Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.
~Robert Brault
I just returned from two hot days down at Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. I am looking at some interpretive possibilities for the region as part of the NCLOW project to enhance ecotourism potential in northeastern North Carolina. Readers of this blog already know I think this area is one of the best places in our state (our entire region, really) to see and enjoy wildlife such as large flocks of wintering waterfowl and black bears. But, there is so much more to this refuge than just the charismatic mega-fauna that have made it increasingly well-known to birders and wildlife photographers.
I drove about 50 miles on refuge roads the past two daysI hiked about 7 miles on existing trails and proposed trails like this one, already heavily used by black bears
While my purpose on this trip was something other than nature photography, I couldn’t resist taking a few images of some of the smaller things this spectacular natural area has to offer. In fact, that is something that many people may not appreciate about our public lands. Not only do they provide critical habitat for target species such as waterfowl, they are home to so many other species that can be observed and enjoyed in their natural haunts. All you need to do is just take the time to get out and explore.
Palamedes swallowtail caterpillar on its host plant, red bayWhen disturbed, the larvae swell up their head region, resembling a snakeA close look at the false eye spots that look so realPalamedes swallowtails are probably the most abundant butterfly on the refuge. This one was photographed earlier this springZebra swallowtails puddling. They are abundant in forests surrounding Pungo Lake, where their host plant, pawpaw, is common.Mating pair of zebra swallowtails
The plant diversity on the refuge is impressive with abundant wildflowers and unusual pocosin species such as loblolly bay, titi, gallberry, and even some carnivorous plants.
Meadow beauty (Rhexia sp.) is common along the refuge roadsidesSwamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) blooming along refuge lands on Hwy 94 south of ColumbiaYellow pitcher plants, sundews, and bladderworts are some of the carnivorous species found on the refuge.
In summer, the skies on the refuge are abuzz with all sorts of insects, including many species of dragonflies and damselflies.
Blue dasherGolden-winged skimmersHalloween pennants apparently love to ride the tips of plant stems in gusty windsEastern pondhawk, female
But sometimes, the rulers of the sky fall prey to other predators…
Eastern pondhawk caught in spider webAn argiope spider wrapping silk (note the silk strands coming out of the spinnerets at the tip of the abdomen) around a captured dragonflyA black and yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia). Also called the writing spider, zipper spider, and yellow garden spider.A potter wasp gathering mud for its nest. Most of these stock their nest chambers with small caterpillars to feed their developing larvae.
Moving up the scale in size of wildlife observed were numerous birds (especially great blue herons, great egrets, and green herons) along with countless reptiles and amphibians. The most common frogs I saw and heard were southern leopard frogs, green frogs, bullfrogs, and southern cricket frogs. There are literally hundreds of turtles in the canals, mostly yellow-bellied sliders and painted turtles. I also saw several snakes while driving along the refuges’ many dirt and gravel roads. The most common was the black racer, but I was delighted to finally come across one of my favorites, a canebrake rattlesnake, late on my last afternoon.
Great egrets and great blue herons are feeding along the canals and in one of the large marsh impoundments.Yellow-bellied sliders basking on a log in a canal.Canebrake rattlesnake coming out into the roadTelephoto view of a canebrakeThe snake finally had enough of me and my camera and turned back to hide in the roadside vegetation
The wildlife may be different this time of year, but it is no less fascinating. Photography opportunities are everywhere if you just slow down and look. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that there are still many signs of the larger creatures around every turn, and there is always the chance you may encounter one of the sign-makers.
Roadside tree marked by bears at a height of 6 to 7 feet above the groundA well-fed bear gives me the once over on my last afternoon
A rainy day in the field is better than a sunny day in the office.
~Anonymous
Well, it didn’t rain, it was sunny, and I no longer have an office….but, it was a good day, in spite of the heat. I am working on a trails enhancement project with NCLOW on the Scuppernong region of NC that includes Pettigrew State Park and Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. Yesterday, I spent the day surveying some of the Pungo Unit of my favorite refuge, jotting down some of the dominant plant species and some of the more abundant insects and other animals that visitors are likely to encounter this time of year. It was a great day for butterflies, dragonflies, egrets and herons, and…
Mama bear with tree cubs (click photos to enlarge)
I didn’t see my first one until late in the afternoon, down a trail I was hiking at the Duck Pen observation area on the south shore of Pungo Lake. But, by the time the day was over, I observed 16 bears and one red wolf (unfortunately, no photo of the wolf, but it was my 15th sighting of one of these elusive critters over the years). Not a bad day in the field after all. Here are a few of the bears I saw along the way…
Standing in a soybean fieldThis poor guy had an injured hind foot but seemed fine otherwiseA huge male between corn fields on adjacent private landsStanding up in that perfect late afternoon light to check me out
It was a dark and stormy night, the rain fell in torrents…
~Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1830
And indeed it was…last night. We barely beat a fierce thunderstorm as we drove back from dinner with friends in Chapel Hill. The sky was flashing with rapid-fire lightning when we arrived at our gate. I must have done something right recently, as just when I stopped at the gate, my driver’s side windshield wiper arm came apart. That would have been very problematic a few minutes earlier as we drove through a downpour. The rain let up just long enough for us to get inside, and then the sky opened up, and down it came. Something else must have come down somewhere as it wasn’t long before the power flickered, and then went out. A reminder of how really dark it can be out here in the woods…incredibly lively as well. Outside, I could hear another chorus of Cope’s gray tree frogs cranking up, another attempt at spreading the genes around. Most of the sound was coming from the water garden that sits half-empty, awaiting repair. I mentioned it in an earlier post as the source of the abundance of transforming tree frog tadpoles in the yard. And it looked like this would be another night for creating the start of many mini-frogs.
The rain let up so i wandered outside (sans camera, unfortunately) to see what all the fuss was about. I discovered a couple of reasons why it isn’t easy being a tree frog in love. A huge bullfrog was sitting over by one pool, the one without the breeding tree frogs. A guy that big can easily grab and swallow any tree frog that comes his way. That may be one reason the tree frogs are using the other pool, although I think it also has something to do with the thick cover of duckweed and other vegetation in the bullfrog pool. When I walked over to the tree frog pool, I saw another potential hazard to romancing frogs – a copperhead was dangling out over the pool, no doubt waiting for a love-struck frog to venture too close. By the way, that is one reason that pool will remain in a state of disrepair until colder weather arrives. I prefer moving all those stones after certain species are retired for the year.
The rain started up again so I retreated indoors. I soon heard a frog calling from out front, sounding like it was just outside the front door. I grabbed the camera and stepped out underneath the covered entrance way. The rain paused and I heard the frog call again, very close.
Cope’s gray tree frog sitting on walkway (click photos to enlarge)
I knelt down, and spotted the caller perched on the edge of our wooden walkway into the house. He was facing the to-be-repaired pool, the source of all of the other calling. Suddenly, he puffed his body a couple of times, as if taking a deep breath…
Gray tree frog calling
…and let go with a loud trill. His vocal sac extended for a second or so, just long enough for me to fire off a shot. I sat and watched him call a few more times before heading back inside. I figured he would soon hop off toward the other pool and join in the breeding frenzy. It is getting a little late in the summer for a full-on bout of tree frog breeding (the peak of activity is usually from late May – July), but you wouldn’t have known it last night. It has been a wet summer, and the frogs are taking advantage of every last storm, and last night it really seemed like it was raining cats and dogs (or frogs and toads at least). We probably had close to 2 inches of rain in the storm, and power remained out until about 5:30 this morning.
Right before heading to bed, I looked out the front door again. The calling frog had turned and was now facing me. I couldn’t let that obvious invitation go unanswered, so out I went with my camera one more time.
Catching his breath before another trill
I bent down a couple of feet away and he sized me up, but apparently had more important things on his mind…trilllllll!
Nice trill…
About that time, my camera battery died, so I headed back inside to a darkened house. I don’t know whether his efforts eventually paid off or not, but I felt lucky to have shared a few moments of darkness with such good company.
Seems as though my schedule (and the heat) have kept me from some of my usual yard patrols, so I finally went out the other day for a walk-about to see what I could see. It started with my eye catching something out of place on a hickory sapling near the gate…a bright green spot at the edge of a leaf…
Caterpillar head peaking out from behind a leaf (click photos to enlarge)
When I walked over, I could see by the distinctive triangle-shaped head, framed by a pair of yellow stripes, that it was an old acquaintance – the larva of a walnut sphinx moth, Amorpha juglandis.
Walnut sphinx larva feeding on hickory leaf
I did a short blog post on this cool species a couple of years ago when I found out it has an unusual ability…it is one of the few caterpillars that can make sounds! Researchers discovered it can make a high-pitched whistle by quickly expelling air out of its eighth pair of spiracles (the small breathing tube holes along the sides of caterpillars). Studies have shown that the sound may be enough to scare off potential bird predators.
The walnut sphinx larva is distinctive in its appearance and abilities
Even though I probably disturbed this little guy while taking its picture (they usually feed on the underside of leaves so I had to flip him over for a full profile pic), I heard no whistle. I can’t decide whether their sound is outside my range of hearing (like many warblers) or these caterpillars just realize I am a long-time fan of their kind and present no threat. After photographing this species, I decided to walk around for a few minutes to see what else I might find.
Walnut caterpillars
Just a few feet away on another hickory sapling, I found an aggregation of strange, hairy larvae that turned out to be walnut caterpillars, Datana integerrima. What made me notice was a couple of leaves that had been heavily chewed. As I got closer, I could see something that looked like my barber had glued some of my trimmings all over a couple of black worms. When I touched the leaf, they quickly arched into a c-shape, a classic defense pose for members of this genus of caterpillars.
The larvae had just molted
I flipped the leaf to get a better look and found that they had all just molted. This is typical for this species, which is known to move down out of the trees where they are feeding in masses in order to molt. Walnut caterpillars generally have at least two generations per year in the south and can periodically be serious defoliators of localized populations of black walnut, pecans, and various species of hickory. I have never seen them cause significant problems in this area as they seem to be controlled fairly well by natural predators and parasites.
So, in just a few minutes time just outside my door, within a span of less than thirty feet, I was rewarded with glimpses of two fascinating species that share my habitat. It is always good to be reminded that to really enjoy nature, you have to be out in it.
On several of my wanderings these past few days, I have heard noticeable buzzing sounds that indicate an acceleration and flyby of a large winged insect. I recognize these sounds to be from a fascinating group, the robber flies, family Asilidae. I remembered posting about them last year and when I looked it up, it was almost exactly the same week last summer when I started seeing these amazing aerial predators in the yard.
Robber fly with honey bee prey (click photos to enlarge)
And, once again, the first one I saw with a prey item last week had managed to capture a honey bee. Their preference for bees is one reason this particular species is also called the false bee-killer (although not really so false).
Close up of a killer
A closer look reveals some of the adaptations that make robber flies so efficient at catching their prey, which, by the way, they almost always do while on the wing. They have huge eyes for spotting flying insects; large wings powered by strong muscles in the humped thorax; and long spiky legs that help them maintain a grip on something once they have grabbed it in mid-air.
Face to face with a fierce predator
This one did what they all do after catching something – flew to a perch to start consuming its prey shortly after capture. Robber flies pierce and inject their victims with toxins that immobilize the prey and begin to liquefy them. They then fly to a nearby perch and begin to imbibe on the internal soup of their quarry.
This time, however, the meal was interrupted. What had drawn me to this particular perched fly was an intense buzzing sound, not made by this fly, but by a male robber fly hovering nearby. The male had the distinctive white patch at the tail tip I had seen last summer that allowed me to identify them as Promachus bastardii, which Bug Guide calls the Big Robber. Turns out, this loud, stationary buzzing is a prelude to mating. And, sure enough, the male waited for just the right moment and then jumped on the larger, feeding female.
Mating robber flies
The act didn’t last long as I heard another buzzing sound and saw another male hovering nearby…the lady has two suitors. The first male buzzed off and the other male followed, so perhaps a territorial duel ensued elsewhere in the yard.
Female continued feeding
The female, meanwhile, continued feeding. That is, until I accidentally brushed her perch while trying to lean in closer for a better view. She immediately buzzed by my head, carrying her unfinished lunch to a less crowded perch. She will eventually lay eggs at the base of plant or in soft soil or rotting wood. The larvae are rarely seen, but resemble odd worm-like creatures living in soil and soft wood where they consume organic matter and start their predatory career by capturing soft-bodied prey around them. Larvae pupate in the soil and emerge next year, or perhaps a year or more later. I guess I will need to be on the lookout for some egg-laying behavior and see if I can’t find a larva. In the meantime, I’ll listen for that buzzing sound and see what’s for dinner.
It’s been a busy couple of weeks and I must apologize as I have been a blog-slacker I’m afraid. Lots of chores, plus the hot and humid weather has kept me inside more than usual. It turns out, unlike me, there are some things that actually do quite well in this sort of weather. The past few weeks have been wet and warm, perfect conditions for the many frogs here in the woods. And one place in the yard has been particularly popular.
Mini-pond awaiting repair (click photos to enlarge)
One of the two water gardens has a leak (or more than one) in the liner. I cleaned it out this spring but decided to put off attempting a repair or replacement of the liner until cooler weather next Fall. The heavy rains have partially filled this pool, making an ideal breeding ground for several species of amphibians, especially Cope’s gray tree frogs, Hylachrysoscelis. I have come home late on several rainy nights and their calls have been deafening. And where there are calling frogs, there are eventually eggs, tadpoles, and, finally, tiny frogs, or froglets.
Cope’s gray tree frog emerging from the pool
I started seeing these mini-frogs a couple of weeks ago, and their numbers have steadily increased, with plenty of tadpoles still active in the pool. When I look over the edge of the pool, I usually see 4 or 5 froglets sitting around the edge, most with part of their tadpole tail still present.
The tadpole tail slowly disappears after the frog leaves the water
As a tadpole changes into a frog, the cells in the tadpole tail undergo programmed cell death, called apoptosis (from a Greek word meaning “falling off”, as in leaves from a tree). This process is stimulated by thyroid hormones in the blood. This type of cell death differs from necrosis, where cells swell and burst, often due to injury, and spill their contents on neighboring cells causing an inflammatory response. Cells that undergo apoptosis die in a “neat” fashion, by shrinking and condensing, and are eventually consumed by other cells, thus recycling the organic components of the dead cell.
These mini-frogs could perch nicely on your thumbnail, with plenty of room to spare
It is amazing that all this intricate cellular processing is going on in these tiny creatures as they emerge and begin their terrestrial existence. Studies have shown that newly transformed frogs will stay close to the ground in vegetation, but will often migrate many feet away from their natal pool within a week or so. I am already finding froglets 30 feet or more away the pool. If even a small percentage of these guys survive, it will be a very noisy next summer on rainy nights here in the woods. Looking forward to it…
Here is a gallery of baby pics from the mini-frogs around the pool…
If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children, I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life, as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantment of later year…the alienation from the sources of our strength.
~Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder
Downtown Columbia at sunrise (Pocosin Arts lodge on left, studios across the street) (click photos to enlarge)
I spent a few days last week helping others learn to observe and visually record the natural world in a workshop sponsored by Pocosin Arts in Columbia, North Carolina. This is the fourth time I have taught a class at Pocosin Arts, and each time has been a real treat. The staff are so accommodating and the facility is wonderful, and now includes a beautiful lodge. A small group gathered to explore some of the areas I love in this region of rich natural resources, and to learn how to better observe nature, and record it in a journal. My friend and neighbor, Jane Eckenrode, took the lead in helping students gain confidence in creating memorable sketches of nature as we spent a few days observing the features and creatures of this wild area, including Pocosin Lakes and Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuges. My goal, as always, was to help people learn to see the world through new eyes, and learn to appreciate some of the tremendous natural diversity that surrounds us.
Sunrise view form the boardwalk on the Scuppernong River at Pocosin Lakes NWR
After some initial hands-on observations of natural history mysteries and tips on sketching, we spent the next few days out looking for wildlife.
White-tailed deer at Pocosin Lakes NWR
Our primary mammals were white-tailed deer and several of the region’s most famous critters, black bears. We also saw some animal signs that intrigued us, including some huge bear tracks (we made a couple of plaster of paris casts)…
Turtle tracks crossing a sandy road
…and some initially puzzling trackways.
Great egrets at Mattamuskeet
Birds were a constant companion at both refuges, with the impoundment at the entrance to Mattamuskeet providing great views of flocks of waders (including great and snowy egrets, little blue herons, great blue herons, white and glossy ibis).
Green heron along boardwalk in ColumbiaJuvenile pileated woodpecker along boardwalk
The interpretive boardwalk behind the visitor center at Pocosin Lakes NWR in Columbia proved to be one of the best places to see and hear birds. I had not spent much time on this boardwalk in the past, but will now try to walk through any time I am in the area as it is rich in plant and animal life and affords close up views of a variety of species.
Dragonflies ruled the skies last week
The most common wildlife we saw were the small ones that many people rarely notice, and, foremost among the legion of invertebrates, were the dragonflies.
Golden-winged skimmer
Golden-winged skimmers seemed to be perched on every grass stalk at the observation platform at Mattamuskeet. They had easy pickings as there were what appeared to be millions of midges emerging from the lake as a tasty morning snack.
Eastern pondhawk, maleEastern pondhawk, female
Other species we observed included Eastern pondhawks, great blue skimmers, slaty skimmers, and blue dashers (dragonflies have some interesting names as well as behaviors).
Argiope spider and its shadow
We even found eco-art in some strange places including a beautiful spider web and shadow lit by the rising sun on the side of a pit toilet at Lake Mattamuskeet. You just never know what you might find if you pay attention (or where you might find it!).
After our four days together, we all had a better sense of place about this area, and a better appreciation for how special it is. I know I will be back to Pocosin Arts soon…it is a great place to relax and take in the scenery, the culture, and the wildlife of one of my favorite places on the planet, the wilds of Eastern North Carolina. And the name is perfect because the natural art found in these wetlands is food for both the eyes and the soul. If you find yourself traveling toward the Outer Banks this summer, stop and check them out. Better yet, take a class at this unique facility and expand your vision of the world around you. Hope to see you there…
Some natural beauty along the boardwalk in Columbia…
Swamp leatherflower, a type of wild clematisPainted turtle and reflectionBumblebee on pickerelweed flowerMarsh mallow (Hibiscus) budsSwamp roseRoyal fern patternsFly eye artBald cypress trunk
‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers— That perches in the soul— And sings the tune without the words— And never stops—at all—
~Emily Dickinson
It has been a busy week, but I finally had a chance to wrap up some images and thoughts about my recent Yellowstone trip. Like every trip out there, this one helped me see the world as it should be, at least the wild parts do. Being there is an experience of feeling free – free from the drumbeat of the daily news (and it has been a particularly steady drumbeat this political season); free to feel the joy of sharing a place I love; and free to feel that there is hope in this world. I usually don’t take quite as many images when I have other folks with me as I spend more time trying to get them to places to see the things they want to see. But, I still managed some shots, especially of birds. Plus, I had a couple of days by myself before the others arrived and decided to spend some of it just watching some of the smaller wildlife the park has to offer.
Great horned owl chicks in nest in Lamar Canyon (click photos to enlarge)
It seemed it was the season of the owls this summer, especially great horned owls. I had seen reports online of a nest high on a rock face in Lamar Canyon and was delighted to see it on my first evening in the park. The three chicks were quite visible in their seemingly precarious perch across the Lamar River. I checked on them every day I was in the area, and they all apparently fledged by the time we left the park.
Great horned owl fledgling in Mammoth
I also checked in on another nest that is usually in a tree in the Fort Yellowstone area of Mammoth. It was in the same conifer as last year and the two chicks fledged within a few days. Much to my surprise, one of the chicks ended up about 200 feet from the nest up under the eaves of a three story building. I guess it must have some flight ability as I can’t imagine it “branching” and climbing up the side of that stone building.
Great horned owl adult sitting near chick
Just a few feet away was one of the adults, calmly sleeping under the roof overhang. The next day both birds were gone, but we found the chick in a nearby cottonwood tree.
Great horned owl nest in Beartooths
The day we went up the Beartooth Highway, I checked a nest I had found last year along the road. Sure enough, another active great horned owl nest. These chicks seemed a bit further behind developmentally than their counterparts from the lower elevations in the park.
Great gray owl chick
I was fortunate to once again tag along with my friend, Dan Hartman, as he checked a great gray owl nest he has been observing outside the park. Great grays are the largest owl in North America, and it is always a pleasure to spend time with these magnificent birds in their forest home. When we walked in, I spotted a chick that had just fledged and had climbed a leaner to perch above the ground (a much safer place to be in these woods).
Great gray owl chick high in branches near nest
We soon spotted another fledgling high in the branches just beyond the nest. A third, smaller chick, remained in the nest.
Female great gray owl
The adult female was nearby, watching over the chicks. A northern goshawk nest was not far away, and we soon witnessed an encounter between an agitated hawk and the female owl. The hawk came screaming through the trees as the owl took flight, striking the owl from behind. The owl went down to the ground. But, other than missing a few feathers, the owl seemed fine, and soon continued to hunt while the hawk disappeared into the forest. Soon, the male owl showed up and we witnessed a simultaneous feeding of the two fledged chicks by the two adults.
Great gray owl chick with food brought by male owl
I was near the first owl chick, which was closer to the ground than its sibling. The male owl flew in, clung to the side of the tree trunk next to the chick, and transferred a small mammal to its begging beak. It was a mouthful (looks like a northern pocket gopher, a favorite prey of great grays). The chick struggled with it, and in the dim light, I managed a lot of blurred images and a few decent ones.
Going down…
The chick finally managed to swallow the food after a lot of gulping and head shaking.
Raven nest on cliff
Several other nests were spotted during our visit, including the highly visible raven nest that is usually on the cliff wall in the area known as the Golden Gate, just outside Mammoth.
Sandhill cranes at sunset
We saw several pair of sandhill cranes with their young (called colts), feeding in wet meadows along various waterways in the park. It is always a thrill to see, and especially hear, these majestic birds.
Female and male green-winged tealThe male is distinguished by a cinnamon head with a beautiful green eye mask
One afternoon I was fortunate to spend about 30 minutes alone with a pair pf green-winged teal just behind Soda Butte. We were hidden from the road by the formations of this old thermal feature, and it was a pleasure to just sit and watch this pair as they fed in a side channel of Soda Butte Creek.
Male ruddy duck with his Carolina blue billEared grebe
Floating Island Lake provided good views this year of several species of water birds, including some ruddy ducks and eared grebes that were busy courting and fussing.
Lone harlequin duck at LeHardy RapidsAmerican dipper bobbing on a rock before diving in……looking for dinner underwater
LeHardy Rapids once again provided some good bird watching with a single harlequin duck out on the usual rock, and a very active American dipper feeding in the rushing water ( I never tire of watching these unique birds and their amazing feeding style).
Clark’s nutcracker picking through some bison scat for who knows whatCliff swallow nests under roof overhang of pit toiletTrumpeter swan along Soda Butte CreekIt wasn’t until I looked at the image on my laptop that I saw the swan has a large leg bandMountain bluebird
While most people are more interested in the charismatic mega-fauna of Yellowstone, I find some of the smaller forms of wildlife, especially those with feathers, to be just as interesting and fun to watch. It is a treat to be able to spend time with these feathered beauties each time I visit this incredible wonderland.
Here is the bird checklist for this year’s trip:
Canada Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Wild Turkey, Eared Grebe, Western Grebe, American White Pelican, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Peregrine Falcon, American Coot, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, American Avocet, Spotted Sandpiper, Wilson’s Snipe, California Gull, Great Horned Owl, Great Gray Owl, White-throated Swift, Northern Flicker, Gray Jay, Stellar’s Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, American Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, American Dipper, Mountain Bluebird, American Robin, European Starling, American Pipit, Yellow-rumped (aka Audubon’s) Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer’s Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brown-headed Cowbird, Purple Finch, Cassin’s Finch, Pine Siskin
Contemplating the flow of life and change through living things, we make new discoveries about ourselves.
~Ansel Adams
I just returned from another wonderful trip to Yellowstone National Park. It is still beautiful, still magical, still a place you must reckon with and not take lightly. It is as it should be, wild.
Wolf watchers at Slough Creek (click photos to enlarge)
At times, it may not seem that way, especially in the some of the more popular spots like Old Faithful and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. Even my favorite part of the park that includes Little America and Lamar Valley, can be crowded with wildlife seekers, especially where there are wolves, as is the case this year at Slough Creek.
Shoreline of Yellowstone Lake at sunset
But, if you try, you can find a peaceful spot to just watch and listen as the natural world goes on about its business, seemingly uninterested by our comings and goings.
Sunset sky along Soda Butte Creek
You can pause and look at the sky, listen to water flowing by, and think about your place in this world.
Grand Prismatic Spring
Or marvel at the life and beauty in extreme environments, and ponder whether these conditions may exist elsewhere in our universe.
Bison cow and calf
You can spend time enjoying peaceful scenes like herds of bison with their newborn calves.
Coyote with playful pups at den site
Or watch the family life of predators like these coyote pups tugging at their parent’s tail or a group of nine wolf pups tussling in a grassy meadow. Scenes of predator and prey, sky and water, life and death, scenes of beauty, moments of peace, time to reflect…that is some of what an experience in a place like Yellowstone provides. It is something we need in times like these, what we all need, to help us see the good in the world, and in ourselves.
More peaceful scenes from Yellowstone, June, 2016…
Grand Geyser in eruptionGrizzly in Round PrairieBlack wolf of the Lamar Canyon pack near bison carcassMud pot bubblePronghorn doe in Little AmericaReflections at Grand Prismatic SpringMoose in Soda Butte CreekSugar Bowl, a type of clematisMule deer doe feeding in muddy spot in Lamar ValleyA group of baby Uinta Ground SquirrelsBison along the Yellowstone River in Hayden ValleyTrout Lake
The Peace of Wild Things
When despair for the world grows in me
And I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be
I go and lie down where the wood drake
Rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
Who do not tax their lives with forethought
Of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter; to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird’s nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.
~John Burroughs
A few short days after the Ohio birding trip, I joined a museum-sponsored trip to our mountains to look for birds. I had gone as an assistant on this trip 4 years ago, but was a participant this time (Melissa was helping out and driving the museum bus). This trip, Mountain Birding, fills every spring, with many people going multiple times over the years. It is greatly enhanced by the presence of one or two of the museum’s ornithologists and their extraordinary knowledge of the birds of our state and their birding skills in the field.
Bobolink meadow (click photos to enlarge)
As on my previous trip, the first stop was a meadow not far from the Blue Ridge Parkway. Several years ago, a flock of bobolinks was documented using this field. The farmer was approached and a deal struck to have him delay mowing the pasture until the birds had finished nesting. That deal has proven favorable to the birds and they have been a regular fixture here since. As we walked up to view the field below, we could see several males giving chase to one of the duller-colored females.
Male bobolink surveying his domain
The males like to sit atop prominent perches, singing, and on the lookout for females and rival males. Male bobolinks are boldly patterned in black and white with a half-tone straw-colored head during the breeding season. The Cornell web site suggests some observers describe the males as a bird wearing a tuxedo, but backwards. By fall, the males will molt to more closely resemble the females. These birds nest in the tall grasses, much like their cousins, the red-winged blackbirds, that were also abundant here.
He takes flight to chase a female
We watched them for well over a half hour as they chased, sang, and hid in the grasses. An Eastern meadowlark with a nearby nest provided another observation challenge during this time, as she brought a large clump of food (a grub perhaps?) to her nestlings.
Warbler neck is a common affliction in our mountains
The next morning we were up on the Blue Ridge Parkway, near Boone, on a trail around Trout Lake, scanning the trees for warblers. Warbler neck is much more of a hazard in our mountains while warbler watching than it was on our Ohio birding trip. I carried my 500mm lens, but wasn’t expecting much that could compete with the success of the Ohio outing (with a smaller lens). At day’s end, I was pleasantly surprised at a few of the portraits…
Black-throated blue warblerChestnut-sided warbler singingFemale American redstart forming nest
We soon spotted an American redstart building its nest in a rhododendron next to the road. The museum ornithologists recorded the location as there is little known about this species nesting habits in our state. The nest looked to be about 10 feet high in an upright fork of the thick vegetation of a shrub, making a photo very challenging.
Wild geranium
We moved at a slow pace, taking time to listen and look for birds. That also gave me time to look around and appreciate some of the other beauties along the trails.
Mating ladybug beetlesA moth looks like a hole in some exposed wood
On a short walk after lunch, we discovered a nest of an Eastern phoebe under a foot bridge (one of their favorite nesting locations is on the supports of bridges and roof beams of outdoor buildings). Walking through a rhododendron thicket proved a nice bit of post-lunch exercise, but not too productive for birds. But, there was a snag that had been riddled by pileated woodpeckers digging for insects. As I looked over the damage, I noticed what looked like an unusual hole in the exposed wood. It turned out to be the dark shape of a moth – one of the bark mimic zale moths I think.
Solitary sandpiperCedar waxwing eating aphids
That afternoon, we drove down to the picturesque area known as Valle Crucis, and walked along a trail at their community park. The name of the town is Latin for “Vale of the Cross,” a reference to a valley in the area where three streams converge to form a shape similar to a cross. The park provides a variety of habitats from grasses, to woodland edges, to a marshy pool , all situated along the Watauga River. Highlights included plenty of red-winged blackbirds, tree and barn swallows, a yellow warbler, cedar waxwings, a lone solitary sandpiper (I know, redundant), and nests of a Baltimore oriole and a least flycatcher.
Sunset on the ParkwayA view looking east at sunset
After dinner, we drove back up on the Parkway to enjoy a splendid sunset.
Rich Mountain Gap
Our final morning proved to be my favorite. This is my third visit to the area around Elk Knob State Park, and it is proving to be a place I want to return to again and again. The peaks here are geologically different than most in the rest of the state, being composed of amphibolite. The unique geology weathers to a more basic soil which gives the region an unusual blend of plant communities. But, the birds quickly grabbed our attention when we got off the bus at Rich Mountain Gap.
American goldfinch
American goldfinches were flitting back and forth across the gravel road, perching in prominent spots for a nice photo op.
Song sparrow taking food to its nestlings
A snog sparrow ferried food to a hidden nest in the grasses not far from the road.
Beak-full of bugs for hungry mouths
On one trip, her beak was crammed with what looked like a family of true bug nymphs plucked from a nearby leaf.
Raven fly-by
A group of three ravens winged their way by us, causing everyone to look up to observe their distinctive flight patterns and croaks.
Pine siskin singing
A lone pine siskin made an appearance in a nearby buckeye tree, and was soon joined by a species we all sought…
The elusive golden-winged warbler
This area around Elk Knob is one of the last strongholds in our state for a tiny beauty, the golden-winged warbler. These diminutive ground-nesters have suffered one of the steepest declines of any songbird in the last 50 years. This has prompted researchers and conservationists to increase efforts to learn more about this species and develop plans for reversing this declining population trend.
Golden-winged warbler singing with a field sparrow apparently listening
This male gave our group plenty of great looks, including some singing, before disappearing into the thickets.
Large-flowered trilliumA sea of bluets
Our lunch break was at nearby Elk Knob State Park and included time to appreciate some of the beautiful wild flowers in bloom.
Veery
We also got great views of a veery and a rose-breasted grosbeak in the picnic area.
Blue-headed vireo at its nest
My favorite find at Elk Knob was a nest under construction by a pair of blue-headed vireos at the start of the backpackers trail. We heard one singing, and then followed it as it flew into an overhanging sapling adjacent to the trail head. I quickly discovered it was building a nest, a most unusual-looking one. In between visits by the pair of birds we crept in and got a closer look. The nest included a substantial amount of discarded tissue paper. Hopefully, it won’t disintegrate in the rains this week.
Pair of blue-headed vireos working on their tp nest
Formerly part of a complex of birds known as the solitary vireo, it has since been split into three separate species, with blue-headed vireos being the one found in the East. The group walked on down the trail and I hung around next to a nearby tree trunk to photograph the birds as they went back and forth bringing in new nest material, mostly lichens, a few bark strips, and some unidentifiable fluff. With each visit, the bird would place the item onto the nest, pull and tug to secure it, and often push down with its body to help form the cup. As with most vireos, the nest was suspended from a fork in a branch, and probably attached with spider web silk.
Sizing me up
After a couple of minutes, one of the birds came close to investigate me, and, after it left, I moved on, not wanting to alarm them. From a distance, I could see them busily continuing their work after I left. Here’s hoping their proximity to the trail causes them no undue disturbance in the coming weeks. It was a great trip, with lots of sightings, good people, and new knowledge. I can see why it is so popular.
Roads End Naturalist 