While waiting for everyone to arrive we watched birds at the birdfeeder. Saw downy woodpecker, cardinal.
Then we started out identifying trees. White pine was easy, then beech and oak. We spent quite a while learning about the different oaks that grow around here. Found several leaves that looked like white, red and scarlet. Matching them to specific trees was 'interesting'. When this year's leaves come out we will see how we did.
Someone found an oak gall, which lead to some discussion, and further research after we got home. More on that later.
Next we had some discussion of "Princess" vs. "Prince's Pine". More research and more on that later also.
We saw some tracks. Kevin suggested possibly fisher. I checked "Tracking and the Art of Seeing" and they were close. Unfortunatelty they weren't new, and the snow wasn't fresh, so not the best individual prints. But the spacing and arrangement were close.
We also saw some birch trees... which led to learning about the assorted birches that occur around here. Sweet? Black? Yellow? White we knew definately once we saw it.
Shagbark hickory, atlantic white cedar, black cherry rounded out our native trees.
We also saw an apple and a weeping cherry, which were planted trees.
On the way back we passed the Ames boulder - a large glacial eratic. We will spend some time on rocks and minerals later, but for today we ended with a short 'quiet time' to sit, look and and think.
We enjoyed our start at becoming amateur naturalists, and plan to return in two weeks. :-)
