Best day!

Glorious 70 degree day! I walked dogs in 3 different parks and hiked a total of 10 miles.  I feel fantastic.  Lots of birds everywhere!  I love this time of year. 

Flying Squirrels

For my retirement, I'm going to specialize in rehabbing baby flying squirrels.  They are hands down my favorite animal to rehab. 

40 degrees

Today I had to put back on my long johns, winter coat and gloves.  On my first hike with a client it was 40 degrees with 20mph winds.  It was very cold.  I couldn't help but think about how much I dreaded getting out there today, but once I was there, I was so grateful to be able to be out in nature.  There are no bad days when you love nature.  So much to see everywhere you look.  Being in nature makes me feel truly alive and completely in the moment. I completely escape life and feel like a different person.  Somehow I have to find a way to get out there more.  I can't seem to pull myself away from spending far too much time on the internet doing useless crap.  I think it's time again to make a pledge with myself.  More time in nature or learning about nature and less time online, I need to set some personal limits. I want to be in good enough shape as I age to continue getting out there as often as I possibly can, that's not going to happen unless I start now. 

Good herp days

The reptiles and amphibians are on the move.  After a long cold Winter it's so wonderful to see them. I had a couple good walks in several different places to see all of these herps.  I have to say....I love Spring.  Birds and Herps.  Life is good, make that great! 

Birds are moving!

Musk turtle

Today I went on a much needed glorious hike with my side kick. There were lots of beaver sign all around the pond. A blue-gray gnatcatcher was the only new migrant. There is a pair of geese nesting. I watched a couple of ribbon snakes in and around the pond. Dozens of painted turtles were sunning on all the fallen trees. Next to the main turtle log, in a tree  that hangs over the water was a musk turtle!  What a cool discovery. I had read that they do sun in low trees, and now I know it's true. My head and heart feel much renewed after this wonderful spring day. 

Hawks flying!

I heard from a friend today that the Hawks were migrating in good numbers.  I was unable to get out to the watch because we were returning from the trip to PA to take my oldest son to his meeting place for his Peace Corp assignment to Namibia Africa.  I'm so proud of my son, we are going to miss him so much.  27 months of service.  We went for an evening hike and came upon our first toad of the season, he had some dried mud on him, I think he was just up from hibernation.  We are expecting rain tonight, I expect to see lots of toads out in the ponds tomorrow.  As we were leaving the park I told hubby I was expecting the pair of Coopers Hawks to be returning to their nest....and there they were, roosting fairly close to their nest location!  Awesome end to hard day. 

The Real Big Night!

We decided to head up to the Co. Park to check and see if anything was happening in the Vernal Pool, it was!  There were hundreds of Spotted Salamanders.  This is going to be a really good year for them.  We have had several days of light rain, temps just above 40 degrees.  There were also Spring Peepers and Wood Frogs.  What a fun thing to do with our sons.  It never gets old.

Big Night

I've been sick for quite a few days. It's been raining on and off....and I missed the BIG night!  It's ok though.  I may try and get out tonight and see if I can see a Spotted in the vernal pools as there are not all that many egg masses, I'm sure a few females are still around.