Surprises at Huntley Meadows
May 31, 2010
I love being surprised by something that I see on an outing. This little guy certainly did the trick Sunday in Huntley Meadows Park.
On a walk through a wooded section of the trail, a squirming mass with legs in the air caught our attention. “What is that?” Read the rest of this entry »
Another day for the snakes
May 30, 2010
Saturday afternoon was great for reptiles at Huntley Meadows Park.
Near a familiar type of bush was a Rough Greensnake (Opheodrys aestivus aestivus) like I’ve seen in the past. This guy was smaller than the one I saw last time, with a body about the thickness of a pencil. Read the rest of this entry »
Another day at Holmes Run
May 27, 2010
Wednesday in Holmes Run Park I dedicated a lot of my time to making plaster casts of raccoon tracks on the bank, but I was also able to see some other neat signs of animals.
Back in the woods on a steep hill I found a well-worn path that was only a few inches wide. Based on the width and the low-lying trees in that area, it isn’t a path for people. Read the rest of this entry »
Meet Mr. Creepy
May 25, 2010
Tuesday I couldn’t decide if I wanted to go to Huntley Meadows, but the traffic made the decision for me. After barely moving on Duke Street for 20 minutes, I turned around and made a run on Holmes Run Park in Alexandria.
The weather was great, but the sightings were not. Read the rest of this entry »
Growing up in Huntley Meadows
May 25, 2010
Between the seasons and the life cycles, one of the only things that’s certain in nature is change. Monday in Huntley Meadows I was startled to see the mother Merganser all alone standing on a log. Her young, five at last count, were nowhere to be found. Read the rest of this entry »
Exploring Great Falls Park
May 24, 2010
Sunday was my first visit to Great Falls Park in Virginia. Weather predictions called for rain, but luck was on our side.
After rendezvousing with a friend, we checked out the views of the Potomac and then set off on a circuit hike. Read the rest of this entry »
Checking out Jefferson District Park
May 22, 2010
Friday as I was driving near McLean, I decided to pick a random park out of my GPS to explore. The nearest on the list was Jefferson District Park. As it turns out, the full title is Jefferson District Park and Golf Course, and it wasn’t quite the experience I’d hoped for.
When I first arrived, I did a quick scout by car to find the most wooded area, but all I saw were families on playgrounds and people with golf gear. For a minute I thought it would be a total loss, but then I found a tucked away trail at the back of the park.
This short trail connected the park to the surrounding suburbia. Although a continuous walk could get you from beginning to end in less than 5 minutes, I slowly scanned the trees and the underbrush along the way. Read the rest of this entry »
Birding in Holmes Run
May 21, 2010
Thursday I mixed things up a bit and returned to Holmes Run Park in Alexandria. Aside from some young birds, very little was out. Read the rest of this entry »
Another day in the woods
May 19, 2010
I had never seen a Canada Goose molt, but I was able to on my last outing.
On Tuesday, I checked out Huntley Meadows Park and found an abundance of geese. According to the Humane Society, Canada Geese molt each summer and can’t fly for about a month while they replace their flight feathers. That might explain why some birds on Tuesday seemed to have such trouble taking off. One goose that I observed struggled so much that it aborted its takeoff and swam back to where it started. Read the rest of this entry »
Visiting the National Zoo
May 17, 2010
The concept of a zoo is fantastic. I love the idea of a place that brings together humans and animals for the sake of education and entertainment. However, I can’t help but feel a little sad when I see animals in confinement.
Saturday after I visited Huntley Meadows, the lady and I went to the National Zoo in Washington DC. I haven’t been to a zoo in a number of years and there were some animals that I was hoping to see. Read the rest of this entry »
