Having not visited the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary in a couple of years, I decided to correct that oversight on this sunny, mild morning. Offering a pleasing mix of forest, prairie and wooded meadows, draped across a stream valley, the preserve is accessed by a fine network of trails; better yet, benches are spaced along the routes, providing rest stops and view points for those of us who choose to (or need to) use them.
Always an excellent refuge for observing songbirds, woodpeckers and raptors, this morning's visit was true to form. White-breasted nuthatches were most conspicuous, seemingly annoyed by a pair of red-tailed hawks that circled overhead. Though all of my sightings were of common species, I was the only human to grace the preserve during a one hour visit (a positive development for one who enjoy's solitude).
More regular excursions to the Audubon Sanctuary are certainly in order and I intend to return to this scenic refuge at least once each season. After all, like all natural ecosystems, its welcoming party varies through the year.
