Category Archives: Fall

Fall
Winter

A Chilled Herp, a Final Ode, and a Daring Squirrel

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: December 18, 2009

On Decmebr 16th as I walked the trail through the outdoor exhibits of the Museum where it enters Explore the Wild near the Lemur House, there was a small snake stretched out on the pavement. The temps were in the forties but the little patch of sun that the snake was in was probably a [...] Read more...

Also posted in Winter | Tagged Autumn Meadowhawk, earth snake, Red-shouldered Hawk | 1 Comment

The Raven and the Vultures

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: December 18, 2009

As I stood on the Wetlands Overlook peeping through the viewfinder of my camera and waiting for a Yellow-rumped Warbler to magically appear on the Wax Myrtle nuts that my camera was focused on, I heard the call of a Common Raven. I heard the call several times before I realized that it was indeed [...] Read more...

Also posted in Birds, Winter | Tagged Black Vulture, carrion, raven, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture | Leave a comment

At Home in the Wetlands

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: December 16, 2009

Two bird species that have become regular fixtures in the Wetlands, at least during the winter, are Red-shouldered Hawk and Hooded Merganser. Both species can be seen daily, or nearly so, depending on the weather conditions. The Red-shouldered Hawk is present year-round and is the most common hawk species seen at the Museum, often hunting [...] Read more...

Also posted in Birds, Winter | Tagged courtship display, Hooded Merganser, merganser vocalization, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, red-tailed hawk call, wetlands | 2 Comments

The Great Tadpole Rescue

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: December 11, 2009

During the last week in November I noticed a group of tadpoles individually surfacing and then quickly submerging in the murky water in the northwest corner of the Wetlands. There’s a pipe in that corner of the Wetlands which drains the higher ground above it. I’m not sure why this area is popular with tadpoles [...] Read more...

Also posted in Reptiles and Amphibians | Tagged Bullfrog, frog, tadpole, wetlands | Leave a comment

Fall
Flora

November Settles In

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: November 25, 2009

November is the time of year in our area when most of the leaves finally come tumbling down. The mornings are often shrouded in fog or mist which tends to saturate the colors of the foliage that remains until the wind and rain render bare even the hardiest vegetation. Although many plants have ceased production [...] Read more...

Also posted in Flora | Tagged fatsia, Groundsel Tree, japonica, Mahonia, mist, november | 2 Comments

Birds
Fall

Great Blue Heron at Rest

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: November 20, 2009

When not stalking prey, or off to another nearby pond, lake, or river, the local Great Blue Heron spends much of its time perched on various objects around the Wetlands. Rocks, especially the two large rocks which can be seen left-of-center from the Wetlands Overlook, are the bird’s favorite perches. Here, the bird apparently feels [...] Read more...

Also posted in Birds | Tagged Birds, Cooper's Hawk, Great Blue Heron, junco, Sharp-shinned Hawk, sparrow, sunning | 2 Comments

November Insects

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: November 11, 2009

There’s no doubt that insect activity slows down in November. But (there’s always a but), you may be surprised at just how much insect activity there is at this time of the year. If the sun is shining, much of that insect activity may be found wherever there is a warm spot, away from the [...] Read more...

Also posted in Insects and Other Arthropods | Tagged ants, Autumn Meadowhawk, fall insects, fatsia japonica, stinkbug, Wheel Bug | 2 Comments

Fall
Flora

A Trip to the Mountains?

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: November 5, 2009

Thinking of going to the mountains to check out the fall leaves? Why waste precious fuel, money, and time (detouring around rock slides) when you can come to the Museum of Life + Science and see some of the most beautiful colors nature has to offer right here in your own backyard. Don’t believe me? [...] Read more...

Also posted in Flora | Tagged Bald Cypress, dinosaur trail, dwarf sumac, fall colors, ginkgo, hickory, Maple, mushroom, Redbud, sassafras, Sweetgum, Virginia Creeper | Leave a comment

A small Rough Snake

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 30, 2009

On October 28, as I rounded the bend in the path where it enters Catch the Wind from Explore the Wild, I noticed two women with strollers looking intently down at the ground. I couldn’t see what they were looking at but I heard the word “snake” and immediately quickened my pace. The object of [...] Read more...

Also posted in Reptiles and Amphibians | Tagged Rough Earth Snake, Smooth Earth Snake, Virginia striatula, Virginia valeriae | Leave a comment

Two Late Larvae

By Greg Dodge, Ranger | Published: October 26, 2009

Near the end of the day on October 8, I received a call on my radio from Ranger Gurlal saying that he had found something interesting in Catch the Wind. He didn’t say what it was, only that he wanted me to see it. Several minutes later as Gurlal rounded the bend in the trail, I could see that he had a folded leaf in his hands; there had to be some kind of insect within. Read more…

Also posted in Insects and Other Arthropods | Tagged Charadra deridens, Limacodidae, moth larvae, Prolimacodes badia, skiff moth, slug caterpillar, The Laugher | Leave a comment

Greg Dodge is a professional naturalist as well as a writer, videographer and producer of natural history DVDs. His images have been used in various TV productions, museum displays, and corporate videos. Above all, he has a fascination and passion for all things natural.
Stop by and say hello Tuesday thru Saturday in Explore the Wild, Catch the Wind, or on the Dino Trail.

Tags: Charadra deridens, Limacodidae, moth larvae, Prolimacodes badia, skiff moth, slug caterpillar, The Laugher