Nature Hike

on the Charlotte Trail...one of many trails we have at the Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge.  We needed to prepare this trail for our bird festival (which I will cover later), so, we thought we would go for a nature hike while we were at it.

We were delayed from doing this post because of computer   problems, AND the RAIN!!!

Much of the land the refuge is on was once old farm land.

A piece of old farm equipment that was left in place by the trail.

Apple trees are scattered here and there providing nutritional fruit for the wildlife.

These claw marks on this giant spruce were left by a bear...the kids get real excited when they see this.  There are more black bears in Maine than any other state east of the Mississippi.

The Rhodora are still in bloom.

There are several varieties of cherry trees...this one is Pin Cherry.  In the past, the fruit was used to make jams and jellies.

We spied this bird nest, low to the ground...this could lead to all kinds of questions that make for a good nature walk.

This Chestnut-sided Warbler with his yellow cap was saying he was "glad to meet cha."

Here is a lichen covered boulder...left here from glacier days.  For those of you who followed our blog from the summer of 2011, you know how much I like lichen!!! 

Then there are the "candles" from the Eastern White Pine which is the state tree of Maine.  Also known as the Kings Arrow Pine.  These trees were the kind blazed with "the mark of the broad arrow" and reserved for use in the Royal Navy for ship masts.

There are these Gray Birch that tend to grow in clumps, and are short lived.

There are interpretive signs along the trail.  The before and after, one of our jobs.

We stopped to watch a Blue-headed Vireo dining on some of the worms that were encased in this web.

This Snowshoe Hare wanted his presence known.  They are named for their very large feet which makes it easier to move in the snow.  Their fur turns white in the wintertime.

There are violets hugging the ground.

These Nodding Trilliums nodded to us as we passed by.  They tend to hide under the leaves of the plant.

And not to be missed are the Wild, lily-of-the-valley.

That concludes our nature walk of the day.

Until next time...