So today I ventured into the baselands for the first time on a weekday. The sneaking in part was easy - I just parked on the wide shoulder of the s bend along Unwin, and entered past the guard rail where the fence line stops. I quickly picked up a well marked trail but was very disappointed to be met by a couple walking two huge dogs. Since they were leaving the park anyway and I was alone, I totally chickened out and did not confront them about the dogs - especially since I was technically trespassing myself. But it makes me wonder just how many dogs are regular visitors to the park?
The next weird thing was stumbling upon the two homeless folk. The first gentleman was very friendly as he packed his belongings and seemed to be heading out. The next woman I unfortunately disturbed while she was enjoying a mid day siesta in a grassy field. I tried to slip away quietly, and when I looked back she was gone. So I wonder just how many people make the park their home during the week? I've never seen anyone like this on a weekend.
The constant noise from the trucking activity makes you wonder how the birds and animals can stand it 5 days a week. When some of the trucks dump their loads the sound rumbles like thunder through the park. There was also a lot of additional noise from the bulldozers crawling all over the giant rubble pile on the north side of Unwin.
With only about an hour and a half to stay, my list for the outing was fairly short. My favourites were the Fox Sparrows - a few seen and many unseen as they crashed around in the leaves beneath the dogwoods - sounding like a herd of small animals coming at me! Even the rabbits made less noise. There were a few birds that I could hear hiding deep in the dogwood forests, but I have no idea what they were. I really need to spend more time learning birds songs! I think in a few more weeks this will be a much more active area and worth another visit. So here's my little list:
Fox Sparrows
Song Sparrows
Amer. Goldfinch
Golden-crowned Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Pheobe
Northern Flickers
Mourning Doves
Grackles
Robins
RWB's
