Today’s nature walk was close to home. We’re so fortunate to live just down the street from that treasure known as Colonel Sam Smith Park. I walked in early and just past the water filtration plant, I saw a coyote coming up from the lake. We both stopped and looked at one another. I was able to snap a picture before it wandered off.

Miles counted 32 species of birds today: Species list: red-necked grebe, double-crested cormorant, least bittern, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, ring-billed gull, common tern, mourning dove, downy woodpecker, eastern kingbird, willow flycatcher, tree swallow, barn swallow, black-capped chickadee, gray catbird, American robin, blue-gray gnatcatcher, cedar waxwing, European starling, warbling vireo, red-eyed vireo, yellow warbler, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, Baltimore oriole, common grackle, brown-headed cowbird, northern cardinal, house finch, American goldfinch, song sparrow.

Eastern Kingbird

Eastern Kingbird

Cormorant

Mallard

Mute Swan

Red-necked Grebe

Red-necked grebe

Ring-billed Gull

Tree Swallow

Here’s a selection of plants identified on today’s walk.

Miles/wych elm

Penny Cress

Fragrant Sumach

Silverweed

Nannyberry

Pin Cherry

Yellow Rocket

Morrow Honeysuckle

Sweet Clover

Dame’s Rocket

Pin Oak

Spurge