Ministik Bird Sanctuary Hike

Nineteen people came out to hike in the always-popular Ministik Bird Sanctuary. We started at the Ball property, which is now managed by the Nature Conservancy. The vegetation was lush, green, and up close, with occasional breaks over boardwalks and at the lookouts over the ponds and lakes.

Exiting at the south edge of the property, we  crossed the road and continued on the University’s land on an old wide road. We stopped for lunch at the lookout on Williams Lake.

Flowers seen today include bluebells (Tall Lungwort), Coral Root Orchid, White Cockle, Pink Wintergreen, Canada Violet, Canada Anemone, Cow Parsnip, Cinquefoil, Twining Honeysuckle, Black Snakeroot, Spreading Dogbane, Meadow Rue, Beaked Hazelnut, and lots of wildrose bushes.

Thanks to Lee for scouting and leading the hike. You can find all our photos on Flickr.

Kopp Lake a New Way

Several people came out on a fabulous day to hike Kopp Lake. This included walking the new re-routed section which crosses some beautiful open country. As you can see, the new leg of the path is wide and green.

To get there, we climbed the new unique stile. It’s designed so that we can cross precisely at an intersection of two fences—from one corner of a property to the property at its kitty-corner opposite.

Flowers seen today include Blue Columbine, Blue-eyed Grass, Twining Honeysuckle vine, Bishop’s Cap/Mitrewort, Tall Lungwort/Bluebell, Starwort/Mouse-eared Chickweed, and Canada Anemone.

What luck to have a bee fly in just as this photo was taken of the highbush cranberry. Other creatures seen today include one of the crab spiders, of which there are several. This one looks like a Goldenrod Crab Spider. The butterfly looks like an Arctic Skipper.

Lunch was enjoyed in a shady spot.

Thanks to Trail Maintenance for the clearing the trail and putting in the new stile, and thanks to John S. for leading the hike. You can see more photos on Flickr.