LCC Woods

May 4, 1986

It was a disappointing turnout for an Obsidian bird hike, but the birds fulfilled their bargain regardless and sang and displayed obligingly though there were only three of us. In the woods behind the LCC campus, Rufous-sided Towhees “bree?”-ed from the blackberry bushes, Bewick’s Wrens sang from the poison oak, and Brown-headed Cowbirds squeaked and gurgled overhead. A poorly whistled imitation of the bouncing ball song of the Wrentit quickly brought a pair right before us, growling and singing in curious quest of the intruder. From the leafy hazelnuts, well camouflaged Orange-crowned Warblers delighted us with their uncertain trills. From the firs, Black-throated Gray warblers strung wheezy notes together up the scale. And from a dogwood, a MacGillivray’s Warbler exploded forth with its own territorial proclamation, a flip-side William Tell Overture.

At the ponds, Violet-green and Cliff Swallows swooped low before us, while bright- blue-billed Ruddy Ducks and green-headed Mallards swam serenely. Red-wined Blackbirds, forever concerned, protested our presence and Song Sparrows sang sweetly from treacherous clumps of berry bushes. We even were able to catch Rough-skinned Newts and study a protracted snail crossing our path, watch expectantly for the deer whose tracks we followed and observe tadpoles and mosquito larvae in the mud puddles.

Perhaps a seven o’clock start was too early for some who might have come along otherwise. If there are others who would enjoy this type of outing, please let me know, as I would enjoy doing it again and welcome any excuse. Having a good time in the woods south of LCC campus were Charlotte Lemon, Margaret Vanderberg, birds, newts, deer, tadpoles, and leader George Jobanek.

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