I spotted a Shorttail Shrew on the path on the back side of the loop near the dirt service road there. Unfortunately, the shrew was DOR (Dead on Road). I didn’t noticed any marks or other clues as to how it expired. I’ve been seeing Eastern Cottontails for the past few weeks at various locations [...] Read the rest of this entry »
Archive for June, 2008
Mallard Surprise, Hawks Fledge
June 30th, 2008A total surprise was a female Mallard with 7 ducklings in tow. I hadn’t seen a Mallard in the Wetlands for several weeks, other than the always present Mutt Duck (black and white female that’s been hanging around – mallard x domestic duck). On the 25th, both a male and female Mallard (the male molting [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Yellow-bellies and Bullfrogs grow, others Lay Low
June 30th, 2008Young turtles continue to be seen from both the boardwalk and the Wetlands Overlook. No longer the silver dollar-sized individuals of a few months ago, the turtles appear to be growing quickly on the abundant food in the Wetlands. When not basking out on a log, these little Yellow-bellied Turtles are either eating or looking [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Pennants, Tigers, and a Strange Beetle
June 30th, 2008Two more dragonfly species have made a showing in the Wetlands, Halloween Pennant and Banded Pennant. Halloween Pennants can often be seen in fields on the tips of tall weeds or the bare twigs of shrubs, facing into the wind and waving in the breeze like a tiny pennant. The male’s orange and black coloration [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Rudbeckia, a Mint, and Hitch-hiking seeds
June 30th, 2008Now blooming are Black-eyed Susan, Wild Bergamot (a mint), and across from the entrance to the Lemur House, Showy Tick-trefoil or Beggarweed. Tick-trefoil is a legume and has small pinkish flowers, like a pea. The first part of its name (tick) refers to the plant’s seeds and their ability to latch onto and hitch a [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Dedication to Duty
June 15th, 2008Unlike insects, birds don’t necessarily thrive in the heat. Many birds take a break from the midday heat to rest in the shade, at times with their bills agape, panting from the heat. Unfortunately, at this time of year many birds have no choice but to be active – they have young on the nest [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Tiny Toads, Morphing Frogs, and a Nest Robber
June 15th, 2008On the first day of June I heard Narrow-mouthed Toads calling from the Wetlands. They’re about 1-1.5 inches in length. They spend a good deal of their time in the woods in burrows or under rocks or logs so they’re tough to find visually. I heard their lamb-like “baaaa” calls coming from the Wetlands when [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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Summer Heat Brings Out the Bugs
June 15th, 2008With the heat comes more insects, and for the ode (dragonfly and damselfly) lovers among you, good news. June has brought us five more species of dragonfly. Eastern Pondhawk, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Widow Skimmer, Great Blue Skimmer, and the tiny yet very distinctive Eastern Amberwing have all joined the growing list of twenty-one species seen since [...] Read the rest of this entry »
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