It has been WAY too hot to hike anywhere and Halpata Tastanaki Preserve doesn't have much shade at the beginning of the Pruitt trailhead so my visits have been few and far between this summer.
It's such a great place to go because you can always see some amazing sights!
The Sandhill Cranes were right where I parked.
I took the photos before I even got out of the Jeep.
And these horses were at the trailhead too, finishing up a ride.
I think this is a blackbird, maybe a Red Winged Blackbird.
But it was hard to tell with the patchy color on it's wings.
Let me know what you think about the ID. Thanks!
The preserve had some beautiful Pickerelweed down in the wet areas.
A wide sandy trail.
And I've seen a lot of birds chase Hawks but I don't remember seeing a Pileated woodpecker chase one. Maybe there's a nest of young woodpeckers nearby.
Thanks again for the wonderful comments on my Woodpeckers last week. I felt so encouraged reading such sweet comments. Being encouraged by blog friends is one of the joys of blogging, isn't it?
