Monthly Archives: October 2008

Fall

Fish in the Wetlands

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

I’m sometimes asked by Museum Guests what type of fish, if any, are in the Wetlands. The stock answer is “As far I can tell there are Gambusia (Mosquito Fish) and some kind of shiner down there, I plan to find out for sure this winter.” A floating dead fish caught my attention on October [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall | Tagged Gambusia, Golden Shiner, Mosquito Fish | 1 Comment

Fall
Mammals

Another Shrew

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

On October 22, I found a Shorttail Shrew along the path on the north side of the Wetlands near the Lemur House. The shrew had expired. There were no visible signs of why it had expired. Curiously, another was found in the same condition back in June, just a few yards up the path (see, [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Mammals | Tagged Short-tailed Shrew, Shorttail Shrew | Leave a comment

Birds
Fall

Blue Jays Hoard, Butter-Butts Swarm

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

Mallards are back in the Wetlands. Three Mutt Ducks (Mallard x Domestic) and eight or so “normal” Mallards have been feeding and resting in the quiet water and under the Willow Trees. Canada Geese are paying regular visits to the Wetlands. For nearly a week after the passage of the cold front that moved through [...] Read more...

Posted in Birds, Fall | Tagged American Goldfinch, Black Vulture, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blue Jay, Butter-Butt, caching acorns, caching nuts, Canada Geese, Chipping Sparrow, Cooper’s Hawk, Double-crested Cormorant, Field Sparrow, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Magnolia Warbler, Mallard, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Song Sparrow, Turkey Vultures, White-throated Sparrow, Winter Wren, Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers | Leave a comment

Reptiles and Amphids Wane

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

There are still turtles to be seen basking on the rocks and logs of the Wetlands. Likewise, Bullfrogs may still be seen in the Wetlands, but I wouldn’t count on seeing them for much longer. However, their tadpoles are becoming more obvious as they both grow larger and the algae dies back in the water [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Reptiles and Amphibians | Tagged basking turtle, Bullfrog | Leave a comment

Autumn Meadowhawk

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

Right on cue, Autumn Meadowhawks have appeared on the scene (see Autumn Meadowhawks, Explore the Wild Journal, September 16-30, 2008). The first one that caught my eye was on October 19 following the rains brought in by a passing cold front. These rather small dragonflies have a red abdomen and yellowish or straw-colored legs (they [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Insects and Other Arthropods | Tagged American Lady, Autumn Meadowhawk, Clouded Skipper, Cloudless Sulphur, Common Buckeye, Common Checkered Skipper, Eastern-tailed Blue, Fiery Skipper, Green Darner, Gulf Fritillary, Least Skipper, Monarch, Orange Sulphur, Pearl Crescent, Sleepy Orange, Viceroy, Yellow-legged Meadowhawk | Leave a comment

Fall
Flora

Yellows, Reds, and Browns

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 31, 2008

The scene is changing rapidly. Although we still have some time to go, the leaves of the various deciduous trees are turning their respective yellows, reds, browns and all hues in between. The Willows are nearly devoid of leaves. What leaves that remain on the Sycamores and Ashes are brown. The Redbuds are yellow-green. The [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Flora | Tagged Ashe, Maple, Redbud, Sweetgum, Sycamore, Virginia Creeper, Willow | Leave a comment

Birds
Fall

Sapsuckers and Other Migrants

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 15, 2008

Northern Flickers continue to be observed as they filter through the area. The first-of-the-season Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was seen on October 11 during the Wild About Animals Event. Don’t look for a bright yellow belly on these guys, most of them are rather dingy looking. The white vertical line on the wing (when the bird is [...] Read more...

Posted in Birds, Fall | Tagged American Redstart, Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Wood Pewee, Northern Flicker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Leave a comment

Active Snakes and Frogs

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 15, 2008

The Wetland’s Northern Water Snakes were out and about on October 4th & 5th with at least four seen basking or hunting. Green Treefrogs are still being seen by many Museum Guests along the north side of the Wetlands. Cricket Frogs can sometimes be seen hopping along the ground throughout the Explore the Wild/Catch the [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Reptiles and Amphibians | Tagged Cricket Frog, Leopard Frog, Northern Water Snake | Leave a comment

Locust Borer and Late Butterflies

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 15, 2008

Although mentioned in the last installment of the Explore the Wild Journal, a picture of a Two-lined Spittlebug was not displayed. More spittlebugs have been showing up and I was able to get a nice shot of one (image at right). There was a Locust Borer on the Goldenrod alongside the Wetlands (photo at left). [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Insects and Other Arthropods | Tagged American Lady, Cloudless Sulphur, Common Buckeye, Eastern-tailed Blue, Goldenrod, Gulf Fritillary, Hackberry Emperor, Locust Borer, Monarch, Pearl Crescent, Sleepy Orange, Two-lined Spittlebug, various skippers, Viceroy | Leave a comment

Fall
Flora

Fall Takes Over

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 15, 2008

The Wetlands is changing rapidly. The vista with its brilliant autumn light bouncing off the colorful leaves and reflecting in the water is perhaps at its best in the fall. It’s worth a visit just for the view, and there’s still more to come! Besides the still blooming Goldenrod, Groundsel Tree (a shrub) and Heath [...] Read more...

Posted in Fall, Flora | Tagged autumn, Bumble Bees, Carpenter Bees, Goldenrod, Groundsel Tree, Heath Aster, Honey Bees, Paper Wasp | Leave a comment