Sounds and Sights of Spring

As spring arrives, the sound of birds singing gradually replaces the quacks of geese.  Signs of new growth appear in Brightwood Park, too, with colors replacing the boring brown.

Yesterday I was privileged to join Rob, Phil, David, and Peter to work on repairing and improving the trails.  In addition to the fun of hanging out together, it was a pleasant surprise for me to find daffodil flowers covered with numerous water drops leftover from a rainy day.

After finishing the work I took a photographic tour.  A mallard duck couple was waiting near the junction of the two ponds and posed like professional models.  Meanwhile, geese were minding their own business and couldn't care less about my presence.    

Earlier when Phil was turning over a rock, a salamander and an earthworm were revealed.  We apologized for our intrusion, followed by covering them with fallen leaves to respect their privacy.

Another interesting finding was a log of a beech tree covered with red spots of Nectriceae-like fungus.  The beautiful pattern marveled me and reminded me once again of the big artist upstairs.

A few weeks ago, a flock of ring-necked ducks checked into the large pond.  There appeared to be a hierarchy in the duck society.  For example, one of the visitors swam by a male mallard duck and paid tribute to the guy.  Meanwhile a female mallard duck watched the visitors from a tall tree on the central island.  I wonder if this was a showdown of who the owners are.

When I walked on the two-bridge trail, I was approached by a buck who apparently had antlers shed, with a sad look.  I tried to comfort him by telling him: "Don't worry!  They will grow back and you will look handsome again.  Just be patient!"

In the back of the park I saw a few fragmented trucks of fallen trees, with a pattern like a turret.  I prayed for the countries and the people suffering from wars.  I was also thankful for the peace we have and asked for stability and reconciliation of political conflicts.

The tree root in the last photo caught my eye because the pattern looked like the face of a coyote, a figure unpopular to most of us but missed and often asked about by some.