Saturday August 7th dawned cool, around 63 degrees. However, the temperature rose steadily, reaching about 85 degrees or more by mid-day. Hiking this morning was especially comfortable after the recent heatwave. I had several activities planned for the day, and took just an hour or so to walk through Washington Valley park from the Gilbride Road trail head.
The main highlights of this trip were the continued dry weather (dust blanketed most of the trail and had to be shaken out of my socks at the end of the day) and the two critters below.
I believe this is a Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris). He was hammering was at a dead pine tree. I caught just a few lucky shots as he worked his way upward to the very top.
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The main highlights of this trip were the continued dry weather (dust blanketed most of the trail and had to be shaken out of my socks at the end of the day) and the two critters below.
I believe this is a Ladder-backed Woodpecker (Picoides scalaris). He was hammering was at a dead pine tree. I caught just a few lucky shots as he worked his way upward to the very top.
Many leaves have fallen in the park, many of them colored just like fall.
I believe this is a Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon). It was about one foot long and swam through the water as I passed by on the trail.
Every water course is very shallow and teeming with fish, polliwogs, frogs and all kinds of life. Despite the low waterline, I felt the park had as much if not more water as the last time I was there. I hope to reach the shore a few more times before the rest of August flies by.
