Date: Sept 6, 2000 Subject:Pasture
Not much stomping today. "Sparky" needs some flying insects for school so we went into the over grown pasture by mom's. Thought maybe we'd find some butterflies but I believe it was to chilly and to late in the evening for them to be found. About the only thing worth mentioning was a Great Blue Lobelia. It's related to the Cardinal Flower, although not as striking at the Cardinal Flower. It is still a beautiful plant none the less.
Date: Sept 7, 2000 Subject: Raccoon Creek Valley
Along "the bowl" in the Raccoon Creek Valley, I spent the day looking for Ginseng. Only a couple small prongers were found and on the sloped hillside they stayed. The Meadow was alive Cicadas. Hard to imagine anything that smells as good as a meadow in bloom. Some of the plants seen were White Snakeroot, Black and Blues Cohoshes, a few species of Milkweed and Sensitive Ferns (as well as many many other types of ferns).On the way out of the woods I came across a Yellow Jacket nest. I was standing only inches away from it when I found it. I had dropped my pencil near the entrance and reached down to pick it up and as I stood up I noticed a bee flying into it. To say I am glad that Yellow Jackets didn't notice me would be the understatement of the century. The Northern Flickers are REALLY making a racket, but when are they ever quiet.
Date: Sept 17, 2000 Subject: Independence Marsh
Killdeer seemed to be going nuts. Must have been 50 of them running around, then all the sudden up they would go calling and doing all kind of arial displays. Then as if on cue, down they would come.
The Greater Yellow Legs and various other shore birds are still making good use of the mud flats. Busy lil birds they are. How methodiclly they go about poking around in the mud. One must wonder how much food they need to resupply themselves of the energy they burn off. They are rarely still.
This morning when I got here, there were 5 Great Blue Herons flying in for the mornings bounty of fish, frogs, and anything else they can catch. They all flew in about the same time and it was a sight to behold seeing those massive birds coming in through the morning fog. They are tough to see when in the fog. Their slate blue/gray bodies really blend into the fog. There were only 2 Green Herons there, usually there are alot more. Matter of fact its on of the best places in the county to see them and get good looks.
Just noticed the leaves starting to change color. Summer has finally let us out of her grasp shes had on us. I don't know what it is but something about Fall and Winter just moves me. I don't know if it's the hues of browns, reds, yellows and oranges or the smell of dead leaves. Whatever it is it makes me happy to be alive.
Date: Sept 27, 2000 Subject: Raccoon Creek
Lots of visible deer and turkey sign. The "woodies" are back on Raccoon Creek. Saw another Red Fox this morning. I had jumped it from its bed under a small patch of Eastern Hemlocks.
Date: Oct 14, 2000 Subject: Squirrel Season
First day of squirrel and I decided to head to Kenny's farm. Wasn't far into the woods when I shot my first squirrel. After hunting the rest of the morning, I really wish I hadn't shot it. Seems the population has taken a wee bit of a hit. It has gone from a place where you would see lots and lots of them to seeing hardly half a dozen.
21 Wild Turkey were in the fields as I came in this morning. I walked to about 30 yards of them, before they even started to run. Living around these house complexes must be playing on their senses. They seem much more tame then ones you would find in the big patches of woods. Where you so much as move a finger and they are off to the next hillshide.
A small buck was lying in the hay field chewing his cud. He was only a 4 point and had a rather small body. I spotted 3 does sneaking on the ridges between Kenny's and the Climo's land. The sun was rising behind them and back lit the deer. It look like one of those picture perfect post card or one of those stunning pictures out of a magazine. What a breath taking scene it was.
Shot a crow behind Ritches old house. 2 American Crows came flying over just as I was heading in the hollow. I pulled up my 12 gauge pump and tore a shot loose. The wings on the second crow buckled under the pellets and downward he came. The first crow, not knowing what happened to his companion did a wide circle and flew back to investigate. It was super careful not to get to close to where the other crow had the rug pulled out from under him.
I shot to large Fox Squirrels across the hollow on the edge of the corn fields in the mixed nuts stands. This area is ALWAYS good for Fox Squirrels. Those two and the one I got out Kenny's made today one of the least productive squirrel hunting days I have ever had. None the less, it was a great day to be afield and will long be remembered.
Atlantic Ocean (beaches in Rhode Island)
We managed to sneak off from the visit to Leslye's gram, who was sick, to explore the beaches a bit.
Many Sanderlings were running out with the tide. Then as the tide would come back in, they would all run back. It was quite humorous watching them. It was as if they were plain terrified of the water (although thats not the case).
A few Greater Cormorants were diving out in the bay. I spent 20 mins watching them and it seemed they would take forever to come back up after diving. When they would come back up they would be 100 - 200 yrds away from where they first submerged.
We found some birders out by one of the lighthouses. When I asked if they seen anything, they said they were looking for some sort of Ibis (which kind I don't remember).
Horseshoe Crabs were washed up everywhere. Hard to believe this odd looking fellows have pretty much remained unchanged since the dawn of time. Funny how some animals manage to escape evolution while others keep changing and changing. Mother Nature must have gotten the Horseshoe Crab right the first time. For it has no reason to get better at what it does.
Date: Nov 27, 2000 Subject:Black Bear Season
First day of PA's Black Bear season
Got up to an early start the "hum diddy" machine read 20 degrees outside. Snow was predicted (flurries actually). Well much to Ritchies and my surprise we got snow alright. In the form of a blizzard. White out conditions were to be had for most of the day and very very few shots were heard. This day was probably one of the most miserible days I have ever had in the woods. Ritchie and I remained outside all day though. Simply because, as everyone knows, as soon as you leave your spot, is when your targeted animal comes strolling through.
The day before, when Ritchie and I took his stand out in the woods, he showed me a tree the bears had been clawing at. It sits right below his stand in a nice little draw covered in Mountain Laurel.
Day 2
COLD, COLD, COLD. Thats the only way to describe this morning. Still 20 degrees when we woke and 20 degrees it stayed all day. I went to a different spot today, in the hope some of the incoming hunters would push a bear up to me on their way in the woods. As I was sitting against an Eastern Hemlock, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought it was a Gray Fox out hunting, as it came closer I noticed it was a Fisher. One of a very very few the Pennsylvania Game Commission reintroduced to PA. This large member of the weasle clan walked to within 20 yrds of me stood up on it's hind legs and eye balled me for a few mins, then wandered off to parts unknown. What a rush to see such a rare hunter in PA. As I am writing this, I am sheltered from the wind and snow behind a large boulder and I have a herd of 15 doe walking around me. They have no idea I am here. Maybe they do know I am here and know they are safe for another few weeks when doe season opens. Time to head back to the truck, it is roughly 2 miles along Salmon Creek and it's getting kinda dark down the mountain.
Date: Aug 10, 2001 Subject: Meadow
The meadow was packed full of joe-pye, ironweed, goldenrods and swamp milkweed.
Monarch, Black Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtails are making good use of available nectar from these plants.
The woods from just inside the meadow was packed full with various ferns.
As the 6:00 sirens wailed a Coyote started howling from the area where I found the Earthstars.
Date: Aug 11, 2001 Subject: Independence Marsh
Independence Marsh is really low and various shore birds and waders are making good use of the shrinking water supply.
Two Great Blue Herons were displaying at each other for about five minutes. Green Heron were everywhere, as they usually are at this time of year.
As I came off the trail, that used to be RT 151 many many years ago. I saw an Indigo Bunting, Ruby Throated Hummingbird and an American Goldfinch all perched on the same branch.
It amazes me the things one sees when one doesn't have a camera.
Date: Aug 18, 2001 Subject: Independence Marsh
Shorebirds were in short supply at Independence Marsh. Only Killdeer and two Greater Yellowlegs were present.
A young Great Blue Heron was not nearly as jumpy as the older ones. It ignored me and let me get within fifteen yards of it.
Green Herons were roosting in the young willows. As I approached them they stayed put as well. They raised their crests in disapproval and squawked a little bit but they never flew off.
I found a very small Virginia 'Possum lying in the grass dead. There didn't seem to be any damage done to it so I really don't have any idea as to what caused it's demise.
A medium sized Snapping Turtle was hiding among some PickerelWeed "trying" to sneak on a couple Wood Ducks. It had no luck in catching a duck, but it was patient and never gave up.
Date: Aug 18, 2001 Subject: Crawford County
My daughter Taylar and I took the trek up to see the Immature Wood Stork that found it's way from the Deep South to Crawford County.
When we arrived there were about 6 birders there along with the Amish family that owned the land. The Stork arrived at 8:20 p.m.
It flew in and landed in a dead tree then flew to a tree with leaves on it and back again. Once it was settled it started preening itself.
Upon a closer look through the spotting scope we could see small feathers on the head that put my in mind of a Wild Turkey.
Took Taylar to Independence Marsh to start teaching her the role of a Naturalist. Upon arrival to the marsh we saw a Black Vulture pecking at a Muskrat carcass. The vultures seen here in Beaver County are Turkey Vultures, so this was a pretty good find. Taylar and I walked the marsh taking our time to try and notice everything. We watched a large Snapping Turtle grab a smaller one by the front leg. The struggle lasted about ten minutes. Cedar Waxwings flew off the willow only to return to the same willow. Taylar learned and remembered 10 species of plants.
Species seen were
Jerusalem Artichoke
Pale Touch-me-not
Spotted Touch-me-not
Joe-Pye
Ironweed
Pickerel Weed
Cattails
Blue Vervain
Bull Thistle
Sow Thistle
Stinging Nettle
Elderberry
Rasberry
Blackberry
Coltsfoot
Sesitive Fern
Commun Mullein
Great Blue Heron
Green Heron
Cedar Waxwing
Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Balck Vulture
Gadwall
Mallard
Wood Duck
Canada Geese
Solitary Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Redwinged Blackbird
Barn Swallow
Red Tailed Hawk
Viceroy
Monarch
Tiger Swallowtail
Black Swallowtail
American Fritterly Buttefly
Snapping Turtles
Painted Turtles
Stopped at the Beaver River in Rochester after picking the kids up to see if there was anything different down there.
Down by the boat docks was a beautiful Great Egret catching minnows. I got within fifteen feet of it and took some good picture. The kids watched from the truck with "oculars".