Observations by lucyh

On this day, I was walking through the Portland Public trails, and along the trail there were a combined total of 45 Mallard Ducks. They were all adults and in total there were about 30 female ducks and 15 males. Whenever there was a pack of females, there was a male in the front, and two females off the back floating backwards, probably to protect the group. Their heads were about the size of both my fists and the male heads were green with a yellow beak and the female heads were brown with a yellow beaks. Their bodies were about 1.5 feet long and the males were white, gray and black, while the females were brown, black and white with some purple. Their wings were about 6 or 7 inches long and the females had some purple feathers on the wings. Unfortunately, I could not see their legs because they were submerged under the water.

There was a flock of geese, probably about 30-40 geese. They were all in the water and they were all really close to the shore line. They all had black heads and really brownish tan body's with some white streaks.

The squirrel was about a foot and a half, from nose to the end is its tail. He was scurrying around, probably trying to prepare for hibernation. He was gray with a white underside. The way he ran, he was bounding and his tail was helping him balance.

This hosta plant had definitely been through some hard times at our house. With three children always kicking soccer balls into it and then their friends were doing the same. But despite all that, these three plants have survived in top condition for several years. In the past, this plant always had some bees or some other pollinating insect flying around that. And not even that, but there was always a chipmunk or two running through all three of them, with one or two dogs close to their heels. These plants were also starting to go into hibernation mode and at the end of a few hard and long months, they will be reborn into the light of the garden. Util then, we will be eagerly awaiting the return of this circular and interesting colored plant.

The rose bush, had been a mother's day gift for my mom several years ago. There was evidence that bugs were eating this plant, but there were no bugs at this time of night. There were only eight roses blooming, but you could tell that at least three-quarters of the plant was dying. Most of the plant was already dead, but nevertheless, that plant was really hanging in there. There was a lot of thorns showing indicating that the plant was starting to die. Most of the leaves were missing, telling me that the plant was close to dead, but only for a few short months. For after the snowfall, this plant will awaken and arise from the dead ready to live another year in the garden of my house.

The pine tree was about forty feet tall, maybe even bigger, and had a slit near the bottom of the tree, about three to five feet long. I would say that the slit was probably home to many kinds of bugs. The tree had very brown bark and green/yellow-green needles.

The vole that we found was a brown color with a white belly. Unfortunately, when we found the vole, it was already dead. We thought it was because it had been picked up by another animal, intending to eat it, then was spooked and dropped the vole. It had its intestines coming out, and flies were already buzzing all over it.

This animal was a very large adult, probably about five inches long from top to bottom. It had a white back, with some odd patterns in black that almost looked like skulls. The spider was waiting in hopes that some helpless animal would come by to make a tasty meal for him.

The wild bird was most definitely an adult. The sparrow was a chocolatey brown color, with a grayish underbelly, and white spots all over its body. The bird was moving around in a tree, as if waiting for a friend.

The spotted touch-me-not, also known as jewel weed, had an orange center, with some yellow-orange petals around it. It was most definitely a wild plant, and was a blooming adult. The plant rose about a foot and a half off the ground. Something interesting about this plant, is that is a limiting factor for humming birds. That means, the humming birds need this plant to survive. In fact, the birds even time their migration to match the blooming time of this wildflower.

The Chickadee was flying across the path we were walking on. Judging by its size, it was a full grown adult. The chickadee was black and white with just a little tan. It most definitely was a wild animal.