Forest Park-Mini Bioblitz

Today Jasmine, Vincent and I went to Forest Park and counted the number of types of plants that were growing in an area of lawn 16 paces square with two oak trees near the fishing pond at the Eastern edge of the park.  Jamine and Vincent counted 18 species of plants including the oak trees. There was also a swarm of knats until a wind blew them away and two mallard males, a redwing blackbird, a grackle, and a cardinal flew by. I also think I saw a female goldfinch and there were many robins. Vincent noted that we saw the highest number of bird species this time, of any park visit.

When we were walking along the edge of a smaller pond an animal made a funny sweak/squack and jumped in the water.  We couldn't figure out what it was.  It looked rusty red out of the corner of my eye.  Could it have been a frog sunning itself?  It sounded almost like a bird, but it didn't surface.  Any ideas???

Leah