I believe we all have a happy place. Somewhere that just naturally brings you joy. Puts a smile on your face. Lets you breathe a little easier. Deeper. Somewhere you let go of schedules, calendars, appointments and “to do” lists.
I found such a place in Michigan – Rifle River Recreation Area. It’s a State Park just east of Rose City MI. It’s not fancy. And the best campsites are ones that have no electric or water and are nestled deep into the woods. But you’re surrounded by beauty beyond comparison.
Numerous lakes invite you to canoe, fish or take a swim on a hot day. And if it’s June, you just might be lucky enough to find Showy Lady Slippers.
Showy Lady slippers are a rare treat to find. It’s an orchid that one hardly ever sees in northern North America, primarily due to habitat loss. These plants like woodlands and wet areas. But they don’t often survive transplanting. I’ve read that a hundred years ago they were so common you would often see them in flower vases in churches. But no more. Which is why it is such a joy to find them.
And if your timing is right you just might hear the call of loons on the lake, or see one pop up out of the water in the distance while you’re paddling your canoe.
You might also experience the feather light touch when a dragonfly lands on your knee or shoulder as you paddle along the quiet banks in the morning, listening to the warblers fill the air with beautiful music.
It’s my happy place filled with nature that calms the mind and touches you like nothing else can. I wish I could take you to this place. Share it with you.
But perhaps a few photos will help you feel some of the magic that lives there. Where caterpillars are vibrantly colored jewels. Where native blue flag graces the area. Or you find insects with gossamer wings that are their own unique art. And Yellow lady slippers that hug the base of a tree.
I hope you have such a happy place that makes you smile and breathe just a little bit more deeply. Someplace that beacons you to explore and look closely at the beauty that surrounds you. Someplace where you let go of your troubles and worries and “just be.”
Until next time, keep exploring nature up close. And find your happy place.
It is the end of summer and autumn is raising its head slowly. The brilliant flowers of summer have faded and are now beginning to drop seed for next year. When I look around I feel a bit sad and think that the world around me is fading too. My local “walk abouts” seem not as enticing. My step not as springy as during summer. My expectations definitely lower.
And then I open my eyes and try to truly observe what is in right front of me.
How can one not see the beauty of walking into the photo above? You can almost hear the trees rustling in the breeze. A few dry leaves skittering on the trail. The call of the Northern Flicker from nearby. The coolness of the clouds overhead. The smell of the new cedar fence. It brings with it the peacefulness of fall. It may not have the vivid colors of summer but it brings its own beauty and richness. And perhaps that is the incessant pull of moving out of summer and into the next season.
Living close to a trail provides innumerable benefits including several bridges within easy walking distance. Along with all the water fowl and other shore birds that grace us with their presence.
The view from this bridge can change dramatically from summer to fall, as this is at the far northern headwaters of the Hoover dam in Ohio.
And this is what it looks like in the fall. During the summer, the Little Walnut creek flows from tree line to tree line. You’ll hear/see Red Headed woodpeckers, Tree swallows, Kingfishers, Carolina chickadees, Red Bellied and Downy woodpeckers, Cedar waxwings and many other birds. Great Blue herons and Great egrets wade the shallow waters edge.
Fall is notorious for blooming asters and goldenrod, and thankfully we do have plenty of these to help the bees and butterflies. It’s a tough time for these creatures, with so much of the blooming plants gone. Their food supply is great diminished. Nectar and pollen is in tight supply.
The photos above were taken alongside the trail. These plants are asters (from the family Asteraceae). Asters are a group of plants I have always found difficult to identify. There are more than 100 native species of asters in the U.S. In the photos above, I believe the one on the left might be a New England aster, while the one on the far right might be a Panicled aster. But the ID is definitely not confirmed. Guess I’ll just have to stay with my belief that they’re all beautiful and are most likely some type of aster. [Dear reader, if you can ID any of these please do so. It would be much appreciated. These are posted to iNaturalist, but no further ID has been made as yet.]
The fall typically offers a variety of yellow flowers, including the aforementioned goldenrod. In North America, there are more than 60 species of goldenrod. Monarchs rely on its nectar to help fuel their way south in the fall. Many butterflies and moths also use this as a fuel source.
I would be remiss if I did not dispel the myth that goldenrod is the cause of “hay fever” symptoms in the fall. The pollen in goldenrod is heavy and sticky. It is not transported by wind. The real cause is ragweed which blooms as the same time as goldenrod. Ragweed pollen is light and is easily transported by wind. Hence the common misconception the goldenrod causes hay fever. Goldenrod is a critical species to bees, butterflies and even birds (like the hummingbird). If you want to learn more about goldenrod, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History has a wonderful publication called “Goldenrods of Northeast Ohio, A Field Guide to Identification and Natural History.” It has a dichotomous key to help identify species.
Here’s two more yellow flowers that we see quite often in the area at this time of year.
The two photos on the left are of the same flower, which I believe could be a False sunflower, though this has not been confirmed on iNaturalist. There are several flowers the look very similar which I find difficult to confirm ID. The flower on the right is Wingstem. This is also in the Asteraceae family. And I’ve also been told it is sometimes called Yellow ironweed. It can grow very tall, up to 8 feet.
Another flower commonly seen this year is White Snakeroot, a pretty plant with tiny little bright white flowers. It’s also in the Asteraceae family and attracts butterflies, moths, bees, wasps and flies.
The plant is native and poisonous. If cows eat the plant, their meat and milk can be contaminated with a toxin, and could even cause what’s been commonly known as milk sickness. It also has the potential to be poisonous to horses, sheep and goats. It’s definitely not something that should be ingested.
And now, let’s move on to a different color flower, one you see quite a lot during the summer and into the fall. It grows along roadway ditches, oblivious to bad soil which might also contain road salt. And you don’t have to plant them. Chicory. Also in the Asteraceae family.
This beautiful little flower blooms primarily in the morning hours and typically closes up around early afternoon on warm days. Each bloom only lasts one day. It’s a perennial plant with blue/purple flowers and is native to Europe. I’ve read that this flowers leaves, buds and roots have been used medicinally for more than 200 years. The flower itself is exquisite if you look at it up close. It’s almost as if you’re looking at little blue Christmas lights. As always in nature, if you look at things up close, it’s a little piece of magic.
So in conclusion, I can recommend taking the extra time to really look at what’s in front of you. Explore nature up close. Feel the breeze. Hear the birds. See the bits of nature that beg to be seen. There’s so much out there to learn about. To question, as if you were a four-year-old seeing something for the first time. It really can be magical and enlightening.
And now I will leave you with a view from a neighborhood development. Not much nature there to see? I beg to differ. I think the frogs, toads, dragonflies, and birds would agree with me.
I’m not a “birder” not in any real sense anyway. But I enjoy birds…seeing them…hearing them…learning about them. Especially birds I don’t normally see. Perhaps that’s why I so enjoy spending some time in Florida during the winter. Well, that and the warm weather and sunshine too!
Shorebirds come to mind first. Like this Black-necked stilt. A beautiful little thing that looks like it could have been hand painted; its coloration is exquisite. You’ll find them wading along the shallow edges of lakes and ponds, marshes and other wetlands in search of food such as a variety of insects, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs and fish. With long pink legs, a thin relatively long bill, and black and white coloring, it’s quite distinguishable – even from a distance.
Another common shorebird that is seen quite often is the Greater yellowlegs (although I could be wrong about this ID and this may be the Lesser yellowlegs). It’s always been hard for me to distinguish the two if they aren’t in closer proximity to compare sizes. They also prefer wetland areas. You will often see them striding along in the water and sometimes even running after a small fish.
These two white beauties also love the lakes, ponds and wetland areas. The Great egret (larger bird) and the Snowy egret. Different in size? Definitely. But there’s also other differences in these two. The Great egret has a yellow bill and black feet. The Snowy egret has a black bill and yellow feet though they don’t show in this photo.
And here’s what those yellow feet look like!
But that’s not the only white shorebird you may see. This photo is of an immature Little Blue heron. I read something interesting on the Audubon website which suggested nature helps protect the immature Little Blue because it allows them to feed with flocks of Snowy egrets which stir up prey. Another distinguishing feature of this bird is it’s rather pale greenish legs.
And for comparison, this is an adult Little Blue heron. Quite different with its gray-blue coloring and tinges of maroon on the head and neck.
Did I mention that Florida has a LOT of white birds? This is a White ibis. Very distinctive with its long curbed bill and mesmerizing pale blue eyes. They’re very large wading birds with a body shaped almost like a football. You will see them quite often as they are numerous there. You will often see them in large flocks. One of the interesting things about the White ibis is that they’re not all white. They have black wing tips which you only see when in flight.
A somewhat similar sized bird is the Limpkin, with it’s “siren-like” call of alarm when they feel the need to warn of humans in the area. Limpkins tend to walk with a halting high-stepping gait, and I’ve read that may be why they were named as they were (limp-kin).
Limpkins are one of the few birds whose numbers are actually increasing over the last few years in Florida. It is believed this may be due to the increase of an invasive island apple snail there. Apple snails make up a large portion of the Limpkins diet. With the increase in food, the birds may be thriving.
This Roseate spoonbill was almost as curious about me as I was about her (or him). Roseate spoonbills are a medium to large bird – larger than a White Ibis but smaller than a Great Blue heron. They are white and pink, with rather vivid pink shoulders and rears (although this photo doesn’t show that). Juveniles are similarly colored but are paler, and they sport a feathered head for three years before they obtain their vivid breeding plumage. It’s quite possible that this could be a juvenile based upon what I’ve read.
According to Wikipedia, their vivid pink coloring comes from pigments (canthaxanthin carotenoid) in the food they eat.
Here’s a better shot of that spoonbill which is used quite well when foraging in shallow water for food. They swing their head back and forth in the water with their bill partially open to catch invertebrates. These spoonbills are quite social. They eat, nest and roost in groups.
Here’s an example of the socialization. There are many different birds in this photo that may not be readily identifiable, but some are Great egrets, Wood storks, White ibis, Glossy ibis and Roseate spoonbills.
This is a Glossy ibis. Similar long curved bill as the White ibis but the Glossy’s bill is a blue/black color. Most of it’s feathers appear nearly black except when the sun hits it just right and you see the glorious maroon and blue colored feathers along its back. The Glossy ibis is another medium sized wading bird. It’s breeding plumage can be much more vividly colored. They forage in shallow marshy areas and lower their bill into the muddy, silty water to feel for prey. They eat worms, insects, crabs, shrimp, frogs, toads and snakes, among other things.
They too spend their time socializing in flocks and nest in colonies of Ibis as well as other types of nesting birds such as egrets and herons. They lay three or four eggs in a nest of sticks which can be in trees, bushes or even on the ground. Both parents incubate the eggs and feed the chicks though the female does more than her share.
The Glossy ibis is very widespread throughout the world living in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia as well as here in states from Maine to Texas (in the warm months). They winter from the Carolinas south to Florida and the Gulf Coast to Texas.
This small stocky bird is a Green heron. It has short legs, with maroon coloring about its neck and breast. The rest of this heron can appear to be black, dark blue, gray and/or green, as its back feathers are iridescent so it requires good lighting to really see its coloring properly.
Here’s a better look at the maroon coloring.
The Green heron is crow sized and sticks to an aquatic habitat of fresh water on wooded ponds, marshes and along rivers. It is not considered a wading bird, as it prefers to perch on logs or even the ground close by water. It’s very patient when foraging, stalking its prey very slowly. They are also known as intelligent “tool using” species. They have been known to drop a twig into the water to attract fish.
Green herons are primarily solitary birds, though they may nest in pairs but rarely in a large colony of birds. Their nests are composed of a platform of sticks that are in shrubs or trees that can be 5 to 30 feet above the ground, though there are times when they nest on the ground, but almost always close to water.
This rather mottled looking thing is a Ruddy turnstone, yes, another shorebird. It’s actually considered a sandpiper, with its short stocky features and slightly upturned bill (though this photo doesn’t show that well). This bird is common and widespread. They migrate from Canada south to the coastline. They’re known for flipping over stones and shells in search of food. They eat flies, spiders, beetles, wasps and bees, among other things. Their nests are nothing more than a shallow scrape with perhaps some leaf lining on rocky ground or vegetation. They lay 2 to 5 eggs which are incubated by the female. The Ruddy turnstone is fun to watch as it sprints along the shoreline, flipping a pebble and rushing onward to the next one.
Well, that’s a look at some of the shorebirds you might see should you visit the Florida waterways. These beautiful birds are well worth getting to know.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this Nature Views blog, and I hope you might have picked up some interesting little tidbit that perhaps you didn’t know. There’s a lot more information on the Internet about these birds, just waiting for you to explore.
It’s just about this time of year after the holidays are over when I start getting antsy. When I’m restless and longing for sunshine and warm temperatures. Yet still knowing those may be a while longer yet – sometimes way too long.
So this is when I start looking through nature photos I’ve taken. In this case, photos from Florida last winter. Cause that’s one place – even in winter – where the sun still shines and things still bloom. I thought perhaps you might want to see some of that sunshine as it lights up things with wings.
Our first winged wonder is the Monarch butterfly. It has an amazing migration that most people find fascinating. That such a tiny, delicate little thing can fly from the northern U.S. and Canada all the way south to the mountain tops of Mexico in search of the oyamel fir forests is quite unbelievable.
We all know the value of planting milkweeds to help support the Monarch as this is their host plant – the plant their larvae need to begin life. But it’s also equally importance to have a variety of blooming plants from April through October to supply these beautiful creatures with nectar and pollen. This is the food they need to survive.
The story of the Monarch makes one realize how miraculous nature truly is. Especially when you look beyond the surface of their beautiful colors.
This Zebra Swallowtail blends very well into its environment, as in the photo above. It is the only native kite swallowtail in the U.S. In this case, “kite” refers to it’s long tails.
You’ll typically find these beautiful butterflies in southeastern states, although they can be found as far north as Ohio and some parts of New England. Their host plant is the pawpaw tree. Zebra Swallowtails lay single green eggs on the underside of their leaves. So next time you see a pawpaw tree, lift those leaves to check for eggs; you never know what you might find.
The Common Buckeye is a magnificent creature with its warm brown/orange tones and vivid eye spots. Very recognizable, even from a distance. You’ll see them flitting around low areas quite often, as they are (excuse the pun) quite common throughout the U.S. Their eggs remind me of gooseberries, with tiny white vertical stripes on a green berry. This butterfly is a generalist with quite a few host plants.
Another butterfly that most people love to see is the Eastern Black Swallowtail. This female sports vivid black wings and yellow and blue spots. And if this one’s wings were open a bit wider, you would see a couple of orange spots as well.
The profile of the male and female Black Swallowtail are close to being identical and hard to differentiate. It is the opened wings which help one identify male from female. Females tend to have more vivid blue spots while the male has less prominent blue spots and more vivid yellow.
You’ll find the larvae of these beauties are attracted by plants in the Apiaceae or celery family, which also includes dill, parsley and carrots. These plants have chemicals that repel other predator insects but Black Swallowtail larvae are not detrimentally affected by them. As a result of the larvae eating these plants, Black Swallowtail butterflies taste bad to birds and they avoid them. That’s a very desirable protection of nature.
Want to see Black Swallowtails at your house? Plant a pot of dill or parsley for your patio, put it in a sunny place and watch for those cute little caterpillars to appear.
The Red Admiral is another rather vivid butterfly that is also regularly seen in North America. This is one of just a few butterflies that overwinter as adults in Ohio, typically in hollow logs, bark or leaf litter. The undersides of their wings look wood-like with brown, tan, black and even a bit of orange. It’s nature’s way of protection. Their host plant are those in the nettle family. While nettles aren’t a desirable plant for many people (especially when you brush against them), it is desirable for the Red Admiral.
There are only four butterflies that hibernate as adults in Ohio during the winter. They are (clockwise from top left): Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Red Admiral and Mourning Cloak. So please rethink when you decide to mulch or get rid of your leaves in the fall. Perhaps retain a small corner of the yard that could be home in the winter to these butterflies.
Here’s an often overlooked butterfly – the Red-banded Hairstreak – with it’s happy little face and black and white striped legs and antenna. Blends in pretty well with its surroundings, don’t you think? According to Wikipedia, the Hairstreak’s name comes from those “tiny tails” or hairs from their hindwings and “streak” for their stripes. This is another butterfly you will quite readily see, though they tend to be a bit hard to get a photo of. They’re pretty small, with a wing span of about an inch or so.
Here’s a better picture of those hindwings. They have something similar to eye spots along the back edge. These spots and the tails can attract a predator. But the little “tails” can be ripped off and allow the butterfly to get away and live another day. Nature’s protection at work once again!
And for the final things with wings, I’d like to share with you this photo of the female Diana fritillary. It’s rare, or at least it is considered to be in West Virginia near the New River Gorge (where this photo was taken). The Diana fritillary’s range in the southeastern U.S. begins in West Virginia and moves southwest down to Alabama. But even within these areas, this butterfly can be local and very rare.
The male is dramatically different in coloring, with the interior of it’s wings black and the outer edges orange. This is a large butterfly with about a 4 to 4.5 inch wing span. Females are typically larger than males.
The Diana fritillary is forest dependent, preferring the rich moist edges of forests and neighboring meadows. This butterfly is threatened across portions of its environment. Environmental threats include spraying for pests (such as the gypsy moth), as well as invasive garlic mustard and deer which could reduce the abundance of violets – their host plants. At one point, spraying resulted in a moderate risk of extinction in some locations in a southern state.
This butterfly’s life cycle is a fascinating one. Their flight is from June to September. Females lay their eggs primarily in the month of August. They crawl around on the ground and attach their eggs onto twigs and broken sticks that are near the base of violets. Interestingly enough, they do not lay their eggs ON the violet plants but scatter them about the ground. The larvae hatch and, without eating, they burrow into the ground to hibernate. In Spring they emerge and feed on the violet leaves and flowers. They will then pupate and emerge as the adult Diana fritillary butterfly. We can only hope that they will find a way to survive into the future.
There is a multitude of information readily available about butterflies. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has an excellent brochure called Backyardsfor Butterflies which can help you determine which plants might be appropriate for your yard or patio should you live in this area.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Things with Wings, and perhaps learned something new. I know I did.
And now…I would like to leave you with a sunny, warm Florida photo that might bring a smile to the face and has absolutely NOTHING to do with wings. But then again, perhaps it can make your spirit soar like YOU have wings!
Sometimes when I go out to explore nature, I find myself having expectations of what I might see or something I would like to see. But what I’m learning is if I can clear my mind of those expectations, I see so much more. It provides a deeper experience of the wonder of nature that captivates not only the eye, but the imagination as well.
I want to share some of those experiences with you – things you may find enticing. Most of the photos in this blog are from time spent camping in state parks in northern Florida this past winter.
Sometimes the sheer beauty of color just stops you in your tracks, like in this photo of an American White Waterlily. It reminds me of a painting with colors bursting forth, yet so very much more enticing than one could ever actually paint. Nature has a beauty all its own that we can only mimic with paint or photographs, which is why experiencing nature is so important.
Not far away from this little pond was a vast open area surrounded by trees. An area that had obviously experienced a planned burn within the last year. The sun was illuminating it and brought it to life with such an essence you couldn’t stop staring at it. It was breathtaking in its own right.
Hikes in state parks and preserves in Florida can often provide rare experiences…like this one that occurred in Paynes Prairie Preserve at Bolen’s Bluff just south of Gainesville. Paynes Prairie offers 21,000 acres where Bison and wild horses graze freely. Sometimes if we’re lucky, we can ID Bison with binoculars, but they’re usually tiny brown dots on the horizon. Sometimes we never see them at all. Today was different.
Bison. Lots of them and closer than we have ever experienced. A world away that was now on our doorstep. You could hear the quiet rustling of a light breeze through the weeds…the lumbering footsteps of Bison as they moved about grazing quietly.
We had hiked part of the trail out into the preserve when we spotted a group of Bison moving towards the trail we had just trod. Suddenly realizing they could cut us off for returning to the truck, we hauled it back in a hurry to make sure we weren’t cut off. And it was a good thing we did. The Bison group crossed the trail twice and were in no hurry to move on. This photo was taken with a zoom lens at a respectable distance, but perhaps a bit too close for my comfort. We were told there were only female Bison here now as the males were removed due to being a bit too aggressive.
And the wild horses decided to pay a visit as well. Probably about 125 feet away or so, just grazing peacefully.
Beautiful animals fortunate enough to be able to have a very large playground to roam at will.
In Florida we see quite a number of birds; we expect and anticipate that. But sometimes we are especially lucky to see those birds we NEVER see in the wild in Ohio.
Yes, an American Flamingo, and it’s NOT in a Zoo. This creature was a favorite of many photographers at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge this past winter. We had seen it the prior year, but it was only just a tiny pink/orange spec in the distance in any photo we could get. This year it was much more cooperative (and totally focused on getting breakfast).
The American Flamingo is primarily found in Central and South America, though they are seen sometimes in Florida. They’re big wading birds – about 5 feet tall. This Flamingo did not appear to have a mate this year (or last year either). I’ve read they live more than 40 years. Let’s hope a mate is in its future!
The Crested caracara is another such rare bird. It is found in just a very few places in Florida. I’ve only seen it at Kissimmee Prairie Preserve and on this day, this immature caracara was at Myakka River State Park. Seems the dead wild boar drew scavengers including Turkey Buzzards. The Crested caracara feeds on carrion and will defend its food from vultures, as we saw it do.
This Snail Kite is also something one rarely sees. It is listed as endangered federally and in the state of Florida. According to the Cornell Lab (www.allaboutbirds.org), it is estimated that there are just 1,000 Snail Kites in the U.S. Loss of habitat has been a factor in keeping their numbers down. Snail Kites need marshes, lakes and other types of wetlands that have fairly clear water. They feed almost exclusively on (yes, you guessed it) freshwater apple snails.
The photo above shows the Kite in action. Snail Kites clutch the snail in their talons, then fly to a perch to pry out the snail. This particular bird in the photo has been banded for research purposes.
While not a rare bird, the American Bittern is seldom photographed (at least by me). These medium-sized stout-looking herons have a unique shape with shorter legs. They have this wonderful uncanny knack of blending well into marshy reedy areas – so much so that you can easily paddle right by them without ever being aware they exist. They hold their pose very carefully without blinking an eye (or so I believe anyway). Most birds will fly or find a way to flee, not the Bittern. They hide in plain sight. It’s always a thrill to capture a photo.
Ahhh, a woodpecker you say! Yes, it is. But it’s a rare one – the Red-cockaded woodpecker, a female I believe. Also an endangered species. They excavate nests in living longleaf pines exclusively and are found primarily in the southeastern U.S. Males have small red feathers (cockade) just below it’s cap and above the white cheek area. I’ve read the term “cockade” dates back to the 1800’s and refers to an ornament on a hat. Who knew?
An albino squirrel you say? Not quite. This is actually a white-phase Eastern Gray Squirrel. While mostly white, there are tiny areas with some darker coloring. The white coloring is due to leucism, a gene mutation. While beautiful and rare to see, it unfortunately also makes it a wonderful target for prey.
This? It’s a venomous Pygmy rattlesnake. While it’s not rare, it is for me to run into it. So far, I’ve only come upon two of these in the last several years. It’s about two feet long with a reddish brown stripe down its back. While some say it’s venom is not deadly, it can pack a wonderful punch with excruciating pain and swelling. And it’s advised to get to get immediate medical help if bitten. These snakes can be found throughout Florida and a good portion of the Eastern U.S. Avoid them.
And now for something you may have NEVER seen…the White Ibis tree (although if you look carefully I believe there may be an outlier in there – a Great Egret). Not sure what’s up with that!
The White Ibis is a bird you will see quite often in Florida and other southeastern states. They are typically found feeding in flocks. Though I’ve got to admit I’ve never seen this many White Ibis in one tree before. So I’m counting this as a rare occurrence for me.
I hope you’ve enjoyed these unexpected (and sometimes rare) photos of this most recent jaunt through Florida. You never quite know what you will find, and that’s the fun of it!
For a couple of months during the winter, we usually pack up the camper and head to Florida to explore nature. And yes, to enjoy the warmer temps and sunshine. That trip usually includes bringing the canoe and spending time with friends. It allows us to see nature up close and personal. Sometimes it can be a bit “too close” and involves some maneuvering.
But what you see can be mesmerizing. Or entertaining. Or funny and cute. And sometimes not quite so calming… Sometimes it’s what’s keeping an eye on YOU.
Yes my friends, there definitely are alligators in Florida. And when you’re paddling in a canoe you see them. You also see them when hiking. But sometimes these little guys (in the photo below) fall under the category of “cute.” Unless Momma is nearby, which she probably is.
Baby gator hatchlings are only about 7 inches long, give or take, and require protection by Momma to keep predators away. Racoons, snakes, birds, otters and even other gators find these little guys appetizing. Baby gators tend to stay together in a group when they’re young, and you often see this out in the wild. Sometimes they stay close to Momma for two or even three years for protection.
But I digress. Let’s move onto the category of mesmerizing. When people hear you’ve been to Florida, the most asked question tends to be Did you see alligators? We know the answer to that one, but the second most asked question is Did you see manatees? And the answer to that is also Yes!
Paddling near the mouth of a natural spring that flows into the Suwannee River at Manatee Springs State Park we saw about a dozen manatees gently floating leisurely by enjoying the warm waters. It’s difficult to photograph a manatee. But look at the horizontal shape amongst the reflections of the trees on the surface of the water in the photo above.
Their front flippers help steer them through the water while the large tail provides the power to move them forward. These gentle giants are threatened due to a number of things including boats collisions, entanglement in fishing lines, harassment, habitat loss and starvation. They are protected by State and Federal law in Florida, and we can only hope they continue to survive.
Paddling around Florida’s waterways always provides a look at many creatures that love water. From shorebirds along coastal waterways (like this Brown Pelican that came in for a bouncing landing), to inland lakes with those creatures that focus on fish as a mainstay of their diet, like the Osprey.
Otter Lake in the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is surrounded by towering Bald Cypress trees. The water is vivid blue and on windless days it’s smooth as glass. Sunlight reflects tree images on the water while Ospreys glide overhead.
The Cypress trees towering height make excellent locations for Osprey nests. The trees provide nest locations that offer easy approaches for the birds and good visibility to watch for potential predators.
An Osprey is considered a type of fish-hawk and eats almost exclusively live fish (although there are some exceptions). So having waterways nearby with ample food supply is critical.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is also a haven for water creatures. From the shy little Pied-billed grebe (which is not a type of duck) to beautiful Redhead ducks and more.
Pied-billed grebes are quite common in most of the U.S. I find it entertaining with it’s quick little dives to avoid being seen. Did you know Grebes eat large amounts of their own feathers. This helps block indigestible items long enough that they can form a pellet (which also includes those feathers amongst other things) they can regurgitate. And they’re the ONLY bird that does this.
And now on to the aforementioned Redhead ducks – a diving duck that’s interesting to observe. Talk about a beautiful creature, wow! As with many birds, the male is always the most colorful of the pair. According to Wikipedia, Redhead ducks make up just 2% of the North America’s duck population. Maybe it’s no wonder I don’t see them very often!
On this day we found them sharing the pool of water with a couple of American Coots. According to what I’ve read, Redheads are very “social” ducks and this photo appears to concur with that.
But Wood ducks are equally as resplendent as the Redheads, at least I believe so. This beautiful pair were remarkably calm and stood quite still for this photo. Generally I find Wood ducks to be quite shy.
And speaking of water creatures that are shy, how about the North American river otter? I rarely see them out of the water, and generally just see them quickly swimming away. But not on this day. Mother nature was kind to us and decided to share their beauty with observers paddling by. These guys were as curious about us as we were about them!
I’ve read river otters can be up to 4 feet long and weigh up to 30 pounds. The males are generally bigger, so I’m guessing that this might be a male due to its obvious size. They’re playful creatures, and on this day we found them scrambling about with several other otters as we paddled along.
And there you have it. Just a few of the water creatures we were able to share our time with while in Florida this year. Oh, there’s lots more photos to come in some future blogs. Nature has a way to mesmerize and amaze, and it’s so beautiful you just have to share it!
When I became a Volunteer Naturalist several years ago, I imagined birds would become my passion and primary area of interest. And they did, for a few years. (Although I have to admit they still do when it comes to colorful migrating warblers or seeing fledgling Eastern bluebirds in the spring.) Then I thought perhaps plants would become my focus, as I love spring wildflowers and colorful perennials which attract pollinators and butterflies. But what has really garnered my attention surprisingly is native bees.
When the word “bee” is mentioned most people tend to think of honey bees or the pesky yellowjackets which are everywhere in the late summer/early fall. Honey bees are actually native to Europe, the Middle East and Africa. They are not native to the U.S. And yellowjackets? They’re not a bee, but rather are a type of wasp.
So what are native bees you might ask? Well there are probably about 400 to 500 bee species native to Ohio. And there’s a wide variety of them, from the tiny little iridescent sweat bee…
to the large bumble bee, which is big enough you can’t miss it.
Two-spotted bumble bee (B. bimaculatus) on clover
Bumble bees are generalists. That is, they obtain pollen and nectar from a variety of plants, which is a good thing as it helps supply them with food from early spring into fall. You will often see them fly from flower to flower, generally staying with the same species of plant rather than to just any flowering plant in front of them. I’ve heard that is because it is easier to remain with the same flower type (on each pollen/nectar run) to make it rather “mindless” to find the pollen and nectar but I don’t know if that’s true.
Black and Gold bumble bee (B. auricomus)
Unlike honey bees which can overwinter in hives and survive for sometimes several years, most bumble bees have a short lifespan in comparison. Queens can live generally a year, while worker bumble bees may only survive 3 to 6 weeks depending upon their job within the colony and their species.
The lifecycle of a bumble bee is quite interesting and truly amazing. In the fall, a mated queen will seek shelter underground, where she will go into a type of hibernation for the winter. All by herself.
In the spring, she will emerge when the temperature is warm enough. She will feed on pollen and nectar to gain her strength, then she will roam just above ground level seeking a suitable structure for a nest. Perhaps an old rodent nest, in leaf litter or near old logs. She will make tiny wax cups of pollen and nectar (pollen balls) and then lay an egg on each one. She will warm the eggs with her body so they will hatch within a few days and become larvae. The larvae will feed on the pollen ball. During this time, the queen is on her own. She has to seek pollen and nectar to feed herself, protect the nest from predators and incubate the brood.
The larvae will go through different stages before spinning a cocoon and metamorphizing into bumble bees. All of them will be female worker bees. The queen will continue laying eggs while the new worker bees go out to seek pollen and nectar for the colony.
Once the queen has enough worker bees, she will cease to go out and will remain on the nest producing eggs. Her workers will take care of feeding and maintaining the nest. They will keep new eggs warm so they can hatch. They will clean the nest of debris, as well as protect the nest from predators. And they will find nectar and pollen to bring back to the colony. It’s easy to understand why worker bees live a short life. It’s a tough one.
The nest may only have 50 to 300 bumble bees in total. In comparison, honey bee hives can contain upwards of 40,000 bees or more!
While queens are fertilized in fall before they hibernate for the winter, the queen has the ability to determine which sex they want their eggs to be. This allows them to lay eggs in the spring that are all female worker bees. And in late summer the queen produces eggs that are both male (drones) and female (gynes) which will become new queens.
The new queens and the drones will fly off to find a mate from other bumble bee colonies. After mating, the drones, the original queen (which started the colony) and any remaining worker bees will die. The newly mated queens will seek suitable shelters to hibernate through the winter — each of them totally on their own. Come spring, the cycle will begin anew.
Yes. Pretty amazing creatures.
Brown-belted bumble bee (B. griseocollis)
Bumble bees are very docile. They generally only sting when they’re threatened. I’ve gotten my cell phone camera pretty close to them without harm (as these photos show), though I try to not to be a pest. They are, after all, just trying to survive.
There are about 30 species of bumble bees in eastern North America, although only about 10 are considered common. The most often seen bumble bee in Ohio is the Common Eastern (Bombas impatiens) which you will see more than 50% of the time.
Common Eastern bumble Bee (B. impatiens)
There are many beautiful bumble bee species beyond the Common Eastern, such as the Brown-belted (B. griseocollis), Two-spotted (B. bimaculatus), Golden Northern (B. fervidus) (my favorite) and the Black and Gold (B. auricomus). I’ve photographed these over the last couple of years. Sometimes the bees are flitting about so quickly, it’s hard to make a positive ID without a photograph.
Golden Northern bumble bee (B. fervidus)
I’ve been fortunate to be a volunteer this summer for a bumble bee survey being done by the USGS Native Bee Inventory and Monitoring Lab in Maryland. Their project covers 13 states in the New England area. Their scope is to observe and identify bumble bees and the blooming plants they are obtaining nectar/pollen from. The end goal is to identify the appropriate species of plants/seeds to better encourage the sustainability of our bumble bees throughout the area. While Ohio is not within the 13-state scope of this project, we anticipate the data may be able to be used (if sufficient resources become available.) I certainly hope so!
I hope this research data ultimately helps us all better understand the types of plants we can use in our own yards to assist these amazing creatures to thrive. They pollinate the beautiful flowering plants that make our world a better place in which to live. I hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into the amazing world of some of our native bees.
If you’ve never been to Cedar Bog Nature Preserve (just south of Urbana OH), I’d highly recommend it. If you enjoy seeing nature at its finest, this is the place to explore. A 1.2-mile boardwalk guides you through the interesting ecosystem of the preserve. Wetlands, meadows and Northern white cedar embrace you as you meander some of nature’s finest. Conveniently placed benches invite one to sit a while and enjoy the coolness that comes from this unique area.
The name “Cedar Bog” makes one naturally assume that this preserve is a bog. It is not. True, there is a lot of water throughout, hence the need for the boardwalk. But Cedar Bog is actually a “fen.” A fen allows water from an aquifer to come above ground in places and continuously flow through the area. A long time ago, Ice Age glaciers buried the Teays River (just east of this area), and it is this aquifer that comes above ground in two places within the preserve. The alkaline water is cool and maintains the ambient temperature at a cooler level during the summer and warmer during the winter. So…water continuously flows through the area. Hence, it is a fen and not a bog.
Cedar Bog is said to contain the widest diversity of plants within the state and features 40% of the rare and endangered plant species in Ohio (https://historicsites.ohiohistory.org/cedarbog/). With such a diversity of plants, you will always find something new to attract your attention, regardless of the season. June is a great time to see the Showy Lady’s Slipper, which is said to be one of the tallest orchids in North America.
These delicate pink and white plants grow primarily in wetlands and wooded swamps. The fen is a perfect place for them. They thrive in this environment. And that’s a very good thing because these orchids are rare and considered threatened in Ohio. According to the U.S. Forest Service, these plants can take up to 16 years to flower for the first time. It’s especially amazing when you find that these orchids have a special symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi. They won’t just grow anywhere. So when you see them you will recognize that this is a rare plant indeed.
But orchids aren’t the only thing you will see as you wander.
There are open areas where wildflowers abound, such as (what I believe to be) Foxglove Beardtongue (Penstemon genus). It’s a beautiful little white flower with delicate purple stripes to guide bees inside for nectar. It’s a favorite of bumblebees. The plant is said to thrive in moist meadows but also tolerates compact urban soils – possibly a flower for all of our yards!
Here’s something that stopped me in my tracks.
The leaves on this plant looked to be a type of rose, but what is the spikey red ball? Not a flower. It’s a Spiny Leaf Gall Wasp (diplolepis polita). In the spring the larvae inside the gall will become mature wasps which will chew their way out and fly off to find a mate. The fertilized female will lay eggs in a leaf bud. The eggs will hatch, begin feeding, and the plant will grow a layer of cells around the larvae. (Amazing how nature protects itself.) Larvae will continue to grow inside the gall and eventually enter a pre-pupa stage which lasts throughout the winter. In spring it enters a pupa stage until it’s time for the wasp to chew its way out of the gall. And the life cycle will begin anew. Why is the gall spikey and red, and not smooth or otherwise shaped? Good question. I’m not sure. Perhaps a reader knows the answer to this?
Painted Skimmer dragonflies are out and about quite a bit in May and June. They enjoy marshy areas. This one posed quite nicely for a bit, though it was a distance away.
This male Ebony Jewelwing decided to sit a spell as well. Males have black wings and iridescent blue/green bodies which can be 2 1/4 to 3 inches in length. Females have brown wings and are a bit less colorful. These damselflies love shaded, cool, moist areas with slow-moving water and lots of vegetation. You’ll find them throughout the eastern United States. I’ve read they have a habit of turning their heads to watch us as we watch them. Certainly looks like that is the case here!
This Silvery Checkerspot butterfly is sometimes confused with the Pearl Crescent. It certainly confused me at first glance. They’re both small orange and black butterflies, although the Silvery Checkerspot is slightly larger. One way to distinguish them is the small dots along their hindwings, which can be white-filled dots, and they also have more black around the outer wing edges. Easier to identify if they’re sitting still with wings outstretched, but much more difficult if they’re flitting about. They do seem to like being near water, while Pearl Crescents you will see in varying environments.
And sometimes you find things you don’t necessarily expect…
Like this baby Barred Owl having breakfast, although it did stop long enough to take a look at the humans on the boardwalk below before quietly enjoying it’s food. Food undoubtedly provided by a parent owl which was in a nearby tree keeping a watchful eye on the little one.
Cedar Bog can offer much to those who love nature and slow down to explore its depths. It’s a great place to wander and learn.
At 90,000 acres, this wildlife refuge is impossible to fully embrace in just a few days. But I’d like to share some photos of nature’s wonders that just might encourage you to visit here when you’re in the area.
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is in the panhandle of Florida and hugs the Apalachee Bay. It’s a wintering location for a large number of migratory birds. The area is absolutely huge! But don’t let its great expanse overwhelm you. Go to the Visitor Center first and explore the drive out to the lighthouse. Then broaden your wanderings by foot or bike.
Here’s a map of this section of the refuge that might be of help. The black and white line on the map is the paved public road. At the top of the map, the Visitor Center is indicated. But keep in mind this is just one portion of the Refuge.
Wetlands attract a diverse range of ducks and birds – birds of prey, shore birds, ducks, warblers, songbirds and many others. Hiking areas provide easy access for closer views. This White-eyed Vireo was singing melodiously near the overlook at a wetland just off the main drive. It’s easy to see why it’s called “white-eyed.”
These Ring-necked ducks are easy to spot with the male’s gleaming black head and back. But it’s the bill I find so interesting. It appears to almost have been hand painted. Nature’s wonders indeed!
We also saw American Wigeons, Blue-Winged Teals and others, along with the ubiquitous Pied-Billed Grebes. The Pied-billed is a rather small bird and actually not considered to be a duck at all. Its diving antics are fun to watch. I read that its ancient lineage is more closely related to (believe it or not) the Flamingo. But that is still debatable by many.
Speaking of Flamingos, another visitor to the refuge told us they had heard of sightings of one. So naturally, off we go scouting the park to find the elusive bird. And lo and behold, there it was hanging out on Mounds Pool #3. Much too far away for a decent photo, but it’s enough determine it was a Flamingo.
Shorebirds were plentiful. Like this Great Egret. Look closer at the photo and you will see a Little Blue heron directly behind it and what might be a Greater Yellow Legs just to the left. But don’t quote me, as identification of shore birds are not my forte.
One enjoyable way to explore the area of the Mounds ponds is by trail bike. You can cover lots of ground while still having binoculars and camera close at hand to stop and check out the creatures you see. There are quite a few ponds there with dikes around them for easy access and observation.
Creatures come in a variety of sizes and shapes. And they co-exist. Like this alligator and the Greater Yellow Legs. The angle of this photo distorts the closeness of the two, but I still think that bird is rather brave.
The scenery in this area is breathtaking, with wide expanses of water and marsh grasses blending together. It’s quiet out here, with wind gently blowing through grasses and occasional calls of birds drifting through the area. If I had to define the term “peaceful,” this would be it. It’s a place where you can lose life’s distractions, time-commitments and “just be.”
In the photo below, a Tri-colored heron blends into its colorful surroundings, becoming at once an intricate and natural part of the scenery.
Closer to the shoreline is the famous St. Marks lighthouse. It’s located on the east side of the mouth of the St. Marks river and is second oldest light house in Florida. It opened in 1831 and has had several renovations. The lighthouse and keepers quarters were closed when we were there this past winter. The Fresnell lens in the lighthouse was removed during one of the renovations and is on display at the Visitors Center. A replica lens is now in its place in the lighthouse and is lit seasonally according to the US Fish & Wildlife Service website.
On the shoreline beneath that lighthouse, shorebirds are prolific. Bonaparte’s Gull, Terns of several species, Sandpipers, Plovers and others.
I was fortunate to be able to photograph a Piping Plover. Note the bands on both legs. After a bit of research, I was able to report this little guy to the USGS for their banding project research. Coastal populations of the Piping Plover are considered threatened here, while inland populations are considered endangered.
Here’s another shorebird I rarely see, the American Oystercatcher. It favors coastal areas with sand and shell beaches as well as salt water marsh areas. And yes, it does eat oysters as well as clams and other mollusks. This is a poor photo, even with a super zoom lens. These guys were quite shy.
The Wildlife Refuge sports not only coastal areas but also inland lakes. If you bring your canoe, Otter Lake is a wonderful place to spend a quiet morning. Its banks are entirely lined with Bald Cypress trees, draped with Spanish moss swaying in the breeze overhead. Its deep blue waters encourages one to paddle gently, hugging the shoreline and exploring its depths.
Osprey love this lake. Seems it’s the perfect habitat to raise their young. Great nesting areas and plenty of fish. We saw at least a dozen Osprey nests while we paddled the shore.
Osprey nests are typically found in tall trees or other structures which provide good visibility for the pair to protect their nest. At Otter Lake, many nests could be found high atop dead trees lining the lake. Nests are typically built of sticks with grasses, bark and other materials lining the inside. It is common for osprey to return to the same nest the following year. Osprey are largely monogamous.
Osprey are beautiful birds of prey. These raptors can be up to two feet in length and have a six-foot wingspan. Their diet is almost exclusively fish. I’ve read they dive for fish feet first. And they are exquisite creatures when in flight. Note the coloration of the wings in the photo below.
Otter Lake also sported a few other “black and white” birds. Wood Storks. These huge birds that can be four feet tall with five-feet wingspans. They nest in colonies in Winter and Spring in Florida. Their diet is primarily fish, but they also eat other small aquatic creatures, even baby alligators. They’re the only native stork in North America. I think they have a rather “prehistoric” look, but perhaps that’s why I am drawn to them. I don’t think many would call them beautiful.
And before we leave the wildlife refuge, I’d like to provide you with just one more look. This one impressed me with its color vibrancy. The green adorning the rocks could have been angel hair, it looked that soft and silky.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief look at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge. It’s a truly wondrous area that has so much to explore. I know it’s on my list to visit again in the future. I hope it’s now on yours.
In central Florida there is a very special state park called Myakka River. While it’s known by visitors as a place to see alligators, it holds so many more wonders of nature. Its beauty is breathtaking. It’s the type of place that holds you entranced even without the multitude of birds and other creatures that call it home.
The wide array of greens and blues in the scenery are magnificent to behold on this late January day. Dried grasses rustle softly in the wind. The waters are calm, with mirror reflections of the sky.
The slow-moving waters of Myakka River meander between narrow banks. Shorebirds hunt peacefully nearby. Like this Great Egret with its recent catch. I was told it may be an armored catfish, which are considered invasive in Florida, and sometimes challenging for a bird to swallow (depending on the size of the fish).
Quite often you will see birds of different species hunting or abiding peacefully together in the waters. Like these Roseate Spoonbills and Wood Storks. Roseate Spoonbills are interesting to watch when feeding. They swing their wide bill back and forth beneath the water, literally mining for food.
On this late afternoon/early evening the Wood Stork decided it was time to bathe (or was it just playing?). He was pretty interesting to watch him splash about, totally ignorant of its audience.
One shorebird which is usually quite reticent to have its photo taken is the Green Heron. But when they’re on the hunt, their single-minded focus is second to none.
There is one bird I think is rather peculiar looking with its red legs, large curved bill and pale blue eyes. The White Ibis are all white except for their black wingtips seen when flying. They roost in trees and shrubs and are native to coastal states from North Carolina to Texas and even further south.
This year, we were fortunate to see a multitude of Glossy Ibis. You would definitely not mistake it with the white one! The Glossy Ibis has dark bills and legs, and the most miraculous looking wing feather colors when the light strikes it just right.
Herons of numerous species abound in Myakka River state park. There never seems to be a shortage of Little Blue Herons. Like this one. It’s coloring is blue-gray with maroon around the neck. It’s a quiet bird you see frequently by itself, wading in and amongst the greenery near shore.
The juvenile Little Blues are not blue at all, but are white. Their legs and feet are a greenish yellow. I’ve read their coloring will change to a mottled white/blue in a sort of “molt” before they become adults and develop their blue/gray/maroon coloring.
And then, of course, there’s the Tricolored Heron which is white and blue/gray, although there appears to be some maroon coloring around the neck as well. Their behavior is comical to watch, with their quick movements, sharp stops and starts as they run after prey. This one is in a more relaxed pose with its neck tucked in.
We would be remiss if we didn’t include a photo of a Great Blue Heron. It’s a much larger bird. This one we see in Ohio quite often along shallow streams. The Great Blue emits a loud, almost prehistoric cry when disturbed. It’s something you won’t forget when you hear it.
The Black Crowned Night Heron is a much stockier heron than the ones preciously shown. As the name implies, it is active at night and roosts during the day. Usually you might get a photo of one sleeping in a shrub, although the one in the photo below was awake and watchful.
This year I also managed to get a photo of a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron – a first for me! It’s smaller than its cousin the Black-Crowned Night Heron. This photo was not taken at Myakka, but I couldn’t resist showing a photo of my “new” find.
And we mustn’t forget Sandhill Cranes. You hear their melodious calls early in the morning and in the early evening as they fly high overhead to or from their roosting areas. They’re beautiful creatures. If you ever get a chance to see their mating dance, it’s something you won’t forget. They jump and spin. Sometimes toss up a clod of dirt into the air while they perform.
But birds were not the only winged wonders at Myakka River state park. One of the most beautiful butterflies I found was this White Peacock, with it’s exquisite brown/tan/white coloring. It’s native to Florida, southern states and central America. It’s landed on a Spanish Needle flower in search of nectar.
Some of the equally beautiful creatures at Myakka are small. Very small. Like this Great Pondhawk dragonfly which landed amongst the dried Live Oak leaves. Again, another “first” for me. According to iNaturalist, it is prevalent through South America and is primarily found in the southern regions of the U.S. although there have been a few sightings further north. Its vivid green coloring is spectacular.
This is the second time I have seen a Bobcat at Myakka River state park. I apologize for the poor photo but it caught me unaware. This photo was taken early one morning along the main roadway through the park. We must have been walking very quietly because the cat didn’t seem to realize we were there.
And to end this very long blog, I have to include a photo of what most visitors seek when visiting the park. Alligators. Some are just babies, like this one on the log. It was perhaps a foot and a half long.
While some gators are pretty large. This big boy could easily be 8 feet in length, or more. I was very content to guess its length from a distance…a great distance.
If you find yourself in the Sarasota FL area, consider visiting Myakka River state park. Explore more than just the 7-mile drive through the park. Take some hikes. It’s well worth it. You will discover so much more than you expected. The natural wonders at Myakka are varied and plentiful. It can enrich your life as it has done mine.
Nature Views 