Antique Desk, Shy Birds, and Flying Pans

I took a ride out on route 151 this weekend to visit some local birding spots. I intended to make Hurd Park but there were several tag sales on the way. This antique school desk caught my attention because of the detail on the iron and the following information that was marked on it:

 U.S.F. Co Battle Creek Michigan- Pat May 25, 1875.

  I was able to determine that it was built by the Union School furniture Company. There was an article online about a fire that occurred at the factory in 1892. I was even able to find an online copy of one of their catalogs from the 1800's!  The patent date is for the fold up seat feature which was invented by a man named Uriah Smith of Battle Creek. He was also the creator of an oddball invention called the 1899 Horsey Horseless.

After stopping at 5 tag sales I finally made it to Hurd Park. I went there hoping to find Hooded Warblers. I could hear them singing but was only able to get quick glimpses of the. Other species I saw there included: Wood thrush, Pine Warblers, American Redstart, Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Brown Creeper, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Tufted Titmice, and American Robins. There were plenty of birds at the park but they were mostly quiet and hard to see. The viewing conditions were not good and I was unable to get any decent bird photos.

I settled for a picture of a hornet's nest.

One of the reasons there were so many tag sales on 151 was because of the Haddam Neck Fair which took place over the weekend. The fair is located right off of 151 and people were taking advantage of the increased traffic to the area. I made a stop at the fair to check it out. I visited the camels and Llamas........

and Checked out some of the prized rabbits.

The thing I find most interesting about country fairs (besides the food) are the unusual events they have. How many opportunities during my lifetime will I have a chance to see a frying pan tossing competition?

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