Today, we headed down to the Rocky River Reservation. We parked at the marina and headed across the bridge into the park. It was cold and dreary. Right away, we heard a rustle and spotted two deer foraging in the woods near the trail. We walked for quite some time without seeing any wildlife. I could hear ducks on the river quacking at each other and squirrels rustling in the leaves. Suddenly, four blue jays appeared together in the same tree. I see jays all the time, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen them grouped like that. They seemed to be paired off and I managed to get close enough to see one couple perched together. We moved a few steps down the trail when I heard a call and saw a rustle in the trees. A pair of small hawks swooped down and one perched quite near the trail. It looked nervous at first, but must have decided that we were not a threat because it stayed a long time while I watched and took pictures of its various poses. Its partner was not so bold. It stayed safely out of sight.
We were almost back to the car when there was a flurry of birds all around. Finches, dark eyed juncos and even some small woodpeckers fluttered across the trail. They were all calling and flying here and there in a big hurry. I’m not sure why they were gathered in this particular spot, but it was quite a show. Then, just overhead, I caught sight of a pileated woodpecker. I’ve been trying to get a clear shot of one for months, and I thought today was my lucky day. But the bird was obscured behind a tangle of small branches and I couldn’t get a clear shot.
