Back To Chatfield Hollow

I must have been to Chatfield Hollow at some point in my life but I really can't remember when. It came to my attention that a boardwalk had been built there and I was looking forward to checking it out. The boardwalk takes you right across a swamp and allows for great views in all directions. Unfortunately, I forgot my vest which contains a lot of items that I like to use when I'm birding. I also lost my favorite pen when I was walking one of the trails. You're probably thinking big deal-you lost your pen. The thing is , I've noticed most of the pens manufactured these days don't last very long. I bought a batch of retractable pens two years ago that have never let me down. I kept them in my truck year round and they never dried up. I was disappointed to lose my last one.

It's also important for me to write things down while I'm on one of my hikes. I can remember the birds I've seen and the places I've visited. What I can't remember is exactly what I was thinking and how I was feeling at a particular moment. When I try to recreate these things from memory it just doesn't seem to have the same impact. The rails of the boardwalk seemed to serve as a partial blind allowing me to watch some Eastern Phoebes catching insects on the wing. This one didn't even seem to notice me at first....

but then seemed to turn camera shy-"Please, I don't like to have my photo taken!" this bird seemed to be saying to me.

It was very gray when I took this photo but I thought it was worth posting this one. The scene between these two Cedar Waxwings speaks for itself. Shortly after I took this photo, a group of joggers came rumbling across the boardwalk. Remind me to make jogging off limits if I ever build my own nature observation boardwalk. Perhaps I could have a built-in catapult system to propel violators into the swamp. That wasn't very nice of me was it? I take it back. I'll just confiscate their running shoes and make them walk back to the car barefoot.

I may have went to Chatfield Hollow with birds on the mind but I guess you could say that I left with rocks in my head. I have to say that I was really in awe of the beautiful rock formations at this park. I wasn't at all surprised to hear that Native Americans had used this area to hold council many years ago.

Here is one of the many caves in the area. You can learn more about geological history of this park here . There were several marked trails but I only had time to explore the green trail. Groups of people started showing up shortly after the gates opened at 8am. It also started to get quite muggy. I don't like heat, humidity, or mosquitoes so I plan on doing most of my birding between the hours of 5am and 8am. for the remainder of the summer.

Okay, time for a quick flower quiz. I saw a lot of these flowers near damp areas in the park.

-

What kind of flower is it?

-

I wasn't at the park very long so I'll hold off until my next visit here before making a list of species seen.