On Friday April 21, the day before Earth Day, I was finally able to get out with my camera and go for a hike. Various health issues had me sidelined for awhile, so it felt really good to be out and about. It was an absolute beautiful day. There was not much for wind (for once) and temps in the 60's. You really couldn't ask for better conditions. Unfortunately our dog was sidelined with a foot issue of her own, but fear not she is on the mend and will be with us again next time.

We drove about an hour south of home to the Sakatah Singing Hills trail near Eagle Lake. I was hoping this trail would be good since we would be walking between 2 sloughs and a wooded area. It didn't let us down there was so much to see. We saw Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Canada Geese, American Coots, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Marsh Wrens, White-throated Sparrows, Buffleheads, White Pelicans, Pied billed Grebes, Northern Shovelers, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Great Blue Herons, Terns, Field Sparrows, Brown Thrashers, Savannah Sparrows, Brown headed Cowbirds, American Robins, Nuthatches, Ring-necked Pheasants, Painted Turtles, Garter Snakes, Chipmunks, Muskrats, Red Squirrel, Red Admirals, Painted Ladys, Ladybug, White Trout Lily, Horsetail, Common Blue Violet, Cutleaf Toothwort, False Rue Anemone, Bloodroot, and Downy Yellow Violet. That was just the stuff we were able to photograph and identify. We also heard Pileated Woodpeckers, Sandhill Cranes and Soras.

The best parts were seeing the White Trout Lily and hearing the Soras. We had never seen White Trout Lilies before so that was really cool. As for hearing the Soras, well, I really thought I was going to turn around and see a spaceship behind me. They are so unusual sounding. I wish we could have seen them, but hearing them was super exciting too. That was a new experience for us too. It always amazes me what you can see or hear if you stop and really observe nature.

Til next time

Karla and Aaron