After over nine months of mostly solitary walks, it was a distinct pleasure to once again walk with others.

8 am group:

11:30 am group:

It is difficult to set up some photography shots when I am leading a group so I will intersperse today’s photos with some bird and plant photos that I have taken on other walks.

Here is the bird list for the 2 walks:

Species list: Red-necked Grebe, double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, Canada goose, mallard, Cooper’s hawk, ring-billed gull, mourning dove, belted kingfisher, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, common raven, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, American robin, gray catbird, blue-gray gnatcatcher, ruby-crowned kinglet, European starling, warbling vireo, red-eyed vireo, blue-headed vireo, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (26 species)

Some birds:

Some botany:

NATURE POETRY

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare? —
No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows.
No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.
No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.              – W.H. Davies (1871–1940)

Miles Hearn