Trip Report: Nerstrand Big Woods State Park

Kellie and I visited Nerstand Big Woods State Park this weekend. It is a great park for naturalists, as it comprises a nice big patch of woods with minimal fragmentation.

The trees are really starting to leaf out, signifying the end of the spring ephemeral wildflower season. It was really cool to be out in the woods and see the forest floor carpeted in the green of Trout Lily and other woodland spring wildflowers. The Trout Lily will soon die back and the forest floor will become much more brown again.

Hidden Falls is a cool little waterfall in the middle of the park. 

We saw an American Robin taking advantage of the shelter of the bathroom building!

Partial list of species identified in the park (5/15 - 5/16/2010):

Birds:

• House Wren
• American Redstart
• American Robin
• Red-Bellied Woodpecker
• Baltimore Oriole
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Common Grackle
• American Crow
• Blue Jay
• Common Yellowthroat
• Black-capped Chickadee
• American Goldfinch
• Chipping Sparrow
• White-breasted Nuthatch

Plants:

• American Elm
• Sugar Maple
• Mayapple (blooming)
• Wild Geranium (blooming)
• Jack-in-the-pulpit (blooming)
• Trout Lily
• Bedstraw
• Maidenhair Fern
• Virginia Waterleaf (blooming)
• Wild Ginger
• Hepatica
• Marsh Marigold
• Trillium
• Dandelion (blooming ;)

Others:

• Garter Snake
• American Toad
• Eastern Chipmunk