Roads End Naturalist

Exploring the natural world as we wander at the end of the road

  • A Beary Hot Summer Day

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    The month of August had turned into a griddle where days just lay there and sizzled.

    ~Sue Monk Kidd

    Last week, we spent 5 days in the wilds of eastern NC, a combination mini-vacation and working trip to further investigate the area around the Scuppernong River for the project I am working on with NCLOW. As you might expect, it was a tad warm (especially for the guy that loves cold weather), but we planned to be on or near water most of the week. Turns out, we are not the only ones that think that way. Returning to Columbia after a short excursion to the Outer Banks, we drove through Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, in the hopes of seeing some wildlife. Temperatures had been hot all week with high humidity adding to the discomfort. We entered the refuge about 5:30 p.m., that time of day when wildlife begins to come out of the forest in search of an evening meal. Driving down one of the main gravel roadways, Melissa spotted something off to the side in the canal…a bear cooling off in the water, a bear bathtub.

    bear in canal
    Black bear cooling off in a canal on a hot August afternoon (click photos to enlarge)

    It was a big bear, and it was just chillin’. When we pulled up, it glanced our way and then quickly went back into that chillin’ mode, eyes closed, almost a grin of cool relief on its face.

    bear in canal wider view
    We could almost hear a sigh of relief in that look

    The afternoon temperatures reached into the low 90’s that day, so I am sure this water, in spite of its less than desirable look, was quite satisfying. A black bear’s normal body temperature isn’t far from our own, around 98 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (it is less during hibernation). The thick black fur is a good insulator, but can present problems in the heat of summer. And, like dogs, bears lack sweat glands, so they must use other means to cool off – panting, lying in the shade, digging day beds to lie on the cool ground, or taking a nice plunge in the water. I have seen bears cooling off before in canals at Pocosin Lakes NWR, but have never been this close to one seemingly so relaxed in the cool water.

    bear in canal wider view 1
    The bear relaxed onto all fours when another car pulled up

    Another vehicle soon pulled up, but the large bear did not seem concerned. It did shift its posture and sat down in the water with all four paws presumably on the muddy bottom.

    bear in canal scrunching up face
    The bear began to scrunch up its nose

    After remaining almost motionless for a few minutes, the bear began to scrunch up its nose, revealing more of its teeth and tongue. We wondered what it was up to…trying to smell us (a third car had driven up at that point)? When I got home and looked at the images, I think I now know what was happening.

    bear in canal scrunching up face close up
    Was this face in response to biting flies?

    The photos taken when the bear was scrunching up its nose show a couple of biting flies on its snout. Pictures prior to that (like the first three photos above) show none of the irritating insects.

    bear with biting flies on face
    A trickle of blood from a fly bite on his nose

    The last few photos showed a tiny trickle of blood running off his nose. Look carefully at the previous image and you can see there was a fly in that spot. Guess I, too, would scrunch up my face under those conditions.

    bear leaving canal
    The big fella finally departs for the corn fields

    After spending nine minutes with this big guy (no telling how long he was chillin’ in the canal before we arrived), he finally decided to head back up into the fields. I suppose he was headed for a nice corn dinner, and maybe some dense vegetation where those pesky flies couldn’t get to his sensitive nose.

     

     

  • The Difference a Week Makes

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    Nature will bear the closest inspection. She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.

    ~Henry David Thoreau

    Last week I shared some images of the some of the little things that are so fascinating in a big landscape like Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. I am aback this week and decided to check on one particular little thing while I was in the area – the palamedes swallowtail larva I found on a red bay leaf. I pulled up to the location of the small sapling, got out, and looked. At first I didn’t see it, but then…

    Palamedes Swallowtail caterpillar on red bay 1
    Palamedes swallowtail larva from last week (click photos to enlarge)

    Sure enough, it is still on the same plant, a couple of leaves away. But, it has changed its attire and looks very different this week.

    Palamedes swallowtail larvae after molt side view
    Palamedes swallowtail caterpillar after its molt

    It has molted to what I think is its fourth instar (they usually molt 5 times before pupating). It now looks more like part of a leaf  and less like bird poop. But it still has those bold false eyes and can resemble a small snake when it puffs its head and arches its body.

    Palamedes swallowtail larvae after molt side view 1
    Still may be protected by looking like a snake
    Palamedes swallowtail larvae after molt head view
    Here’s looking at you…

    It moved about a foot away from its last leaf perch. Here’s hoping it makes it to another molt and fly away as a beautiful butterfly of the swamp.

  • The Little Things

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    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.

    Driving the Pungo Unit
    I drove about 50 miles on refuge roads the past two days
    Bayberry Loop trail
    I 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 red bay
    Palamedes swallowtail caterpillar on its host plant, red bay
    Palamedes Swallowtail caterpillar on red bay 1
    When disturbed, the larvae swell up their head region, resembling a snake
    Palamedes Swallowtail caterpillar head on view closer
    A close look at the false eye spots that look so real
    Palomedes swallowtail on thistle
    Palamedes swallowtails are probably the most abundant butterfly on the refuge. This one was photographed earlier this spring
    Zebra swallowtails puddling
    Zebra swallowtails puddling. They are abundant in forests surrounding Pungo Lake, where their host plant, pawpaw, is common.
    Zebra swallowtails mating
    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
    Meadow beauty (Rhexia sp.) is common along the refuge roadsides
    Swamp milkweed flowers
    Swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) blooming along refuge lands on Hwy 94 south of Columbia
    Yellow pitcher plants along canal
    Yellow 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 Dasher
    Blue dasher
    Golden-winged skimmers?
    Golden-winged skimmers
    Halloween Pennant
    Halloween pennants apparently love to ride the tips of plant stems in gusty winds
    Eastern Pondhawk female vertical perch
    Eastern pondhawk, female

    But sometimes, the rulers of the sky fall prey to other predators…

    Eastern Pondhawk in web
    Eastern pondhawk caught in spider web
    Argiope capturing Eastern Pondhawk 1
    An argiope spider wrapping silk (note the silk strands coming out of the spinnerets at the tip of the abdomen) around a captured dragonfly
    Argiope spider
    A black and yellow argiope (Argiope aurantia). Also called the writing spider, zipper spider, and yellow garden spider.
    Unid potter wasp gathering mud
    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 Egret
    Great egrets and great blue herons are feeding along the canals and in one of the large marsh impoundments.
    YB Sliders on log
    Yellow-bellied sliders basking on a log in a canal.
    Canebrake rattlesnake
    Canebrake rattlesnake coming out into the road
    Canebrake rattlesnake head low angle darker
    Telephoto view of a canebrake
    Canebrake rattlesnake tail against body
    The 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.

    Bear marked tree
    Roadside tree marked by bears at a height of 6 to 7 feet above the ground
    Black bear standing along Beart Rd
    A well-fed bear gives me the once over on my last afternoon

     

     

  • A Day in the Field

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    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…

    black bear and three cubs 1
    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…

    black bear standing in soybean field 1
    Standing in a soybean field
    black bear walking in soybean field
    This poor guy had an injured hind foot but seemed fine otherwise
    black bear boar
    A huge male between corn fields on adjacent private lands
    black bear standing in soybean field
    Standing up in that perfect late afternoon light to check me out

  • Stormy Night

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    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 Treefrog on walkway
    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…

    Cope's Gray Treefrog calling side view
    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.

    Cope's Gray Treefrog front view
    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!

    Cope's Gray Treefrog calling front view
    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.

  • Summer Cats

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    Nature will not be admired by proxy.

    ~Winston Churchill

    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
    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
    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.

    Walnut sphinx larva 1
    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
    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.

    Walnut caterpillars 1
    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.

     

     

     

     

     

  • That Time of Year Again – Bees Beware

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    To every thing there is a season…

    ~Ecclesiastes

    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 looking from side
    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).

    robber fly with honey bee
    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.

    robber fly with honey bee looking from above
    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
    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 resuming her meal
    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.

     

  • Mini-frogs

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    The frog forgets that he was once a tadpole.

    ~Anonymous

    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.

    frog pond
    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, Hyla chrysoscelis. 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.

    Tadpole transforming
    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.

    froglet with tail bud
    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.

    transformed froglet
    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…

    Copes gray treefrog froglet 2

    copes gray treefrog froglet on fern

    copes gray treefrog froglet 4

    copes gray treefrog froglet on fern 1

    copes gray treefrog froglet looking at camera

     

     

  • Creating a Sense of Wonder at Pocosin Arts

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn

    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

    Downton Columbia 1
    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 on boardwalk at PLNWR VC
    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 PLNWR
    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
    Turtle tracks crossing a sandy road

    …and some initially puzzling trackways.

    Great egrets
    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
    Green heron along boardwalk in Columbia
    pileated woodpecker juvenile
    Juvenile 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.

    Dragonfy on grass stalk
    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 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 male
    Eastern pondhawk, male
    Eastern Pondhawk female
    Eastern 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 and shadow
    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
    Swamp leatherflower, a type of wild clematis
    Painted turtle and reflection
    Painted turtle and reflection
    bumblebee on pickerelweed
    Bumblebee on pickerelweed flower
    Marsh mallow buds
    Marsh mallow (Hibiscus) buds
    swamp rose
    Swamp rose
    Royal fern b and w
    Royal fern patterns
    Fly eyes
    Fly eye art
    bald cypress trunk b and w
    Bald cypress trunk

  • Yellowstone in Feathers

    Posted by

    Mike Dunn
     ‘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 nest with three young
    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 chick under eave
    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
    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 with chick in nest in Beartooths
    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 fledgling
    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
    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.

    Great Gray Owl female
    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 chick with prey 3
    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.

    Great Gray chick with prey
    Going down…

    The chick finally managed to swallow the food after a lot of gulping and head shaking.

    Raven nest
    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
    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.
    Male and female green-winged teal
    Female and male green-winged teal
    Green-winged teal male
    The 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.
    Ruddy duck male
    Male ruddy duck with his Carolina blue bill
    Eared grebe
    Eared 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.

    Harlequin duck
    Lone harlequin duck at LeHardy Rapids
    American dipper on rock
    American dipper bobbing on a rock before diving in…
    American Dipper feeding
    …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 with bison scat pile
    Clark’s nutcracker picking through some bison scat for who knows what
    Cliff swallow nests
    Cliff swallow nests under roof overhang of pit toilet
    Trumpeter swan on Soda Butte Creek
    Trumpeter swan along Soda Butte Creek
    Trumpeter swan with leg band
    It wasn’t until I looked at the image on my laptop that I saw the swan has a large leg band
    Mountain Bluebird male 1
    Mountain 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

     

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