Nature Blog Archives - Page 3 of 3

E.H.Williams Nature Observations August 5th, 2020

Summer is passing quickly! The most abundant flowers along the trail in early August are Queen Anne’s lace, spotted knapweed (a noxious invasive), daisy fleabane, bindweed, and soapwort (bouncing Bet), while typical late summer flowers – goldenrods and asters (and ragweed!) – are emerging. Clematis, coneflowers, evening primrose, and bee balm (monarda) are recognizable because of their similarity to garden plants. Red and white clover, chicory, and alfalfa remain abundant where we walk through the field. Native wildflowers keep appearing, contributing to more than 120 flowering plants identified along the trail since April. Soon – the next update – we’ll be in the season of fruit and seed dispersal.

The trail remains a wonderful place for wildlife. On every trail walk I hear song sparrows, goldfinches, indigo buntings, cardinals, catbirds, and bullfrogs. The open fields around Dugway support both orange and clouded sulphur butterflies, while pearl crescents and summer azures appear along open sections of the trail. Chipmunks remain abundant. A new fairy birdhouse has appeared; can you find it? (ask for a hint about its location). All photos below are from the past week.

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E.H.Williams Nature Observations August 5th, 2020corrine2020-09-13T11:27:47-04:00

E.H.Williams Nature Observations July 15th, 2020

Mid-summer has arrived along the Kirkland Trail (all photos from the past few days); the heat of early July has accelerated seasonal changes. Field mustard and soapwort are currently the most abundant flowers, and raspberry and honeysuckle fruits are ripening. Beware of wild parsnip on trail edges; in the presence of sunlight, its sap can cause a bad rash. Yellowthroats, song sparrows, and catbirds sing all along the trail, and on each walk I almost always hear an indigo bunting singing at #12 and a scarlet tanager at #23 (29 species of birds in total on July 13; hooded warbler was a special find). Bullfrogs are harrumphing near #10. Chipmunks are everywhere along the trail (as are deer flies), and numerous butterflies are out in open areas, especially north of Dugway. Look for monarchs!

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E.H.Williams Nature Observations July 15th, 2020corrine2020-07-17T10:54:07-04:00

E.H.Williams Nature Observations June 30th, 2020

The nicest flowering plant right now is the shrub snowberry, found in abundance at stake #12. One of the nicest spots along the trail is the glade at #14, while the deepest woods are between #20 and #23. A scarlet tanager is always singing near #23. In the past 2 days I’ve found 18 species of birds; most conspicuous by song are yellowthroat, catbird, song sparrow, veery, and redwing. Since the beginning of the growing season, I’ve recorded 88 species of plants in flower along the trail (I’m maintaining a record of their flowering phenology). The first berries (fruit) are appearing. Chipmunks are abundant along the trail, and occasionally a woodchuck, rabbit, or green frog appear, along with several species of butterflies.

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E.H.Williams Nature Observations June 30th, 2020corrine2020-07-21T12:53:41-04:00

E.H.Williams Nature Observations June 15th, 2020

I walked all of phase 1 (north & south) this morning, and here’s a report of nature along the trail. You may find this interesting.

The most abundant flowers now are multiflora rose and Dame’s rocket, with dogbane, valerian, and cinquefoil among the nicest natives in flower. I’m maintaining a chart of flowering phenology of all plants along the trail, and thus far 61 plant species have flowered, with many more yet to come.

I saw and heard 24 species of birds. Among the easiest to see are song sparrows and yellow warblers. Other birds included scarlet tanager, indigo bunting, yellowthroat, chestnut-sided warbler, veery, phoebe, pewee, cardinal, oriole, blue-winged teal, cardinal, and redwings.

Six species of butterflies were along the trail: cabbage white, clouded sulphur, question mark, pearl crescent, little wood satyr, and hobomok skipper.

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