Shades State Park – April 12, 2015

I stopped off at Shades State Park to refresh and recharge after spending the past two days presenting at the Women’s Wellness Weekend at Turkey Run State Park.

I walked trails 9 and 1 Just short trails but needed to have some time alone. I did run into five ladies from the WWW who had attended our workshops and walks. Had a great talk with them.

And as I walked along the lower part of Trail 1, I met up with a couple who saw a chipmunk attack a snake. The snake lost – the chipmunk bit its head off!

The Canada geese have again made a nest under the observation platform at Prospect Point. Parent was sitting on the nest.  Interestingly, there were two eggs back off the platform behind the “Hiker” sign. Curious.

Plants seen:

1. Cut-leaf Toothwort
2. Trout Lily
3. Bloodroot
4. Spring Beauties
5. Dutchman’s Breeches (including a pink version – Does that make it Dutchwoman’s breeches?)
6. Squirrel Corn
7. False Rue Anemone
8. Purple Violets
9. Toadshade AKA Sessile Trillium
10. Phlox
11. Young Jack in the Pulpits
12. Purple Cress

Canada Goose on Prospect Point

Canada Goose on Nest

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Dutchman’s Breeches

Dutchwoman’s Breeches 🙂

Phlox

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Devil’s Punchbowl

Eagle Nest

Last Sunday, daughter and I picked up my sister and drove her to Rock River Landing to see the Eagle nest there on Sugar Creek by Crawfordsville. The eagle was very cooperative and had arrived 3 minutes before we did, according to another birder who was photographing the bird.

I was thrilled for her to see it. I don’t know if she has ever seen one and this one is less than 30 minutes from her home and is an easy drive to get there. There is no hiking over hill and dale to see it. Pull in the parking lot, park by the Portapotty and look to the northeast in a big sycamore and there the VW bug-sized nest is in plain view. The eagle was sitting in a sycamore just across Sugar Creek just waiting for photographers to snap its picture.

We have only seen one each time we have been there. Hopefully its mate is alive and well and will soon be sitting on its new brood.

Rock River Landing Eagle Nest

Sunny and cold today, 23-29 F with a snow cover. Typical birds at the backyard feeder:

• Tufted Titmouse
• Chickadee
• American Tree Sparrow
• Mourning Dove
• Starlings
• House Sparrows
• Cardinals
• Blue Jay
• Junco
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

Went to Rock River Landing along the Sugar Creek Rail Trail in Crawfordsville to look at the eagle nest. It’s right off the parking lot!

Saw an adult eagle on our way there, flying upstream along Sugar Creek at the SR 136 bridge.Saw 3 kestrels on the drive and 2 red-tails. Also saw a Turkey Vulture flying over the Kroger parking lot!