Lord Hill Regional Park

May 12 , 2012
On a warm and sunny Saturday Tim and I continued our exploration of local hiking spots by visiting Lord Hill Regional Park, a 1,300 acre upland nature preserve.

We hiked more than 4 miles and decided we'll be going back to do the rest of it (and the places we missed on today's route). Me- I'll never forget it.
 

     
   
     
This was the day I finally tracked down the elusive Pileated Woodpecker. To say I was thrilled is an understatement. Apologies for the blurry photos - I was more than 100 feet away.
 
     
   
     
I heard 'bang, bang, bang' on a tree.
   
     
   
     
And there he was. This is a male.
 
     
   
     
I watched him and photographed him for more than 5 minutes.
   
     
   
     
Most of the pictures I took are of the back of his head.
  
     
   
     
He banged and ate and banged and ate.
 
     
   
     
As Tim came back to see where I was, other hikers scared him away. Bah!
  
     
   
     
Later we heard a noise on the trail ahead and watched Mama Duck take her babies for a walk too.
    
     
   
     
Loads of Taiga Bluet Dragonflies flitted about the undergrowth in the sunshine.
  
     
   
     
I spent a while watching this beautiful Dragonfly.
 
     
   
     
So far it's unidentified other than MAYBE being a Meadowhawk of some sort.
   
     
   
     
A Cabbage White butterfly perches on a large Leaf Avens flower.
     
   
     
And a bee makes the most of a dandelion.
     
   
     
Yep, another good day.

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