Saturday night bowling, Sunday morning birding, and Sunday afternoon biking

Last night after going for a good run at Gulley Park, Christy and I went bowling with some grad student friends. Bowling's a fun alternative weekend activity, when you can't be out in the woods.


This morning we woke up to a new bird species for our backyard, the Eurasian Collared-Dove. The bird is not native, but regardless, it adds another species to our backyard bird list.

Late this afternoon, I went for a 2-hour bike ride to try out part of the trail system Fayetteville has been working hard to improve. I hopped on the paved route near my house and rode north along the Frisco/Scull Creek trail. The trail follows Scull Creek downstream for a nice ride, past Wilson Park, and then past the University of Arkansas Experimental Farm where the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival is held every October. The trail continues north, goes through a long tunnel under the Fullbright Expressway, then veers east to become the Mud Creek Trail. It was a great ride along both Scull Creek and then Mud Creek. Although these two creeks flow through town, you can still catch some wildlife if you're observant. Along Scull Creek, I saw Cardinals, Starlings, Bluejays, and Cedar Waxwings; along Mud Creek, I saw a Great Blue Heron fishing in the shallows. Scattered along both trails were scats from coyotes.

Getting ready to ride. It's been awhile, though. Hopefully, I'll do just fine without the training wheels.

Heading north on the Scull Creek Trail along Scull Creek.