the Natural State.  I am sure some of you might find my documentation of even the tiniest climate changes as boring.  I only hope to show that Global Warming impacts every corner of our beloved planet.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Beautiful Juvenile Birds Along the Trails

Posted by Lee Hiller on July 12, 2012
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Nature wraps me in her gentle embrace as she sings to the first light. ~ Lee Hiller

We have experienced several days that included beautiful life giving rain showers.  Sadly this interlude of moisture did not arrive in time to save many beloved Trees in the Forest.  Joyously I can report the rain has brought out many lovely juvenile Birds and wildflowers.  I was also blessed to see my dear friend Bob a female Squirrel this morning as I headed into the Mountains.

Beautiful blue Asiatic Dayflowers are blooming again on the Carriage Road. It was wonderful to see a juvenile Cardinal, Blue Jay, Carolina Wren and Mourning Dove.  Even Lichen had enough moisture to begin painting the Rocks again.

The rain was a glorious gift this week, the Forest felt alive after so many months of drought. It was a perfect morning in the Forest.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Colorful Autumn Leaves Fall Revealing Beautiful Birds

Posted by Lee Hiller on November 11, 2011
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It is a brilliant clear autumn morning as I head up Hot Springs Mountain.  Although many of the Trees have lost their foliage a few spectacular red leaves are hanging on. As I stop to enjoy the view of West Mountain there is a noise in the dried leaves below me. I turn to see a tiny White Throated Sparrow foraging for it’s breakfast.  The first I have seen since early last spring.

The sun rises slowly as I head up the Dead Chief Trail on my hike up the Mountain. Glorious yellow leaves twinkle like golden drops of sunlight as a strong cold breeze pushes against my body.  Hidden in the golden canopy above me is a lone Male Cardinal singing to the morning light. Further up the trail I am delighted to see two beautiful Yellow False Foxglove Wildflowers blooming on the side of the Trail.

As I am staring up at the beautiful foliage I catch a fluttering out of the corner of my eye.  On a log to my side a tiny Carolina Wren is watch me as I am gazing up into the Forest canopy.  Autumn Leaves float down on me as I hike up the Short Cut Trail.  The colorful confetti looks spectacular raining down across the brilliant blue sky. I stop to enjoy the display, my face tipped up warmed by the sun as I am decorated in leaves of red, orange and  yellow.  I have a wonderful child like feeling with each step of my hike as I shuffle, kick and crunch on the leaf covered trail.  I wish there was someone with which to have a leaf pile fight.

Continuing along the Hot Springs Mountain Trail I see many of the Trees are already wearing their bare winter shapes.  In the distance a small Tree stands alone red leaves vibrantly on display.  Small and sassy it makes me smile as I photograph the beauty of it’s leaves.

As I near the rest hut on the Hot Springs Mountain Trail a chorus of bird song fills the air. High in the Trees a mixed flock of tiny birds are moving through the Forest.  They are darting about so quickly and I am unsure which direction to look. I am barely able to spot an Orange-Crowned Warbler and a Tufted Titmouse as they land and fly off in what seems the blink of an eye.

A familiar loud voice echos above me and I scan the Tree tops for a favorite sight.  Usually big bold and easy to locate, I am happy when I finally see an unexpectedly small juvenile Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Joy fills my hearts as they are my faithful winter friends often traveling with me as I hike through the Forest even on the coldest days.

It was a wonderful hike through the autumn Forest, thank you for visiting with me.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Late Spring Hike with Butterflies, Birds and Chipmunks

Posted by Lee Hiller on June 9, 2011
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The Spring heatwave is continuing and it is a sunny 85 degrees as I leave at 7:25 am for my hike in Hot Springs National Park. Holding my camera up to take a photograph my sunglasses begin to fog up in the humidity, this could be why most people are on their way out of the park. I am beginning to think I will have to start getting up earlier in morning.

As I head up the Tufa Terrace I literally nearly trip over a small Chipmunk crossing the trail.  Once it pauses to look at me for a moment it careful climbs up the slope covered in Tufa Rocks.  Half way up the sweet Chipmunk tentatively steps onto a patch of moss and delicately sniffs the surface.  as more people arrive on the trail it moves quickly over to the hot water cascade flow.

When I reach the Peak Trail a Gray Catbird is belting out a tune high above the park in a tall Tree catching the first rays of the sun as it crests the Mountain.  Along the Carriage Road are glorious wildflowers, Asiatic Dayflowers in rich blue rise above tiny yellow Sneezeweed leading me to the Dead Chief Trail.

At the top of Hot Springs Mountain a beautiful Red Spotted Purple Butterfly is sitting wings spread warming it self in the morning sun. Its colorful wings shimmer in the soft morning light.  As I head along the Hot Springs Mountain Trail Wild Bergamot and Lance Leaf Coreopsis are blooming along the edges.   I stop to take photographs of the lovely wildflowers as song breaks out in the Forest, I look up and see a wonderful juvenile Carolina Wren in a nearby leafy Tree.

When I reach the Upper Dogwood Trail a blur runs across the rocks to my side and dives behind a small Tree.  Standing very still for five minutes I am rewarded with the appearance of a full cheeks Chipmunk. It peeks at me from the rocks and soon pops up to run across the Forest floor. The heat seems to have caused the Squirrels to stay in the cool of the leafy branches while the Chipmunks are happy to be out foraging.

I connect with the Lower Dogwood and then the Floral Trail on my hike down North Mountain to exit the park.  As I near the bottom of the Trail I see a Chipmunk sitting on a log, a perfect sight to end my hike on this beautiful if somewhat sticky morning.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Hiking with Squirrels and Butterflies on a Perfect Spring Morning

Posted by Lee Hiller on May 9, 2011
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As I enter Hot Springs National Park I notice a canvas tent pitched on the Arlington Lawn.  A nearby Squirrel having it’s breakfast in the early light seems unfazed by the new structure. We both look at each other and then head off in separate directions. As sign on the lawn indicates the tent is related to a Civil War history display. I head up a path leading from fountain street to the promenade and notice how beautiful the landscape looks in the early light . The nearly 100 year old Fountain Street Lawn stone wall gracefully curves toward the path leading to the Promenade.  I often wonder what happened in 1914 that caused so many man-made features to be added to park.

Nearing the end of the Tufa Terrace beautiful pink blossoms glow in the dim morning light.  A perfect Mothers Day Weekend bouquet of Wild Roses are growing along the path.  Although the sun is barely up their pollen is a temptation to a large Bumble Bee.  I stop for a moment to enjoy the simple beauty of these blooms.

At the bottom of the Peak Trail a Squirrels stands and watches me as I pass by on my way up Hot Springs Mountain.  A lovely brown Butterfly (or moth) flies past brushing my face and lands on the path ahead.  The Peak Trail wall looms above me as I reach the edge of the Forest.  The hike up Hot Springs Mountain is wonderful in the cool breezes and fanning of the new leaves.  As I near the top I see a sweet squirrel perched on a branch enjoying a tasty morsel. Lovely tiny white Alpine Bluets line the edges of the upper trail.

At the top I take the Hot Springs Mountain Trail, a beautiful blue gray Butterfly dances gracefully over bright green clover. I stop to close my eyes and enjoy the warmth of the Sun kisses my forehead through a gap in the Trees. I am surprised at the empty trails, usually on a perfect weather weekend there are many people hiking. Crossing over to the North Mountain side of the trail I can see many tiny pastel blue gray butterflies hovering above the last of the Blackberry Flowers. They delicately perch and turn on each blossom to find sustenance.

At the bottom of the Floral Trail a lively Carolina Wren peers out at me from beneath the leaves of a nearby Tree. While I am looking into the creek flowing at the bottom of the trail a wonderful American Snout Butterfly lands on the opposite bank. I think of reader Lara Buford who kindly often helps me identify the lovely Butterflies I post in my blog.

I decide finish up my hike by checking out Civil War Day in the National Park, something new for this northerner.  As I head down the Tufa Terrace ramp another event draws my attention… please read Park Wedding Reveals A Moment of Humanity.

Sadly there were only two reenactment displays in the park, I had hope to learn more about Hot Springs National Park during Civil War Era.  Special thanks to those who did bring a bit of history to the park.

As I leave the park I look up to see a couple of large white Southern Magnolia have fully opened.  They look so beautiful glowing in the last of the rising morning sun.

I Love hanging out with the Squirrels!!!!
Love to You ALL!
Lee