Bona Dea Update

Today was a lot cooler and very windy and partly cloudy after the cold front moved in last night. There was a single Double-crested Cormorant on the old snag in Lake Dardanelle. On Swinging Bridge Trail there were some more Toothwort wildflowers springing up. They are of the Mustard family. Photo in a recent post. There was an Acadian Flycatcher in the trees and in Goose Pond the male Canadian Goose was there by himself as his mate was still on her nest on the island in Waldon Pond. A couple of basking turtles were in their log in Goose Pond eventhough it was cold and windy. Nothing happening at the old swinging bridge. No ducks in the creek. Just Northern Cardinals singing away in the woods. Did not see the Eastern Phoebe flycatcher today that stays around Goose Pond. There was a Downy Woodpecker and actually a pair of them on the trees on the trail. Tried to feed the fish at the spillway but it was too windy. The spillway was still running from the recent rain. However a Pied-billed very small duck that I usually see in Lake Dardanelle was in Waldon Pond off the spillway. I have seen in there a few days ago. It was windy and cold there and left the park but came back and this time went to Old Shorty Trail by the east parking area. That was where the birds were. Also say some May Apple plants that have just came up in the last few days. Photos are of a closeup of some and then a group. There were several Acadian Flycatchers here on the very east end of the trail where all types of birds were bunched together. Photo here is of one in the distance without the topnot. The photo of the bird with the topnot is of a Tufted Titmouse. Also a photo of an American Crow. There were a pair of them in the trees. Robins were on the ground but not many and Northern Cardinals singing in the distance. Also Fox Sparrows were close to the ground in the bushes. The find of the day was a bird I had seen before but not very often. The photo here is of a Black-and-White Warbler. It sorta has the markings of the Downy Woodpecker. I have not mentioned it at the park on this blog before. Also a Gray Squirrel was climbing in the trees. There were several Squirrel nests around so maybe one of the nest belonged to it. Before leaving the park, I could not resist taking a photo of the setting sun behind the cooling tower and steam of the nucleur plant. I think is is very pretty.