March 1, 2009. Chevy Chase, Md. A Walk.

It was such a satisfactory walk, I felt almost smug. Saturday afternoon, Ken and I started out to clear out all the bluebird boxes. The temperature was thirty five degrees C. with no sun, so it was a bit chilly as the wind was brisk. One lone blue egg was still in the top corner of a box so we kept the whole nest along with the egg, ready to show the children. All seven bluebird boxes had nests in the boxes so we were pleased. All these boxes can be seen from out house. As we walked down the hill, a covey of grouse flushed right in front of us. As we stood and counted the birds, we reminded ourselves that just the night before, while in the hot tub, Ken commented on the absence of grouse on the farm, and now we see the flock, right in front of our eyes. That was exciting to count the thirty or forty grouse. Just as we left for our walk, a stately row of wild turkeys pranced their way across the field.

I walk on the trails, while Ken walks through the woods, so after all the boxes were clean, we walked cross country through the woods heading to the far fields. So far we have not stepped into the pasture, because the Mother cows do not like anyone around the calves so we stayed out. The fences keep us out, so a few years ago, Greg built us a stile, but he did not know anything about a stile. We drew him a picture and he built it for us, but then he was killed in a car wreck. The first time we saw the stile we realized that the stile was the last task he had completed for us so we were grateful for him. But had he lived, we would have had him add a few parts, such as a railing. Now the stile works to get you over an electric fence, but it is not the most graceful scene, watching me climb up the ladder and sit on the top, then swing my legs over the top trying to avoid the electric fence, then scramble down the other ladder. Ken of course is up and over in a jiffy, but even with his help, it takes me a long time. Once over the stile, we are ready to walk up the long hill to the field. when almost at the top of the hill, we spotted four deer, so we stopped still. The trick with deer is never to move. Their heads stayed down eating, so we inched up the hill, finally seeing ten deer, when one deer lifted their head to see us. We stayed put. They stayed still, but one by one they all watched us. It must have been five minutes with both us and them starring at each other. Finally, a white tail went up and they all ran across the field heading to the woods. Rocking run, followed by a huge jump over the fence. Fifteen in the herd just racing across the field and we were only about thirty feet away. It was exciting. After a walk through the woods, and while crossing another field, we spotted another large herd of deer who ran away, but slowly. Two or three rocking strides, followed by a large high jump, followed by three or four rocking strides before finally clearing the fence. What a sight to see.

Just as we were arriving at the house, we saw two big robins, the first of the season. Very often, while walking at the farm, we see nothing of interest. This seems especially true when we have guests, who are very anxious to see the wildlife. But the walk yesterday was extraordinary in it's variety and numbers. Spring is arriving at the Farm. And top it off, a large very bright bluebird was checking out the boxes, getting ready to make a nest. He sat on a post, just outside our living rood window, just two feet from my eyes. What a treat!!