Hawk Eye

Susan wanted a walk, so we drove down a big hill to the bottom land of Woodcroft and walked back on the Third Fork Creek Trail. While we were still on the Woodcroft Trail, I noticed the mature oaks and beech trees lining the road. It made me think that this was a rich forest before it was developed. Perhaps there are small pockets remaining where it is still wondrous (though, it has been called one of Durham's dirties waterways). Some early morning, while Susan and Adella are still sleeping - or perhaps they'll come along - at about 6 am, when the unrisen sun starts to grey the horizon sky, and as the birds are joyfully singing about lush spring, I’ll come here with Benji and sneak about, sweating under a heavy wool shirt (to keep away the mosquitoes), looking for adventure.

As it stands, we had a small adventure yesterday on the trail. There were massive ants swarming the parking lot we used. We grabbed Adella and Benji and set off. We decided to walk without a wrap, and I tried to carry Adella face forward so she could see the action. The trail appears to be some sort of easement (there are easement signs and blue blazes on the trees) - maybe a gas line. There are large clumps of milkweed (about 4-5 feet tall) along the path where they mow. Back under the mature trees are grasses and Lizard's Tail. As we walked and peered into the woody abyss, I heard strange animal noises. Off to our right, we suddenly saw a hawk flying towards us with a fresh killed squirrel in its talons. We continued our walk and eventually turned back. On the way, both our eyes were drawn to a big tree-fall 50 yards away. Susan exclaimed when she saw, on the tree, four hawks perched, the middle two tearing at the squirrel. We probably witnessed parents feeding their offspring. As we continued our walk back, we mused about the costs of such a fine meal, the difficulty of catching it, and the details of the hunt.