Eco-Share

If I had to label my travel experiences during the past couple of years it would be Failed Attempts. The plague, the weather and schedule conflicts were a big part of the problem. Needless to say, I am ready to bust out of the rut and put a little gas in the car (and myself!). We were blessed with a few days of warm weather this past week and to celebrate, my husband and I spent a few days in a nearby state park. This park has a modern cabin which was perfect for us. Camping is not in my wheelhouse, especially the shared bathroom situation. I have a baseline for comfort and a private bathroom is nonnegotiable.

Our cabin was situated near a beautiful view of the park and it was like being immersed in nature. Many creatures used our patio as their runway for traveling from point A to B during their day of critter activities. My favorite critter was the muskrat who lumbered by our window, oblivious to our presence. I gave him a wave and wished him a good day doing muskratty things.

Here are a few more eco-moments in the park.

When we took the cover off our grill, we discovered piles of shelled acorns on the grill's outer surfaces. It was clear that a very resourceful squirrel had found a cozy little home for the winter. I imagine he snuggled up under the cover as the winter winds howled around him. A cache of acorns kept him company and well-fed.

Later in the day, I heard a squirrel rustling around in the base of the grill and I am sure he was fussing about the recent invasion of his privacy. Sorry, squirrel. I managed to get a quick pic of him crossing our patio. My apologies for the wonky angle. You do what you have to do when you are balancing a book and a cup of coffee.

I went birding in the park each day which makes my soul sing along with my feathered friends. Noisy robins were in full force as they played robin mating games. Blue jays squawked out warnings as they darted from tree to tree. Little song sparrows shared their sweet voices. A wild turkey did a gobble gobble in the distance. A determined flicker tapped away at a dead tree limb. Bossy grackles chuck-chucked in the trees. A lone junco chipped on the ground, tanking up for his migration north. A bald eagle soared overhead, king of the air space. A tiny eastern phoebe poised herself in hopes of finding a few flying insects for a quick meal.

My favorite bird moment was the feathered pair who settled into a balcony view of the park's amphitheater. Your quiz for the day: Can you find them? And, extra points for a correct identification. A Herculean task considering the poor photography.

It was a great couple of days at the park. It was technically off-season so there were more critters than people which is good math for me. We ended each day with the patio lights buzzing and the neighborhood owl hooting. One note-to-self for the next time. Don't leave the lights on too long unless you want to be joined by hundreds, possibly thousands of moths. Hopefully, they flew onward and upward toward the moon after we flipped the switch.