16Nov2007

Four and a half hours on a crisp fall day at Spruce Hill in the company of fellow hikers always makes for a good day.

We trekked the entire perimeter of the hill top with several stops along the way to gawk at the views or investigate an interesting plant or animal. The winter vistas are becoming more and more plentiful and exciting as the entire western edge slowly becomes denuded of leaf cover. A hike this time of year compared to one in the spring or summer is an entirely different experience, although just as rewarding. I highly recommend that if you hiked Spruce Hill earlier in the year, in spite of the ticks, then you certainly should return in the fall or winter to experience some different aspects of Spruce Hill that do not reveal themselves except at this time. As a matter of fact, it is now possible to see the bleachers at the Paint Valley High School athletic field from one of the vista points. Perhaps one a clear day soon, Seip Mound will be visible.

Several groupings of American robins and cedar waxwings and assorted, other species were seen feeding at about every complex of grapevines. One would see a flurry of activity ahead, and it always turned out to be a flock of birds feeding on the wild grapes. As I've mentioned before, I will never cut another grapevine after having seen on my last two hikes what a multitude of species depend on them for food.

The water level at the pond continues to drop. Much more of this drought, and the perennial pond may completely evaporate. As we exited the pond area at the SW corner, we investigated a large depression in the ground that sits atop a prominent rise. I had discovered this anomaly back in October. It appears that this large depression may not be the work of rodents after all but possibly the remnants of an undocumented old well or even a sinkhole, since Spruce Hill is in a karst region. Further investigation is warranted.

We discovered 3 large piles of deer feed that had been dumped out in the open field next to the path, just west of where a deer stand has been erected on adjacent private property. It appears that someone is baiting the deer on preserve property.

Wildlife sightings: whitetail deer, eastern meadowlark, American robin, cedar waxwing

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11Nov2007

Spruce Hill continues to change as the leaf drop accelerates. Four hours on a mostly sunny day with a 15-20 mph breeze makes for a pleasant hike---and, for those of you who experienced Spruce Hill during the earlier seasons when the ticks abounded, this is the time of year to return. My walk consisted of an entire perimeter hike along the field edge path.

A deer stand has been erected just a few feet south of the eastern boundary line, facing directly west towards the edge of the Spruce Hill field. I also found two trees that have suffered multiple gunshot wounds on the side that faces the deer stand. So be careful when hiking this time of year and try to make sure someone in your party wears safety orange.

Just to the southeast of the neck, to the right of the trail where two very tall Kentucky coffee trees are embraced by grape vines, I interrupted quite a feast. There was an assortment of birds visiting the grapevines and dining on the grapes. The group included at least a dozen cedar waxwings, a family of American robins, a downy woodpecker, a northern flicker and a white throated sparrow.

As I descended along the leaf-strewn footpath to the main entrance, I encountered hundreds, perhaps thousands, of "blackbirds" flying and lighting and flushing back and forth across the parking lot area and hillside. They seemed continually in motion so I never got a chance to positively identify even one of them, but did hear a "check" call as they flew over. Sunning itself on a tree trunk along the footpath was a strange fuzzy mustard-yellow caterpillar with several long brownish-black spikes along its back. I took several pictures. When I came up to the top of the hill, I flushed what I think was a woodcock from the Rosa rugosa thicket; although, I've since been informed that it may have been a Wilson's snipe. I will need to study my bird book on the differences between the two.

Wildlife sightings: American woodcock, northern flicker, American robin, cedar waxwing, white-throated sparrow(tan morph) and downy woodpecker

30Oct2007

Two and a half evening hours spent on Spruce Hill are always like a breath of fresh air, even though this time the fresh air included smoke from Paint Valley farmers burning off crop fields. It was sunny, with the temperature in the fifties and almost no wind.

At about 5:30pm, I disturbed what I think was an owl at the edge of the woods at Cuckoo Point. It was a good size bird. It flew from its perch at the edge of the woods, sailed rather low over the open field in the direction of the pond. I lost sight of it behind a rise before long but saw enough of it to see dark wrist markings, a light buff chest and long wings, slightly upturned at the tips. It was a very controlled and quiet flight…..rhythm was flap, flap, flap, flap, sail; flap, flap, flap, flap, sail. With the healthy frosts of recent nights, the leaf drop has accelerated. If one stands quietly in the woods, one can see at least one leaf quietly zigzagging its way down at any given time. The tumble is completely noiseless until the slight, crisp "tap" as the leaf comes to rest among its companions on the forest floor.

Those who were on the Plum Run hike recently can relate to my excitement when I espied a buckmoth flying at the edge of the woods just as I headed southeast towards the pond. At the pond, I flushed an American woodcock. As it was no more than 10 feet in front of me, I could clearly see the long bill and hear the twittering wingbeats as it took off from its spot in the understory and flew past. I even found the rounded-out spot where it had been sitting on the leaf-covered ground, as evidenced by the wet excrement it had dropped just prior to taking flight.

Sightings: American woodcock, buckmoth, possibly an owl(short-eared?), and New England aster