Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

Yesterday was the last warm day in the foreseeable future so I went on a hike. Didn't take many photos but I saw two white-tailed deer and this pied-billed grebe.

 

[Troutredds]

Your pond looks so pretty in Fall too! Yep we are in a mess of leaves everywhere and the temps are so low. Was not even up in the 30's this morning up here. So bright and sunny tho............................ahhhhhhhh, remember that nice warm stuff just a few weeks ago?
WELL I WANT IT BACK

Thanks @j.w! I miss the warmth but not the wildfire smoke.

 

[j.w]

Thanks @j.w! I miss the warmth but not the wildfire smoke.

Actually the weather is kind of nice now w/all this sunshine but cooler weather. Getting a lot done outside w/o the sweat

 

[YShahar]

Happy Autumn to ponders everywhere! It’s a beautiful mess.

It's beautiful! Please post more pics of the pond; it looks marvelous!

 

[SarahT]

It was 49 overnight last night here in Florida (Tampa area). My first howls of winter laughter this morning as some people had put on parkas, wool hats, gloves, scarves. I haven't "gone Florida" yet, but did put on a long sleeved shirt.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I spent the past four days camping in the Point Beach State Forest. I typically do this camping trip in the Fall but the park is scheduled to be repaved around the time I typically go, so I went in Spring instead. I was a little disappointed at first that my annual fall trip had to be changed, but it was nice getting to see the park in a different season, and it was fairly active with wildlife.

The lighthouse

The beach

Molash Creek

Serviceberries were in bloom throughout the forest.

I'm used to seeing bogbean in my pond, but it was great seeing it grow naturally in the forest.

Wood thrush

Red Squirrel

Eastern Chipmunk

Spotted salamander

Garter snakes

Wood frog

Common snapping turtle

The highlight of my trip were the American White Pelicans. I've only seen them a few times before, and never so close.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Some of the old buildings within Point Beach State Forest

Ranger Station

Lighthouse

Lodge

EDIT: oh, I just found this old photo online of the same lodge building in 1941

And the lighthouse in 1942 during WWII training exercises.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Flashback to winter of 2019, when the local park had just seeded its new prairie restoration in a very weedy old farm field.

I've been checking on it each summer since then and there hasn't been much to report.

Until this year! It's looking a lot more prairie-like now! There are still quite a few non-native species, but there's been quite a big difference even from last year. Hopefully it keeps going in this direction. I saw six butterfly species enjoying it. Don't be too fooled by the photos, it was almost all gray-headed coneflower and canada wild rye, but it was nice to find some other species blooming as well.

Gray-headed coneflower & Wild bergamot

Big Bluestem

Butterflyweed living up to its name

Blue Vervain

Side oats grama

black-eyed susan

Purple coneflower

Also seen in the park, but not in the restoration:

Eastern tiger swallowtail

Great Egret

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Five years ago (where does the time go?!), I referenced a future park in this post, so I thought it was time to post an update.
They recently opened that park. It's been semi-open for awhile, but most of it was blocked off by fences until just last month. They've got a lot going on here. Recreational paths, sidewalks, playgrounds, a splash pad, a band shell, basketball courts, pickelball/tennis courts, baseball fields, picnic shelters, bathrooms, an "athletic play field" which I assume is going to be used for soccer, and a small pond that will eventually have a fishing pier. They also have some small native plantings, but nothing too impressive so far.

Similarly to what I said in my post from 5 years ago, I think it'll be great for the community. Obviously, there's a lot of stuff here for a lot of people. There really isn't anything else like this in the immediate area, so I'm sure a lot of people will be taking advantage.

Although, my worry about more noise and human activity in the neighboring wooded park is becoming a reality. They paved a pathway through the wooded neighboring park to this park - which is great, I've ridden my bike on it multiple times, but the formerly quiet, peaceful park is no long going to be that way. I've already been seeing an uptick in people. I will definitely miss the old days of visiting this quiet park.

Also, when I rode my bike through tonight, a Cooper's hawk flew out from a small tree and nearly flew right into me. It was literally within 6 feet of hitting me.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I went back to the prairie restoration today, and I'm glad I did. I walked the entire boarder trail this time, and saw lots of pollinators. Over 40 butterflies of 5 different species! I also identified more natives. I found 13 of the 32 seeded species.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Back to the prairie for the third time in three weeks. Had to check it out during golden hour.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

One more hike in the prairie. They haven't mowed the trail in who knows how long so it's getting too long to hike through without worrying about ticks. The summertime color is fading away. Although I did find a New England Aster about to bloom.

 

[j.w]

Waiting for my Asters to bloom and then after they are done I am moving them all to somewhere where they can just do their thing and take over. They are not in that right perfect spot now.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Took my mom kayaking a couple days ago.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I'm back from - you guessed it - my annual fall camping trip. Got to see lots of fall colors this year. It was fun. Hiked maybe 5 miles on the Ice Age Trail, as well as other trails. Saw some wildlife. Did some biking. Not a bad few days.

White-tailed deer

Mauthe Lake

Cedar waxwings

The Parnell Tower

I moved this Red-bellied snake out of the road.

Some random church I found while hiking.

The shelter at Mauthe Lake.