Salamander

Yesterday, March 11, 2006, we hiked the Hemlock Grove and Beech Woods trails at Charleston Lake Prov. Park. Sightings included, a very large porcupine close to the top of one of the bigger Hemlocks up on Hemlock Ridge. First chipmunk sighting of 2006 - a chipmunk running about over rocks among tree roots along the hill coming down from Beech Woods trail. Several crows seen and heard flying over the woods along with the cries of a hawk (not ID’d). A couple of small flocks of Canada geese heard and seen overhead. The trail along the sandstone grotto section of Hemlock Grove was extremely icy, with water flowing over the ice from above. The beaver pond has very little snow or ice cover and looks like it will be dry again this year. I photographed many mosses and lichens as they were looking very hydrated.