Cove Creek Natural Area and Trail

 My sweetheart and fellow nature geek picked me up just after nine for an easy hike on a trail just 1.5 miles around in an area he's been working on for some time in order to make kayak access easier. Almost all the nearby farms are owned by one extended family; their name appears on the arched gateway to the cemetery we passed on our way in. Earlier predictions of rain gave way to skies heavily blanketed by low, grey clouds and a nice breeze with temps creeping toward 80 F. 

When hiking with this fellow, I don't have to worry too much that I'm slowing us down every time I stop to Merlin ID birdsong or photograph flora for later upload to iNaturalist. He is just as geeky as I am and often has his face in his phone identifying a plant or looking up a century's worth of data on flooding of the nearby creek.

The peak of the trail ends at a rocky outcropping that overlooks a wide, fast-moving section of the creek; this made a wonderful lunch spot. 

He gets all decked out with every sort of protection from sun, poison ivy, chiggers, ticks, and weather. We stopped to read about the prescribed burns and efforts to remove Eastern Red Cedar, Japanese Honeysuckle, and Chinese Privet so as to allow native wildflowers to return.

I asked him if I might swim here when it gets hot. He said there is probably nasty runoff from the nearby cattle farm. 

I was beside myself when Merlin said there was a Kentucky Warbler overhead. Apparently this is not that uncommon a sighting for this natural area in April. We also heard Northern Parula many times along the way.

This is Firepink.

While we were lunching here, a Yellow-throated Vireo began flitting about around us. We debated the identification of several trees around us. He was right most every time.

This is Pitcher's Leatherflower or Clematis pitcheri. It's a new flower for me.

I am happy with my Temu sun hat. It goes with my other pink and purple gear. Oh, I suppose for many people today was Easter. Neither of us celebrates that holiday.