See who came birding with me

On my Lunch break today, I spotted DJ an old friend of mine from ToastMasters walking way ahead of me up the path. Later I encountered her on a largely bird free birding hour but she named some of the pretty wildflowers for me:

These are winecups. such a pretty name:

Thats firewheel or Indian Blanket.

Then we came across someone else who was watching the birds along with us. He was watching intently:

Scary isnt it. But its not a cottonmouth, its a yellow bellied water snake and has no poison though I still dont want to be bitten by it.

She pointed out that a pair of mallards had started hanging out at the pond.

So yes it was not totally bird free. I just did not see them , I heard a lot of birds. I only saw the silent ones.