Monday, April 13
Belmont Manor and Historic Park; Patapsco Valley State Park
mostly sunny, breezy, 70 F

The woods surrounding Belmont are impoverished – deer browse and heavy human use, poorly maintained trails.  Compared to the Potomac Gorge, it’s empty.

Natives seen flowering:
spring beauty (Claytonia virginicai)
slender toothwort (Cardamine angustata)
common blue violet (Viola papilionacea)
spicebush (Lindera benzoin)

And aliens:
lesser celandine (Ranunculus ficaria)
ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hederifolia)
periwinkle (Vinca minor)
hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta)
…all invasive, of course.
and a truly lovely large cherry (probably Prunus avium), pictured above

Wednesday, April 15
Belmont Manor and Historic Park
overcast, 62 F

Birding walk with master naturalist class.  Sadly, I don’t have a good lens for long distance work, but we did spot the following:
starling (only one, how odd)
tree swallows

eastern bluebirds
red wing blackbirds
a mockingbird
a red-bellied woodpecker
a bluejay
an American kestrel!
both black and turkey vultures
and, a young eastern garter snake

no new wildflowers except for some common chickweed (Stellaria media)

I’m committed to surveying this area for a comprehensive wildflower guide.  I sure hope something interesting pops up soon.