tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26400874532399292952024-03-13T16:21:10.786-07:00The Natural Art CultureA rollicking romp and review of nature's splendour and Art's culture.Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-77374541041616053172023-06-06T11:10:00.008-07:002023-06-07T12:08:57.818-07:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <span style="text-align: center;"> </span><p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoTitleCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Travels with
Winston-2023 Edition</h1><p align="center" class="MsoTitleCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoTitleCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoTitleCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt226N-BDkhcklyVWhjaDT1iT7cUSYm3vn0oOcOG6jz3Wq--0j4bdXKqi_oa_6YS1mw3rxauXTt4fklRJ8hLLpFfR77j0rCXXmDL1rTqSddYQQBI2ORT026qo-08uPAIW2Y7_t1WCz2Fys7pU5M1W5qzCJ7sKwL3jKmkxIoNmxIt9yooBOD2AB_qeRbg/s6000/DSC_0009.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt226N-BDkhcklyVWhjaDT1iT7cUSYm3vn0oOcOG6jz3Wq--0j4bdXKqi_oa_6YS1mw3rxauXTt4fklRJ8hLLpFfR77j0rCXXmDL1rTqSddYQQBI2ORT026qo-08uPAIW2Y7_t1WCz2Fys7pU5M1W5qzCJ7sKwL3jKmkxIoNmxIt9yooBOD2AB_qeRbg/s320/DSC_0009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><o:p> </o:p><p></p>
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<p align="center" class="MsoTitleCxSpLast" style="text-align: center;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yes, winter in the Ottawa
Valley reveals eye-pleasing scenes. After a few weeks of bone-numbing cold, the
south beckons, so off we go in early February 2023. First visiting my brother
and sister-in-law in Kingston, ON, and then daughter Ilana and son-in-law Pete
in North York (Toronto), we then head down to Niagara, and cross into the USA
at Fort Erie-Buffalo. Winston easily answered the US border officer’s
questions. We shuffled off from Buffalo. NY, to Cleveland, OH, where Jan
visited something called the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, while I visited the
Cleveland Aquarium, which impressed me. The tunnel portion of the main aquarium
afforded this oh-so-white view of a Sandtiger Shark. This is also the species
of shark that Jan and I encountered in Florida Bay, off of the Everglades
National Park. It is much more peaceful to see one in an aquarium, instead of
from a 15-foot canoe.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoAapAZQbm7166yEMVzpTPlSre-exrihQuYa_Snxgb-q0xGhRbvlFrCQIeHy8LKv2hP0wKK9eH2KlvzhaDNo7QnEh4Mt8t_JYIShyfT7LWHyS99T8rohmJcM0PXnkGzi-yZXt0DzD-RiC6A4GGKjvFCkKcqTmUWT8EqKasYUjQXyj4A-hfZfSPzbDSw/s4608/20230206_140804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4608" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoAapAZQbm7166yEMVzpTPlSre-exrihQuYa_Snxgb-q0xGhRbvlFrCQIeHy8LKv2hP0wKK9eH2KlvzhaDNo7QnEh4Mt8t_JYIShyfT7LWHyS99T8rohmJcM0PXnkGzi-yZXt0DzD-RiC6A4GGKjvFCkKcqTmUWT8EqKasYUjQXyj4A-hfZfSPzbDSw/s320/20230206_140804.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftK4FLE9BP-abtZWDFpyqII-V6OdKFB1SnIn3AsjKN_kQ3aQI9a125O34YGwClZAMn11Rax2lGYwdIkXYoqOSULWJsALL-RaPeeHh8rYLfcmYpukFBq1UhD5WVe9nRutYyPotcijmJovJu5jLB6anIYRyYwjzcRfNnl4OeADTSZMvnlUn4ZsIxn3J5Q/s6000/DSC_0006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftK4FLE9BP-abtZWDFpyqII-V6OdKFB1SnIn3AsjKN_kQ3aQI9a125O34YGwClZAMn11Rax2lGYwdIkXYoqOSULWJsALL-RaPeeHh8rYLfcmYpukFBq1UhD5WVe9nRutYyPotcijmJovJu5jLB6anIYRyYwjzcRfNnl4OeADTSZMvnlUn4ZsIxn3J5Q/s320/DSC_0006.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Winston has an approving look
as he sees Churchill Downs for the first time.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTlc1JACd57k44yaVrntcLfI3wO8RowLNlYWlMXu3PZpOwXB3dJwjk2Jkn3BY5thOLJYqKwDAzEdFMcStHlMkhzKHNB6VOMi6A4E53D8g6iOqW9lT5VfQ_XLAeLhMESY8cevOEp2rWpRfvTeD1heODuyaTP5LORe0WDpcl_SXG9ZjinBRzUeUlQBcFA/s6000/DSC_0022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaTlc1JACd57k44yaVrntcLfI3wO8RowLNlYWlMXu3PZpOwXB3dJwjk2Jkn3BY5thOLJYqKwDAzEdFMcStHlMkhzKHNB6VOMi6A4E53D8g6iOqW9lT5VfQ_XLAeLhMESY8cevOEp2rWpRfvTeD1heODuyaTP5LORe0WDpcl_SXG9ZjinBRzUeUlQBcFA/s320/DSC_0022.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">If you are a celebrity with
big $, you may get to watch the Kentucky Derby in early May from one of these
boxes, or grandstand seats strategically located at the finish line.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9gQ5t3aR0IIqRyayK452nn15fqWvVNhUpeozxhMr8YxlyHXMJoGjcASc_g5IyM0R4wMizZqgJbVbJNEFdDVSUtZ8C-dUuh9oYBkK864THRBXRlJbpUrrVd9yVpGhuYR-wYMPSqNAaVmllD9KMIUwOWWyV-jbbryJTSeNxrisf8MrGKcC3ad8fPZJfQ/s6000/DSC_0032.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9gQ5t3aR0IIqRyayK452nn15fqWvVNhUpeozxhMr8YxlyHXMJoGjcASc_g5IyM0R4wMizZqgJbVbJNEFdDVSUtZ8C-dUuh9oYBkK864THRBXRlJbpUrrVd9yVpGhuYR-wYMPSqNAaVmllD9KMIUwOWWyV-jbbryJTSeNxrisf8MrGKcC3ad8fPZJfQ/s320/DSC_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From the home stretch, this
is a view of the final corner on the track. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The drive from Louisville,
KY, to Nashville, TN, is easy. The lovely Centennial Park (below)
features a full-size replica of the ancient Greek Parthenon sans cracks and holes.
The building houses the Nashville art
museum. Exhibits and shows are featured regularly.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9OlwXJ_hxCeaH7xLMZvcxx3dL0VO_gQZPEAMP5fSs5oZrS_JEt8qz_x4h6YkNM3j49rrSggU9q4qB8gNG5_DRTzqyevhf6YQJVTGx0KKh3daloclaCZzhQ0ke1qZwNm3sRAlXkcKPgodzWR0mjaLJ0XAhhWQ2pwK1xUQbJ7rX_WXxcruL98UbbXbCg/s6000/DSC_0048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9OlwXJ_hxCeaH7xLMZvcxx3dL0VO_gQZPEAMP5fSs5oZrS_JEt8qz_x4h6YkNM3j49rrSggU9q4qB8gNG5_DRTzqyevhf6YQJVTGx0KKh3daloclaCZzhQ0ke1qZwNm3sRAlXkcKPgodzWR0mjaLJ0XAhhWQ2pwK1xUQbJ7rX_WXxcruL98UbbXbCg/s320/DSC_0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> A</o:p>cross the lake in Centennial
Park are the buildings of Vanderbilt University.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6vCHyFRBucEmzL5jXSD7heW4WhKGiasuxK4y14PlvsTse37OP3ENozPNVSPfs2X7wMZ-xx-Tp6KWo7wotti0Z7QcRwWB-rhB8GrTzv6zDyuY8f7JYZdlwu8Kab0-NAFmD06n-e9Yle4kfVBD3y_vViEeUHOjabJ5jNXz4wmgopWqsyYxXOhIlY1O7Q/s6000/DSC_0053.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq6vCHyFRBucEmzL5jXSD7heW4WhKGiasuxK4y14PlvsTse37OP3ENozPNVSPfs2X7wMZ-xx-Tp6KWo7wotti0Z7QcRwWB-rhB8GrTzv6zDyuY8f7JYZdlwu8Kab0-NAFmD06n-e9Yle4kfVBD3y_vViEeUHOjabJ5jNXz4wmgopWqsyYxXOhIlY1O7Q/s320/DSC_0053.JPG" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From Nashville, we drove west
across the other Mississippi River into Arkansas, to Little Rock, which houses
the Clinton Presidential Library. All the papers from the 8-year Clinton
presidency are housed here.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA7eV3LvfPU8F4cD4r76-S_uLymZhtYeRKCZqnfp68AwWsbYxR_S7lBKhYiKBagpU3xca1BQjVaCmHr4Q18butdS7rePDtBS_DscMw2qDKgOUQ0XCAsX_oZNR2diNMjCxvI3zncC7TGd7pXF_rP2z5V_DjiVX9hO82vFu-ByEHJYcmqtZnvXizG-iCw/s1080/artclinton2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNA7eV3LvfPU8F4cD4r76-S_uLymZhtYeRKCZqnfp68AwWsbYxR_S7lBKhYiKBagpU3xca1BQjVaCmHr4Q18butdS7rePDtBS_DscMw2qDKgOUQ0XCAsX_oZNR2diNMjCxvI3zncC7TGd7pXF_rP2z5V_DjiVX9hO82vFu-ByEHJYcmqtZnvXizG-iCw/s320/artclinton2.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">In addition, there are very
well curated displays and exhibitions, including a full-sized replica of the
White House Cabinet Room. Here I am sitting in Bill Clinton’s seat wondering
what I said to cause the US Cabinet to leave me alone!<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgedIPku1y4DcsdC30OpWAOmaHk-m0bPv_IKzJilcSQUE4Ni1oZhGo_8ciPzYg3kAjNHjjZfWV6d71poi08xyOzVy9GJYqcVMzXh2oZVd06AXCGiHu1-REkK1W5fKtTOJJNe2zr--YK55gypH7_VR24TwvNCBaPE2f1MGEGc-j1riYvCX1gnhyOLeZA/s4608/20230210_104806.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2240" data-original-width="4608" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDgedIPku1y4DcsdC30OpWAOmaHk-m0bPv_IKzJilcSQUE4Ni1oZhGo_8ciPzYg3kAjNHjjZfWV6d71poi08xyOzVy9GJYqcVMzXh2oZVd06AXCGiHu1-REkK1W5fKtTOJJNe2zr--YK55gypH7_VR24TwvNCBaPE2f1MGEGc-j1riYvCX1gnhyOLeZA/s320/20230210_104806.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Jan took over, displacing me
in a non-violent manner, and gave them the evil eye. We were at the Library at
the same time Bill Clinton was giving a speech. I told the staff that I was
disappointed that Bill did not greet us at the door.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXnORNFx03mzsWXOEECoi54DPkddCJgNR3hGi4oSi1FBuWT0o2BmWdu0eWW8_-A0ywOFFBCTfII9bibm2Ee7YK3K3nmGhS2w8m3haRZ7403hB5Qe8eY8hRcb3rTGH9-q55skCkxYmgzzmu1-c2aCuzZqD2jxMxl-3STfiaLOwbdlLuZm3ybIzVB7TZg/s3000/IMG_5842.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXnORNFx03mzsWXOEECoi54DPkddCJgNR3hGi4oSi1FBuWT0o2BmWdu0eWW8_-A0ywOFFBCTfII9bibm2Ee7YK3K3nmGhS2w8m3haRZ7403hB5Qe8eY8hRcb3rTGH9-q55skCkxYmgzzmu1-c2aCuzZqD2jxMxl-3STfiaLOwbdlLuZm3ybIzVB7TZg/s320/IMG_5842.JPG" width="256" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">We were fortunate to visit
during a special exhibition: Women’s Voices, put together by Hillary Clinton
and library staff. A series of quilts was crafted for this exhibition, which
honoured so many women who have bettered our world. Here is one featuring
Shirley Chisolm (below).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBgsaUfvq3-B-sWPr_qJpoOHdgl3UTQyvsE861ZhYExdexfruGof3Z0Fl7DfxWpd2zXZPj1or3z2TVBH1L59pNSJvGWV3H8U7OLwyBgewr0w6R0Pi32RKsAh3PtC3Gl8RXiYNpYjXWvmcBmWpa5hq55G9dYPOx7Wj68xl3_-ke2w5O7Txpz-ukWRb-g/s3000/IMG_5891.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="2400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBgsaUfvq3-B-sWPr_qJpoOHdgl3UTQyvsE861ZhYExdexfruGof3Z0Fl7DfxWpd2zXZPj1or3z2TVBH1L59pNSJvGWV3H8U7OLwyBgewr0w6R0Pi32RKsAh3PtC3Gl8RXiYNpYjXWvmcBmWpa5hq55G9dYPOx7Wj68xl3_-ke2w5O7Txpz-ukWRb-g/s320/IMG_5891.JPG" width="256" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Leaving Little Rock,
proceeding into Texas via Texarkana and Austin, we enjoyed some time in the
lovely downtown San Antonio, TX, where we were able to easily access and tour
The Alamo. Named by the Spanish for the Cottonwood trees that lined the banks
of the San Antonio River, many may know the little fort and mission from the Winter
1836 battle during the Texas (Tejas) revolution. Most people know the central
facts: General Santa Anna (Mexico President) laid siege for 13 days. The battle
at the end of the siege resulted in the death of the 200 men defending the
fort, church, and other buildings. The young commander of The Alamo, 26-year-oldWilliam Travis, was amongst the dead, as was Senator David Crockett and James
Bowie, who had joined the defenders from the states of Tennessee and Kentucky.
Pictured below is Jan standing in front of the Alamo Memorial which has
inscribed the names of the men who died, with statues of David Crockett,
holding his raccoon hat, on Jan’s left, and Col. Travis to Jan’s right. Bowie’s
statue is on the opposite side of the memorial. There were women and children
in the church at the centre of the compound who were relatively unharmed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpvPK1mKLnPB_m5Rv5z4oaOZoaXt0_3ELyP_veTCgl8AIXF29lebxYsGArrH1Bp414Ue_264zb2eCgImd2XadVoSuLrgKgE8Cs2jqh7Ji2J1TH9vwp4Cc0a4OsrnoqSLIFBQP3FRIXNAQAN_mDp1LIqzsZWFaW8m_6Ht0IxdBNt3aP9jj5Z8M5sV5hA/s6000/DSC_0002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgpvPK1mKLnPB_m5Rv5z4oaOZoaXt0_3ELyP_veTCgl8AIXF29lebxYsGArrH1Bp414Ue_264zb2eCgImd2XadVoSuLrgKgE8Cs2jqh7Ji2J1TH9vwp4Cc0a4OsrnoqSLIFBQP3FRIXNAQAN_mDp1LIqzsZWFaW8m_6Ht0IxdBNt3aP9jj5Z8M5sV5hA/s320/DSC_0002.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Of course, Winston wanted his
photo taken at the Memorial too.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwwdWAhdeEjQkqXQU76hYsVyUa8sdOvJtvzsJ9mM5yB4ulDBHjHhIPz9getwA0ib-80_h6rMEVWUYbNq5raKCuSJUq-4OEd1ZtKQdUHsqqPFDaFQ5Spa0qGfC7Z1xt33B5WPVder8SI4wnQ7b9gjsrQ0oKRwwsLeMDmzNjiZuGlkI4OFAkZ3sHchScw/s6000/DSC_0029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwwdWAhdeEjQkqXQU76hYsVyUa8sdOvJtvzsJ9mM5yB4ulDBHjHhIPz9getwA0ib-80_h6rMEVWUYbNq5raKCuSJUq-4OEd1ZtKQdUHsqqPFDaFQ5Spa0qGfC7Z1xt33B5WPVder8SI4wnQ7b9gjsrQ0oKRwwsLeMDmzNjiZuGlkI4OFAkZ3sHchScw/s320/DSC_0029.JPG" width="213" /></a></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqzbEv0uNdoQVXCLdscxrRHY2kT8rDqgIBFEhAOPfeRUoQIm2q__YMqfQApBgIzCCr6ItSen3oTXHWccfPQR-wwpWWwM7IdjVkkUo-HRTyfDsVLjqKsp-Mvf5VRWQ6Yaw5UHHQeEtZsr_pdfjCEbMTgjxcIgNd5bibjboMfHnKSP-wwsuDKEayFgzKA/s6000/DSC_0036.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCqzbEv0uNdoQVXCLdscxrRHY2kT8rDqgIBFEhAOPfeRUoQIm2q__YMqfQApBgIzCCr6ItSen3oTXHWccfPQR-wwpWWwM7IdjVkkUo-HRTyfDsVLjqKsp-Mvf5VRWQ6Yaw5UHHQeEtZsr_pdfjCEbMTgjxcIgNd5bibjboMfHnKSP-wwsuDKEayFgzKA/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">San Antonio River Walk--above
and below. Winston very much appreciated the lack of snow and ice. Note that
there was little or no snow in the landscape after we left Toronto. Winston also appreciatively snorted and snuffled through the newly emerged spring
posies.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2-WJjhymnKnpd21eDrN92ehXR4QDiidvxV5y_1erk7NBvkASQtHdhSdWSgO_z3Lak_zKkC2bnAVoXUgpNwaIzUiRrFzMp0K8m7dIKuJvu2NVa1C3fy4BMUSWWyMabByVIqLiU0tSXa5XpjdhP6XZMTnhXWPem9rDD_7N8-NMz1DNYafMm1DVPqP9Dg/s6000/DSC_0037.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2-WJjhymnKnpd21eDrN92ehXR4QDiidvxV5y_1erk7NBvkASQtHdhSdWSgO_z3Lak_zKkC2bnAVoXUgpNwaIzUiRrFzMp0K8m7dIKuJvu2NVa1C3fy4BMUSWWyMabByVIqLiU0tSXa5XpjdhP6XZMTnhXWPem9rDD_7N8-NMz1DNYafMm1DVPqP9Dg/s320/DSC_0037.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">With San Antonio in the rear-view
mirror, we left the lush greenery of Texas hill country, proceeding
south into the dry scrublands dominated by mesquites, sages, short grasses and…<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQFp2juuw93_-LBivVSk8F1-nvr-w91YC0KdRHLlIAtPgABTWb1FJARIc-s0TPiDJYoElzZDUI5JNTuNjKWvC3kGNyx1hoxlMiOK3ZF-LHjXUZPEY9JYH4z_ah22LX1vALERXDex-cyuAZ-Bz_DcdAIb0F1L_upjxo0tXB_7Z49pd7cRgBBoEEarCSQ/s6000/DSC_0017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQFp2juuw93_-LBivVSk8F1-nvr-w91YC0KdRHLlIAtPgABTWb1FJARIc-s0TPiDJYoElzZDUI5JNTuNjKWvC3kGNyx1hoxlMiOK3ZF-LHjXUZPEY9JYH4z_ah22LX1vALERXDex-cyuAZ-Bz_DcdAIb0F1L_upjxo0tXB_7Z49pd7cRgBBoEEarCSQ/s320/DSC_0017.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Winston encounters his first
LARGE Prickly Pear Cactus at Lake Corpus Christi State Park,<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QBFI1qmbYLcp_K9lgtUeS5SsodE3xqzH4Qlcg8zSwEVaKzOAF3YQz-Qg1o21c1NdXIG82JA2ED8K0OJBjKMkVVjTN9m282ycjJYfgZ6kSQ0YlaGRpyV2IojPmaJCOz7L_FCMCdvyTerkPhOc8fjn5VAsPEe0RmWUwqY6RiChqqXH34w-2C1rZtseKQ/s6000/DSC_0025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9QBFI1qmbYLcp_K9lgtUeS5SsodE3xqzH4Qlcg8zSwEVaKzOAF3YQz-Qg1o21c1NdXIG82JA2ED8K0OJBjKMkVVjTN9m282ycjJYfgZ6kSQ0YlaGRpyV2IojPmaJCOz7L_FCMCdvyTerkPhOc8fjn5VAsPEe0RmWUwqY6RiChqqXH34w-2C1rZtseKQ/s320/DSC_0025.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">as well as a blooming Yucca,
another indicator plant of the dry plains in south- and west-Texas. These blooms
are over 30 cms. high. We were fortunate to be in Texas in season for the state
flower, Bluebonnets, which pop up in large masses.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNIdQj5EN2s8AJQczdaSwYcHU2Pzij2fWLpW8ZgwXxf3zoe3McH3OH5Zv-sP6RNEOC-emKhOydIENntCOvfyEbAjakSwsI49WGCW52J1u85AKiCb8QIGSRhSNi4YwU3buxr7bryy2yvwoB5zvbF9pDG2itZWgtCGbOmi4nf7109Jc27DxE_J51MnIvA/s6000/DSC_0005.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNIdQj5EN2s8AJQczdaSwYcHU2Pzij2fWLpW8ZgwXxf3zoe3McH3OH5Zv-sP6RNEOC-emKhOydIENntCOvfyEbAjakSwsI49WGCW52J1u85AKiCb8QIGSRhSNi4YwU3buxr7bryy2yvwoB5zvbF9pDG2itZWgtCGbOmi4nf7109Jc27DxE_J51MnIvA/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />These early Bluebonnets were
in Big Bend National Park in southwest Texas.<o:p></o:p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKd4FpkpxbDozwbeHamUqKfqSPBxL-Vwzn9lxnF6S4dQV7TcyrwlTWh1jF47xBiNBS1tZrkGctMEnVlMDZvSKRmhWZo0GnKu97Vqa0jGKAKrqcYiXw6o62luoXVYdg-Z31Q50-nr8I_W6M5FVpLYqmadaVAiKhgNPz83fnVi73mOrIMR8i1n38x8ksg/s1056/DSC_0050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1056" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKd4FpkpxbDozwbeHamUqKfqSPBxL-Vwzn9lxnF6S4dQV7TcyrwlTWh1jF47xBiNBS1tZrkGctMEnVlMDZvSKRmhWZo0GnKu97Vqa0jGKAKrqcYiXw6o62luoXVYdg-Z31Q50-nr8I_W6M5FVpLYqmadaVAiKhgNPz83fnVi73mOrIMR8i1n38x8ksg/s320/DSC_0050.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">A Texas specialty, this lovely
raptor is a Crested Caracara.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Note: We spent over a month
in Texas during this journey. This is a preliminary account of the trip. Aside
from Texas, we also had many stops in New Mexico and Arizona. If you follow my
blog:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://artnatureculture.blogspot.com/">https://artnatureculture.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>the full story of the journey
will be posted over time.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For now, as a teaser, here is
Winston wondering just how DEEP is this freakin’ ditch? </p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr58_vAjnuwZkvjIglv4QxwWiYuxFBg-5D7LOi2y1jL37_5A1D4nGT0pmBKw9r7kgHh0mCphcDfN_GIcUpwQmI1beKPZFzDoX6OTu9MMm6bkkZC4jSkhIETo1BklClAFrTHyjmdFt7p44R5CjCIoyTNuwHyJLHUdfoPvEQJBXmznmmeFUUu4RSVNgDg/s6000/DSC_0268.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhr58_vAjnuwZkvjIglv4QxwWiYuxFBg-5D7LOi2y1jL37_5A1D4nGT0pmBKw9r7kgHh0mCphcDfN_GIcUpwQmI1beKPZFzDoX6OTu9MMm6bkkZC4jSkhIETo1BklClAFrTHyjmdFt7p44R5CjCIoyTNuwHyJLHUdfoPvEQJBXmznmmeFUUu4RSVNgDg/s320/DSC_0268.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Winston refuses to look over
the ledge at the Grand Canyon. Yes, that IS snow and ice. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">Look, more Yuccas! To the
right of the Yucca, the smaller “many-stemmed” cacti are two species of Cholla.
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY6HK43UJlS-vGHIBTqjqM_LL_7fh3hltzucXWetbIZXKRUECBIKWr55UrHRDNSR1eTSdK_QN2BJjfd77UG4e6u5vt18a7ASbzwnJ7CSeVj1JAUgMhroDnDgh0LEvNsB_6RSmUMB_j8Ar3wZK8p7Z9I8TZ0Fgzm1u_trXqj2J1hsfhWSSzK0DKyne4g/s6000/DSC_0197.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZY6HK43UJlS-vGHIBTqjqM_LL_7fh3hltzucXWetbIZXKRUECBIKWr55UrHRDNSR1eTSdK_QN2BJjfd77UG4e6u5vt18a7ASbzwnJ7CSeVj1JAUgMhroDnDgh0LEvNsB_6RSmUMB_j8Ar3wZK8p7Z9I8TZ0Fgzm1u_trXqj2J1hsfhWSSzK0DKyne4g/s320/DSC_0197.JPG" width="213" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">One of the larger California
deserts, Mojave, features these rounded rocks on a trail that requires hikers to
climb said rocks, as below. Winston’s paws were too short for the rings embedded
into the rocks, so we had to carry him up the 30-foot rock face.</p><p class="MsoNormal">You want me to do what?</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFw9WwTTFj-T5EJnDtSRbYTaqZTk2rVzibBr34z-gsa3ML7VwAx8UyGqm9gb137BwMnpLRxkzW2XQi3n7YkiDeq5lKcIIFsBUPE1m-QkCyrvSmmo84hYRlqn5_ThNumwoBAd4Yt0KLXsWmBIA-N0lxyMekCzcIk0zZw1AQsQgJ6Ii5KvqYeDHYsCmaA/s1080/mojavewinston4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFw9WwTTFj-T5EJnDtSRbYTaqZTk2rVzibBr34z-gsa3ML7VwAx8UyGqm9gb137BwMnpLRxkzW2XQi3n7YkiDeq5lKcIIFsBUPE1m-QkCyrvSmmo84hYRlqn5_ThNumwoBAd4Yt0KLXsWmBIA-N0lxyMekCzcIk0zZw1AQsQgJ6Ii5KvqYeDHYsCmaA/s320/mojavewinston4.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>Jan went first, then I
followed, passing along my camera, binoculars, and Winston!</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIbDotoXMzvhNMyFigBS0c82vfukK14HAtX68e_6IpH5YmPtcl_qlCJHrTyx7Z1tiA0BdrXq5GrT2o2mE0xNGMW3ELf5c62AgaN6KEWwzy0vjGNUfsn3jsJqRc9Pxtlewb7miIr3z-SCOn_ePI9xuoFeJRKb_KRRfQ4esrox9QziGJoJefEhdbYs7Fg/s6000/DSC_0208.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIbDotoXMzvhNMyFigBS0c82vfukK14HAtX68e_6IpH5YmPtcl_qlCJHrTyx7Z1tiA0BdrXq5GrT2o2mE0xNGMW3ELf5c62AgaN6KEWwzy0vjGNUfsn3jsJqRc9Pxtlewb7miIr3z-SCOn_ePI9xuoFeJRKb_KRRfQ4esrox9QziGJoJefEhdbYs7Fg/s320/DSC_0208.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Here is a petroglyph left by
the Mojave predecessors thousands of years ago. The climate does wonders for
preservation of the petroglyphs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVDrWZnj-H1WCWOUvsEFCB50XYe4huIVcdTaA4M32WLl4rGJoSWbQPvy0L8gjz0sT7N7p-fc-TMBzVBzWvtfTHtTwvCHbVUJGxRjOG6sAEzP9oiosfNPkeF3UyJYaUYHLyuhS8bo-dZYKOT84mTVDYvRkuKHb0VFhjItBt835dKcXVjsEJAiMexwqMQ/s6000/DSC_0150.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVDrWZnj-H1WCWOUvsEFCB50XYe4huIVcdTaA4M32WLl4rGJoSWbQPvy0L8gjz0sT7N7p-fc-TMBzVBzWvtfTHtTwvCHbVUJGxRjOG6sAEzP9oiosfNPkeF3UyJYaUYHLyuhS8bo-dZYKOT84mTVDYvRkuKHb0VFhjItBt835dKcXVjsEJAiMexwqMQ/s320/DSC_0150.JPG" width="320" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Jan, Winston and I wondered
at the large boulders and caves, which were also Mojave campsites, and,
therefore, the spots where one will find petroglyphs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NkZMHic23lSlXpTHdS5-lqCKV3AN5VIsXRwUmZ_y2quJXsT8yKz6RCgL9c1h0o6uPjiytUufPpfU0aQiHjLHQfQ6y02hLggQk52nFRH1jWIoBjJX_oyGmcf3qJDznVlTgR0mGvqZ1XtfsQKEiOxOsn-fPa4fUU3YTmK5nxqqNPzOTNX8iFM1jUCfZA/s6000/DSC_0153.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NkZMHic23lSlXpTHdS5-lqCKV3AN5VIsXRwUmZ_y2quJXsT8yKz6RCgL9c1h0o6uPjiytUufPpfU0aQiHjLHQfQ6y02hLggQk52nFRH1jWIoBjJX_oyGmcf3qJDznVlTgR0mGvqZ1XtfsQKEiOxOsn-fPa4fUU3YTmK5nxqqNPzOTNX8iFM1jUCfZA/s320/DSC_0153.JPG" width="213" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmY8afbPeOcUAKm6C2VjXtHUhIK2uqxl-yki0vcmNJ5z4BrQBhGtmhQf6r7ZVJc9-CYKXTSX-Tggdz4uOtlmrQxS7g4T55dGqKYlPYCWweizSrGQmOdjd08Yr_otmdnOXS0ZlZWNBM0pe3cWAF_b1PoQBR8wuFwtaDQpCkXWJpqMqfqK6LBCykCrLBA/s6000/DSC_0154.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmY8afbPeOcUAKm6C2VjXtHUhIK2uqxl-yki0vcmNJ5z4BrQBhGtmhQf6r7ZVJc9-CYKXTSX-Tggdz4uOtlmrQxS7g4T55dGqKYlPYCWweizSrGQmOdjd08Yr_otmdnOXS0ZlZWNBM0pe3cWAF_b1PoQBR8wuFwtaDQpCkXWJpqMqfqK6LBCykCrLBA/s320/DSC_0154.JPG" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although Mom told us the
photo above was taken in 1955 in Needles, AZ, it is more likely that this was
at the Super Chief stop in Albuquerque, NM. Route 66 was built along the Santa
Fe Railroad route from Chicago to Los Angeles. With the highway came “Indian” trading posts,
especially in Albuquerque. The Highway route did veer from the rail route up to
Albuquerque. From Albuquerque to Los Angeles, the routes and stops were almost
identical.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsRP_rCo6AtEbUutVZ_9m_GkSYGzaZwNUcnfWFqMNdeGujRHRGeP6cb939nt9gzbeobWXpqDyOXnSXDgqjYcn91Apgez8gAYfXjf02cxfPUQieFKlLoPOVPLynzPFFmhFa8oUS71RnuywcfNKJY9YV8aOqOk3xHB_5cTfY54OrJzMPwaFzNBNRobcHg/s2920/TRainstopArizonaaug55.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2920" data-original-width="2098" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsRP_rCo6AtEbUutVZ_9m_GkSYGzaZwNUcnfWFqMNdeGujRHRGeP6cb939nt9gzbeobWXpqDyOXnSXDgqjYcn91Apgez8gAYfXjf02cxfPUQieFKlLoPOVPLynzPFFmhFa8oUS71RnuywcfNKJY9YV8aOqOk3xHB_5cTfY54OrJzMPwaFzNBNRobcHg/s320/TRainstopArizonaaug55.jpg" width="230" /></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To honour Mom, and our epic
trip in August 1955, Jan took this photo of me in front of the train station in
Needles, CA. To be fair to Mom, Needles is right next to the California-Arizona
boundary.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMBXdRaEQ7Z_Cqi-xJkeKaPhuFOL81d7SbIHESmTWlYNZfhfm-AMjZ2rMCUQihfAiJx-l68uzssdsNC7M6DwrMCWoRZ7aIfz2xq-GXv9ejgjqKEUrbNGQPXjAx5PJksAn1DRYObDvLFCxqA8p4081ol47p4H1ekT-DZqsv8Kjpg7exS4MTvRPa783Mg/s6000/DSC_0156.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZMBXdRaEQ7Z_Cqi-xJkeKaPhuFOL81d7SbIHESmTWlYNZfhfm-AMjZ2rMCUQihfAiJx-l68uzssdsNC7M6DwrMCWoRZ7aIfz2xq-GXv9ejgjqKEUrbNGQPXjAx5PJksAn1DRYObDvLFCxqA8p4081ol47p4H1ekT-DZqsv8Kjpg7exS4MTvRPa783Mg/s320/DSC_0156.JPG" width="320" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Below the Super Chief’s
route. The route is still in operation by Amtrack.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrezTViq9ALEu3rZMsodqoCwM8zD9Y7IVpGixv519s5m4i2SQVuiJFu8dLTF0o6ubYQuRWLkX8ae7Ugao1uysnPc03r5XLS1muatWXSTUIS4sR27lsyZPGyFknIExqqh-Jx6a5ASoBEzeB_fhchth1XYmKLUwZwTAIv54AwKpaAGzjYGma_WFhXRiKg/s3975/superchief%20routemap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="3975" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrrezTViq9ALEu3rZMsodqoCwM8zD9Y7IVpGixv519s5m4i2SQVuiJFu8dLTF0o6ubYQuRWLkX8ae7Ugao1uysnPc03r5XLS1muatWXSTUIS4sR27lsyZPGyFknIExqqh-Jx6a5ASoBEzeB_fhchth1XYmKLUwZwTAIv54AwKpaAGzjYGma_WFhXRiKg/s320/superchief%20routemap.jpg" width="320" /></a></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal">The rail yard in Needles
incudes some of the old Santa Fe rolling stock. The rail line is heavily used
today by freight traffic. The rail company is now called the BNSF Railway
(Burlington Northern-Santa Fe) and is 100% owned by Warren Buffett’s Hathaway
Corporation. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeemyJKi46XHxyX5i00rRKpQtXHoSUmkifnpO20t7EOspRRffDP99fA61lFfsvZrMmCx_9vkx1ACIzRF-CulLuYJFHeA0iHyGsV2CUh0bBIMZQCDcoG5JW7OF8VAL9TwjhCP40iFHoFug5ziVBiqiOQ8WDtC1_pALDnLlig5CH3A8uhFBhbGzNjVqMg/s6000/DSC_0135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixeemyJKi46XHxyX5i00rRKpQtXHoSUmkifnpO20t7EOspRRffDP99fA61lFfsvZrMmCx_9vkx1ACIzRF-CulLuYJFHeA0iHyGsV2CUh0bBIMZQCDcoG5JW7OF8VAL9TwjhCP40iFHoFug5ziVBiqiOQ8WDtC1_pALDnLlig5CH3A8uhFBhbGzNjVqMg/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXgci2V9s1adqQHZCMsh4ufou_FJWTw3Y_0DCONwTfiDXCwCyUaVhB7hpUHBNA9vUHJKhSdbx7UtcHsj-nMs46P0Lab_LReTuwf4uIQcdwlq6hi856h539isUpbuklJUSbilET6cDqWBJGNYRVDShEf4e1hkNg7eQh2XJMOLYpByS8zyx_9kzMDAzBA/s6000/DSC_0135.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXgci2V9s1adqQHZCMsh4ufou_FJWTw3Y_0DCONwTfiDXCwCyUaVhB7hpUHBNA9vUHJKhSdbx7UtcHsj-nMs46P0Lab_LReTuwf4uIQcdwlq6hi856h539isUpbuklJUSbilET6cDqWBJGNYRVDShEf4e1hkNg7eQh2XJMOLYpByS8zyx_9kzMDAzBA/s320/DSC_0135.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">From Needles, we ventured further into California to Joshua
Tree National Park, headquartered in the appropriately named Twenty-Nine Palms
(above). The town grew outwards form a Mojave-Colorado Desert oasis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNJJ1qL7CyAdNz7K7puFIuINJIP5icKevumsaRH-n_84Q-nGiFFQo44EOtwh17fHXEGl9vJ1cn-0eoeELzUw88X0MmwW4082RFTu2Kw4M5Plef4beaFPpPXmgnS7YffyxUEz37QiEc6mg0AKqLntC4s3zoJlHYa7I9nHRZmOMB10ZpAtpkdlQ3DAHZg/s6000/DSC_0163.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNJJ1qL7CyAdNz7K7puFIuINJIP5icKevumsaRH-n_84Q-nGiFFQo44EOtwh17fHXEGl9vJ1cn-0eoeELzUw88X0MmwW4082RFTu2Kw4M5Plef4beaFPpPXmgnS7YffyxUEz37QiEc6mg0AKqLntC4s3zoJlHYa7I9nHRZmOMB10ZpAtpkdlQ3DAHZg/w252-h379/DSC_0163.JPG" width="252" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">There are a few standard sights for the thousands of
visitors to Joshua Tree N.P. We were there on Sunday, which resulted in crowds
of people blocking our views! Above, a nice Joshua Tree (a multi-stemmed tall
Yucca). We observed busloads of people taking one photo, usually a selfie, of a
close by Joshua Tree, and this wind/sand sculpted rock, Skull Rock. <o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0rXbb0ct_PJBAaOAjFBZ2SvaZPZtxrbUkDA5O5Xwkt1p-QQWuuly_MecqC1_ofQiP5erKLuYUxndYOUh_al4Ejgxi4LDwFzCTzCcYJQQ6wPfrZUfV2_rXtzUrCxEiukvsZemRcARHLRjea62W0poAzeB8sR469QIDkvR7_3c5ERrOHkK89R6fmBI1A/s6000/DSC_0212.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW0rXbb0ct_PJBAaOAjFBZ2SvaZPZtxrbUkDA5O5Xwkt1p-QQWuuly_MecqC1_ofQiP5erKLuYUxndYOUh_al4Ejgxi4LDwFzCTzCcYJQQ6wPfrZUfV2_rXtzUrCxEiukvsZemRcARHLRjea62W0poAzeB8sR469QIDkvR7_3c5ERrOHkK89R6fmBI1A/s320/DSC_0212.JPG" width="213" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Most visitors scamper back to their vehicles after getting
the required photo. Art walked down the trail to the next campground. Within a few hundred meters of the parking
area, there were very few people. I passed a small group coming towards me, as I
observed another sculpted rock (below). The young (now anyone under the age of
60!) man in the group and I chatted, as we remarked on how the crowds were only
interested in Skull Rock, while the rock below, he observed, looks like fingers
clutching the boulder below. The “index finger” looks to have a nail! We
christened this rock “Fingers Rock” and discussed how we might profit from our “discovery”.
I told him that he was brilliant and observant. </p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmGghznd069MBiiYa_8fcgJ7rqsI8FXNirMMGHXbBKPvJYitNSrpioeNwgDvJcpyRJ7_3Grvtx6zst0fcDONFrBRY9y5RNV6pBKkJu_4sFiqjIvlJaUE2o-8XkmmRgzXwrR8Ah2lp96F38Nm7X7m9IrOsbwftJwbeZlc9cpzXqwtdb3OLGrsJ5dF1Pg/s6000/DSC_0180.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmGghznd069MBiiYa_8fcgJ7rqsI8FXNirMMGHXbBKPvJYitNSrpioeNwgDvJcpyRJ7_3Grvtx6zst0fcDONFrBRY9y5RNV6pBKkJu_4sFiqjIvlJaUE2o-8XkmmRgzXwrR8Ah2lp96F38Nm7X7m9IrOsbwftJwbeZlc9cpzXqwtdb3OLGrsJ5dF1Pg/s320/DSC_0180.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">We left Joshua Tree NP and proceeded to Toluca Lake. It being
the weekend, we immediately became stuck in one of LA’s famous traffic jams.
Jan and I wondered why so many were out and about during the television
presentation of the Oscars. We thought they should all be home watching. Sigh….
they weren’t. We got to Brian and Kate’s home well after the supper hour. We
were warmly greeted by them and their delightful canine family: Boo and Louie.<o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqODFZUURv0WsWVZZ2W6MupHPZjYrcYyPJoYupwEaHmnOwRYTuRXii5fBOncUhw-XHWL6H92ac7DYSIUU-j9wqW6t4UVgneeDY3W3sQdtaFpe9XFKT0WEQ14ZqfLYofdEOe-Su1TcnfH_JYFvKu33QllXI90PDd21m9qyR9QrVy0dJsMA-D9VCX4SQAQ/s6000/DSC_0213.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqODFZUURv0WsWVZZ2W6MupHPZjYrcYyPJoYupwEaHmnOwRYTuRXii5fBOncUhw-XHWL6H92ac7DYSIUU-j9wqW6t4UVgneeDY3W3sQdtaFpe9XFKT0WEQ14ZqfLYofdEOe-Su1TcnfH_JYFvKu33QllXI90PDd21m9qyR9QrVy0dJsMA-D9VCX4SQAQ/s320/DSC_0213.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning, Brian took us for the world-famous Brian
Hollywood Tour. We started at his place of business, Hollywood Offices on Sunset
Blvd. Brian and Art are pictured above in the parking garage in front of his
dad’s 1970’s era Cadillac. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyDxUaY_1XYtGUkZUgO7k-MUp7YB3aa19Ia0BmhBaAUvqMPz23l0oE-BLrUgPoNmle1VYG1oCTCh8HQj2eM1D6Fkc6QTBy3kIOiKC3UH330TwIEjEek40C1srIHfOIKhzd4p3QIs4DP5aVQ0ReeLvJK8goz54qi76icaaGcGYqjR3_RRubNv3eq0PgQ/s6000/DSC_0216.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyDxUaY_1XYtGUkZUgO7k-MUp7YB3aa19Ia0BmhBaAUvqMPz23l0oE-BLrUgPoNmle1VYG1oCTCh8HQj2eM1D6Fkc6QTBy3kIOiKC3UH330TwIEjEek40C1srIHfOIKhzd4p3QIs4DP5aVQ0ReeLvJK8goz54qi76icaaGcGYqjR3_RRubNv3eq0PgQ/s320/DSC_0216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brian, of course, enjoyed meeting Winston, pictured here
with Brian in his office with a reproduction Balloon Dog (at the bottom of the
photo in front of Brian. One of the original Balloon Dogs sold in recent years
for almost $60 Million (!). <o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ISCGG183plW7SImkHEvZZGByizM0v_-IvkN2cw0gbk9OibaKqT90xITqhfBpROl0-aYTpQQg2YNsB1Pjd3_6sJfstSWjEImouXSu9C9VcM93UQ-_tttE3iieB3ko9pLZzAuJSaTwGqIhRpBWhvKl6qPfpbO9smhyO5QSTeaqBUt1nSqRlZEHzTGLA/s6000/DSC_0274.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ISCGG183plW7SImkHEvZZGByizM0v_-IvkN2cw0gbk9OibaKqT90xITqhfBpROl0-aYTpQQg2YNsB1Pjd3_6sJfstSWjEImouXSu9C9VcM93UQ-_tttE3iieB3ko9pLZzAuJSaTwGqIhRpBWhvKl6qPfpbO9smhyO5QSTeaqBUt1nSqRlZEHzTGLA/s320/DSC_0274.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Winston was very excited to show us his TWO “Walk of Fame”
stars, one for music and one for film. There are other world-famous celebrities,
like Winston, who have multiple stars.<o:p></o:p></p>
<br />
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzqvQtQ4QaTzCAm-hnhTgk7fxwHJn5tuxc8X37A0CvewaOwHEgKFAuP2dqOO5WXhyC4FHP9FVYVl6O3A8O-ENHQ6v-LOmk0Bz2S1qhmG-tf-oT31Fv0uU8jZrOmujoOJZ1Dc7UHkCxwGDw6HH15b3t5Iy-riP9BR_PZRsfYQH7i3SwvQHysNZV46q2Q/s6000/DSC_0278.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSzqvQtQ4QaTzCAm-hnhTgk7fxwHJn5tuxc8X37A0CvewaOwHEgKFAuP2dqOO5WXhyC4FHP9FVYVl6O3A8O-ENHQ6v-LOmk0Bz2S1qhmG-tf-oT31Fv0uU8jZrOmujoOJZ1Dc7UHkCxwGDw6HH15b3t5Iy-riP9BR_PZRsfYQH7i3SwvQHysNZV46q2Q/s320/DSC_0278.JPG" width="320" /></a><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Kate arranged for Jan to get a special tour of the Warner
Brothers Studios (while I slept!). Here she is holding a real Oscar given to
Warner Brothers for a 1957 animation movie. Jan tells me that the 8.5-pound gold plated bronze statue is quite heavy.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBYf5w0RE5ohvZUX1sbZ3tFEUlyLVXa1Ban_wzzq6O_I6pARfEONO_0lHNasintA2YXZM1vxcHkaKqhm7ikWUe1VKGKjLgAvh7HgToHHLd9q7TjGgAu2NHQvnuJjheZI9QF6f0tjmvE3lLfYqJ_3tyWrywbO_WIogLd-BVHEOlsNHSPXW9q77Ewh1aA/s1280/JanOscar.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="622" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBYf5w0RE5ohvZUX1sbZ3tFEUlyLVXa1Ban_wzzq6O_I6pARfEONO_0lHNasintA2YXZM1vxcHkaKqhm7ikWUe1VKGKjLgAvh7HgToHHLd9q7TjGgAu2NHQvnuJjheZI9QF6f0tjmvE3lLfYqJ_3tyWrywbO_WIogLd-BVHEOlsNHSPXW9q77Ewh1aA/w201-h412/JanOscar.jpg" width="201" /></a><br />
<p class="MsoNormal">Much more to come. Be sure to regularly log into my Blog to
see much more about our epic road trip, including more national parks,
presidential libraries, birds, roadside attractions, and, of course, special
appearances by Winston.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://artnatureculture.blogspot.com/">https://artnatureculture.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-10573433101298128262020-11-03T15:23:00.003-08:002020-11-09T10:14:04.119-08:00Biodiversity at Home and Abroad<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_SeAyyyp9shpmnIG0nL83zgRcAr1GRJ2N6s0ek8fmrc-R8hIQCTxienFw-7trYP1p1jhxJIfdNQEVev9m8_h42z7AqUXajY9JUgiD4GR8xaIpLHZ33VsexBFXpXQiKf2I5z8vnB5_e5e/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="769" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv_SeAyyyp9shpmnIG0nL83zgRcAr1GRJ2N6s0ek8fmrc-R8hIQCTxienFw-7trYP1p1jhxJIfdNQEVev9m8_h42z7AqUXajY9JUgiD4GR8xaIpLHZ33VsexBFXpXQiKf2I5z8vnB5_e5e/w595-h331/image.png" width="595" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">What follows is a whimsical foray into the mysteries and nature of species. In North America,</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> the Western Cordillera is a major barrier for many species. Also, altitude mirrors latitude, </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">so that northern species can be found at altitude in very southern latitudes. Biodiversity increases</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">As you go south to the equator. Also, the richest communities are warm southern coastal salt </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">water marshes. Wherever you land on the continent, local diversity in landscape and micro-climate</span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> results in biodiversity. We will look at some of these specialized habitats, or more particularly,</span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> econiches. </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">As part of the presentation whimsy, we will briefly consider Bergmann's rule </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">states that organisms at higher latitudes should be larger and thicker than those closer</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> to the equator to better conserve heat, and Allen's rule states that they will have shorter </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">and thicker limbs at higher latitudes. Introduced to me by Michael, I have made a point </span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">of observing Bergmann’s Rule, with mammals being more obvious, </span></b><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"> I have also observed that the other Endotherms, birds, also may prove the rule.</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJyWImvdBFE-fhs_mmvLm2eCtRuLmbBFTyUXlAFO_AB4q3fmTMhiM8bc_WqR8zgRrLUJajiG_tQwIYNyU77hpIhgDx1VNHxPQz3bHTrZEiEsrWPdF9ogoZs8asUHnUNS3qxdky18p1eWT/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="967" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJyWImvdBFE-fhs_mmvLm2eCtRuLmbBFTyUXlAFO_AB4q3fmTMhiM8bc_WqR8zgRrLUJajiG_tQwIYNyU77hpIhgDx1VNHxPQz3bHTrZEiEsrWPdF9ogoZs8asUHnUNS3qxdky18p1eWT/w616-h380/image.png" width="616" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">The Glaucous-winged Gull is a large, pale gull of Pacific shorelines. 28 North American species. 54 worldwide. It’s relatively easy to this from other gulls—most species have black wingtips, but adult Glaucous-winged Gulls have pearly gray wingtips that match the color of the rest of the back and upperwing. The only catch is that they often hybridize with Western, Glaucous, and Herring Gulls, complicating identification. These familiar birds of the Pacific Northwest coastlines forage on fish, tidepool inhabitants, and other foods along rocky shorelines, scavenge at landfills, and follow fishing vessels offshore.</span></div><p></p><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_SaGcv1a9TJ_6XhCeKE7qwsQ_am_6FpKkuS_siFDG8KVpcYlh33OMAsuAbWuRfxrlyv9dlKYV9imE0nlEgYV6ltukSSxOIFAzDs1jHwqrAgM304xbSjKWUH0iiL3bU1N0ZMZhxxDTgEZ/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="554" data-original-width="1007" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_SaGcv1a9TJ_6XhCeKE7qwsQ_am_6FpKkuS_siFDG8KVpcYlh33OMAsuAbWuRfxrlyv9dlKYV9imE0nlEgYV6ltukSSxOIFAzDs1jHwqrAgM304xbSjKWUH0iiL3bU1N0ZMZhxxDTgEZ/w552-h304/image.png" width="552" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Otters are often seen along the British Columbia coast. It is a little confusing, though, because the species most often seen in these waters is the River Otter (Lutra canadensis). This species is one of the most common mammals along the beaches and rocky shores, but it almost always is found near a source of fresh water. </div><div>Normally three pups are born to a female, and they may spend two to three months in the den on land before venturing out. Groups of River Otters almost always consist of females and their young. North America is made up of very different habitats and climates, however North American river otters can be found across the continent! </div><div>Each population of otters faces their own unique challenges and environmental conditions which can lead to different body types or behaviors. For example, in the Adirondacks, river otters are typically larger than river otters found in warmer climates in North America down to 30 degrees. This difference in body size can be attributed to two scientific principles: Allen’s and Bergmann’s rules. ● Allen’s Rule: Body shape and appendages are long and thin in warm climates and more rounded and compact in cold climates. ● Bergmann’s Rule: Body size is large in cold climates and small in warm climates. With Otters, this varies. Otters contradict Bergmann’s Rule south of 30 degrees and north of 45 degrees. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the Validity of Bergmann's Rule</div><div>Shai Meiri and Tamar Dayan</div><div>Results Over 72% of the birds and 65% of the mammal species follow Bergmann's rule. An overall tendency to follow the rule occurs also within orders and families. </div></div><div><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a0VAzPd8x_Th-TNQm8I7tGSfbLJ14bAjYHUe9yEaGKZ1wb-YeGoKJfayUj0UsEJsMotjdKIhOEjGhlwUOUDbKuI6f9n_BwR-vV1ELDYs7fL9gT6xQFmPfd3kftma00dkQUqeo1iL0xvU/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="889" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a0VAzPd8x_Th-TNQm8I7tGSfbLJ14bAjYHUe9yEaGKZ1wb-YeGoKJfayUj0UsEJsMotjdKIhOEjGhlwUOUDbKuI6f9n_BwR-vV1ELDYs7fL9gT6xQFmPfd3kftma00dkQUqeo1iL0xvU/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><b>Macauley Park, SE Vancouver Island</b></p><p>Garry Oak Ecosystem-Dense-flowered Lupine , <i>Lupinus densiflorus </i></p><p>Species at risk-An annual with a highly restricted distribution known from three Canadian locations. The total population size is small and fluctuates considerably depending on climatic conditions. </p><p>These populations are subject to continued risks from habitat loss and degradation due to activities such as urban development, trampling, mowing and competition with invasive exotic plants.</p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgKFp34BNI0QIj9mB3RfxwIRYEBQwbcIeeP5PuH7DW38GL7CrtImw8jyVvhI9RGseD-fd-WQOXHFSN7zleGI_VLIib7I_aeUuB6BcAuGQBczoal1eBum3rHbqeSbptwcLoVx1i76niHr2/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1021" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLgKFp34BNI0QIj9mB3RfxwIRYEBQwbcIeeP5PuH7DW38GL7CrtImw8jyVvhI9RGseD-fd-WQOXHFSN7zleGI_VLIib7I_aeUuB6BcAuGQBczoal1eBum3rHbqeSbptwcLoVx1i76niHr2/w469-h312/image.png" width="469" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><div><div><b>Goats on the Roof:</b> The Old Country Market started as a roadside fruit stand providing fresh </div><div>produce to travellers heading to the west coast of Vancouver Island. Over the years it has evolved</div><div> into a landmark of Coombs, with a mixture of shops and eateries for locals and </div><div>visitors alike. Oh yeah, and there are goats… on the roof!</div><div><br /></div><div>The original market was created by Kristian Graaten. Kris and his wife, Solveig, emigrated with their</div><div> children to Vancouver Island from Norway in the 1950s. Kris, who grew up in the small community </div><div>of Lillehammer, was inspired to include a sod roof in his design of the market. Many Norwegian </div><div>homes and farm structures are built directly into the hillside with the sod roof becoming an</div><div> extension of the hillside. With the help of sons, Svein and Andy, and son-in-law, Larry, Kris </div><div>unwittingly began to build what would become perhaps the most famous sod-roof building in the world.</div><div>And now the question, “What if we put goats on the roof?”</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, it was the weekend of the Coombs Fall Fair and the grass was getting rather long. Legend</div><div> has it that, after a few glasses of wine, Larry suggested that they ‘borrow’ some goats to ‘mow’</div><div> the grass and perhaps provide some entertainment for passing cars. Needless to say, the goats </div><div>became permanent tenants of the Coombs market that weekend and have been there for more than thirty years. Each spring, a trip of goats makes their home on the roof, entertaining both locals and</div><div> visitors from all over the world.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhdlxDoyb-iBIql3PnaCUN2nfIe1LEkPIgphuaU4-kST1LuUy_aE2WyGGx9HdUfJkBLP_h_DHCmEVy6b9eCnwBdWfzA8xCwlqP-5zp7RdTdQxvFtjwBoE-654R-pPUYaCZ83z662Q2-4z/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="824" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhdlxDoyb-iBIql3PnaCUN2nfIe1LEkPIgphuaU4-kST1LuUy_aE2WyGGx9HdUfJkBLP_h_DHCmEVy6b9eCnwBdWfzA8xCwlqP-5zp7RdTdQxvFtjwBoE-654R-pPUYaCZ83z662Q2-4z/w425-h312/image.png" width="425" /></a></div><br /><div>Old growth Western Red Cedar. , Cathedral Grove, MacMillan Provincial Park, 10 miles east of Port Alberni. The old growth Douglas Firs were larger.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OgLuCmgoT7cpFufDwHkPrOSi58HB7VrDqDBzVFH1WH0HjQ8WjLlkX20jJ01_SqiGipW_-m9vQP03JbnOOX01r5IzC3mfWjJHSlY8WnEWT2ICj4tUwUW28tDTdkZ_w9ywoWO14tgU4aeE/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="504" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6OgLuCmgoT7cpFufDwHkPrOSi58HB7VrDqDBzVFH1WH0HjQ8WjLlkX20jJ01_SqiGipW_-m9vQP03JbnOOX01r5IzC3mfWjJHSlY8WnEWT2ICj4tUwUW28tDTdkZ_w9ywoWO14tgU4aeE/w256-h290/image.png" width="256" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Tofino, B.C.: "Black Jay” Stellar's Jay, <span face=""Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Grande", Verdana, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; font-style: italic;">Cyanocitta stelleri, </span> in receding light. Note that the Cordilleran (Interior) Stellar's and the Coastal Stellar's are considered different sub-species. There are 3 species of Jay in this presentation, one in the west, one in the south and one in the southeast. List all three in the comments, if you dare. No, the Blue Jay is not one of them!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CBaqsPuP8SI57Ky-C4zumA9c7AwwYd4Y2gJu1qXhwsSrMqGYLo1pNR6_C6hkEcreUb-RA8jU8McztCKYKwELyHyc-mwZ0RLTiV79w2UagmV5akSzbdPi355Q6RRdBPBHHBXhQs4QcYm-/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="738" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CBaqsPuP8SI57Ky-C4zumA9c7AwwYd4Y2gJu1qXhwsSrMqGYLo1pNR6_C6hkEcreUb-RA8jU8McztCKYKwELyHyc-mwZ0RLTiV79w2UagmV5akSzbdPi355Q6RRdBPBHHBXhQs4QcYm-/w410-h338/image.png" width="410" /></a></div><br /><div>J Pod of the resident Juan de Fuca Killer Whales which eat mostly Chinook Salmon</div><div> and reside in one of the busiest shipping lanes in North America. Some recent good news about this same Pod:</div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">A second new baby </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">orca</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> has been born to a pod of endangered </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">southern resident killer whales</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> off Victoria. The Pacific </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Whale</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Watch Association and the Washington-based Center for </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Whale</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Research say J-pod </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">orca</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> J41, also known as Eclipse, gave </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">birth</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> Thursday in waters southwest of </span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">B.C.</b><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">'s capital city.</span></div></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRJyU_0wDRe8ESprSx6mY4LxotBo_UvUMqqUVqGBzhsS0oHG2sxOpYrqpzP8XQD9rvol5A4IeY6NQT-4Vtm-MFeitQLBUiJaEb-u5fb750KisENt4tMtjQtKfKqztV1X46yRL7VKT7QHm/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1021" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRJyU_0wDRe8ESprSx6mY4LxotBo_UvUMqqUVqGBzhsS0oHG2sxOpYrqpzP8XQD9rvol5A4IeY6NQT-4Vtm-MFeitQLBUiJaEb-u5fb750KisENt4tMtjQtKfKqztV1X46yRL7VKT7QHm/w525-h350/image.png" width="525" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="color: #222222;">Harbour Seal (Phoca vitulina), Sidney, BC. People feed these wild animals, which is not a practice I encourage, This one has learned that if he slaps the water with his flippers, he gets more fish from the visiting primate bipeds.</span></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RUjl1RdNw2qGTlppg7nXXyi4VAvpSE7b_7YAJkgcoKRJ8ZHjL_km7fF7nhFCQD-eiwLUCFGB2-cyD2gzxlrkaoMwXbwDPgLr0aSBQOv0k1c3unEjyd7-PFJAqk_xXW1fC6kTbAVXL_ae/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="631" height="443" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RUjl1RdNw2qGTlppg7nXXyi4VAvpSE7b_7YAJkgcoKRJ8ZHjL_km7fF7nhFCQD-eiwLUCFGB2-cyD2gzxlrkaoMwXbwDPgLr0aSBQOv0k1c3unEjyd7-PFJAqk_xXW1fC6kTbAVXL_ae/w469-h443/image.png" width="469" /></a></div><br /><br /></div></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Travelling north from Victoria to the Yukon is easiest by air (Yukon Air). Although possible by land, you will need to set aside a lot of time, and rent a tough all wheel drive vehicle for the journey. Once in the Yukon, you can also visit southern Alaska. Haines, Juneau and Skagway are all easily accessible from Whitehorse via road and ferry. Alaska has an excellent ferry system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj1tJjCAv0nSEhRLIRUlRSMfoWFFs7wbaVXEvhiR8pzEk7ojPb-nAuQ8-hhbBCHuXWX1lBVMCpbWbcvt56Qb3MQgGk_Qzd6wgR1Boxyth0r6F_Zi1IZ6CXm6ikfQCM295SF7ctibkKikq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="549" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj1tJjCAv0nSEhRLIRUlRSMfoWFFs7wbaVXEvhiR8pzEk7ojPb-nAuQ8-hhbBCHuXWX1lBVMCpbWbcvt56Qb3MQgGk_Qzd6wgR1Boxyth0r6F_Zi1IZ6CXm6ikfQCM295SF7ctibkKikq/w412-h549/image.png" width="412" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whitehorse seen from our landing Yukon Air flight. The water seen at the left, top of the photo is the Yukon River, one of North America's longest rivers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYqLTmPqlHRpC_CC6lzM-tkK8puGG2taNwQ70u_0No4mt-g8GDIaH8_jPBUm33ZsMEkzzLpgG1ptVdTpsSmL3ph26M10VmTsSOsjyquPwOD5Zt1PEFIO2NytEvSoKSPpC9702NgMZ2b6t/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="896" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYqLTmPqlHRpC_CC6lzM-tkK8puGG2taNwQ70u_0No4mt-g8GDIaH8_jPBUm33ZsMEkzzLpgG1ptVdTpsSmL3ph26M10VmTsSOsjyquPwOD5Zt1PEFIO2NytEvSoKSPpC9702NgMZ2b6t/w463-h308/image.png" width="463" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>Sheep Creek Trail, Kluane N P, July 2018. Above and below.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUUO4ZhQtufUAP1J8PBqwJj_prZHxf_WAaeBBTcnSFa3vaXk1pkp1LzSTL6ryaRzfh55YP-9OpnHYcXKGkxlUSGgmSxKh2eEVki_SV8r-z9viG7kSYavekcIPm2oBs-X75ixhefUhY01u/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="964" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUUO4ZhQtufUAP1J8PBqwJj_prZHxf_WAaeBBTcnSFa3vaXk1pkp1LzSTL6ryaRzfh55YP-9OpnHYcXKGkxlUSGgmSxKh2eEVki_SV8r-z9viG7kSYavekcIPm2oBs-X75ixhefUhY01u/w571-h380/image.png" width="571" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwtwNEGfTtly8F164CyvVu8I7QgUlDMCsKzFphoVcKi4ASKfuSncWR4eZkRbuZ1GvwqRU5eFAEGysd200Y3CPOpPnEhXn7_JAuQUgQGfJi9s5eJOv1393GqHs5VFEvW94RWM5VBAd_UlX/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="969" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdwtwNEGfTtly8F164CyvVu8I7QgUlDMCsKzFphoVcKi4ASKfuSncWR4eZkRbuZ1GvwqRU5eFAEGysd200Y3CPOpPnEhXn7_JAuQUgQGfJi9s5eJOv1393GqHs5VFEvW94RWM5VBAd_UlX/w538-h303/image.png" width="538" /></a></div><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px;">From Parks Canada: This popular trail climbs alongside of Thechàl Dhâl and above Sheep Creek. It offers excellent views of the Slims River Valley as it opens up into the sub alpine. This is an excellent trail for viewing Dall sheep in the spring as the sheep are usually found at lower elevations.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>From me: Lower elevation! This was 2 kms away up a very steep slope. To be fair, it was relatively lower! And this was June 30. See the snow-capped peaks in the photos above.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvzr8LRj5cUhZMpSSoUZJIR62sxB4ZhErn3WUk5SKIHYrNdp4hmsmfFoXk63FzNt46bp7EvxNy8x3HWSEFUdDvj3k3JTfIfrsQisHCR0uVh8KhybpeXIYGehU5Z6SmAFgVIm9SPqNkSUs/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="928" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvzr8LRj5cUhZMpSSoUZJIR62sxB4ZhErn3WUk5SKIHYrNdp4hmsmfFoXk63FzNt46bp7EvxNy8x3HWSEFUdDvj3k3JTfIfrsQisHCR0uVh8KhybpeXIYGehU5Z6SmAFgVIm9SPqNkSUs/w592-h429/image.png" width="592" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><br />An after supper hike on the Dezadeash Trail, above. We finished at about 10 PM, still bathed by bright sun. Caution: Grizzlies also use this trail, as do Moose. In Kluane, this is considered a short and easy trail, only 5.5 kms.</div><div><br /></div><div>From Parks Canada:<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px;">The first part is boardwalk and wood chips (the first 300 m of boardwalk is wheelchair accessible) passing through a wetland area. The next section of the trail travels through aspen forest and small meadows. A viewing stand is located along the riverbank about 1 km down the trail. This is a good place to stop to look for animals such as beaver, moose and waterfowl. At 1.4 km the trail splits to form a loop for the remaining 2.6 km. The left branch continues along the riverbank through tall aspen then turns back through a shady spruce forest to the beginning of the loop.</span></div><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" /><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 16px;">The variety of habitat along this trail makes it an especially good place to watch for birds. Also, if you look carefully you can find other animal sign such as moose browsing, squirrel middens (caches), a beaver dam, bear claw marks on trees, etc.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuCCZzuwNZdd11qm9EdtiRyK2BvFsiigswfxMdrizgwwUyJacAwhLhfdj429w9GM1wIgrE1_dsxZh5svBFmK1hmKCxYTDnFCSgrYGYxA_O5H1yaNvPVwG4PGyUwy7xYGYyM1-JRB9G5AA/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="726" height="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuCCZzuwNZdd11qm9EdtiRyK2BvFsiigswfxMdrizgwwUyJacAwhLhfdj429w9GM1wIgrE1_dsxZh5svBFmK1hmKCxYTDnFCSgrYGYxA_O5H1yaNvPVwG4PGyUwy7xYGYyM1-JRB9G5AA/w548-h501/image.png" width="548" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><div>Fledgling Northern Hawk Owl. It was calling (alarm call?) vigorously. Identification notes: white eyebrows, long tail, larger than Boreal. This was a "life" species for me.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Rafting the Klondike River past Bonanaza Creek:</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzoly4fNMIr56oxuUEgFY0qME-E38RoU4D-HoZu8vh8zS-oqS5Twg7SQL-YH7TSlz1hw4VMu_ZtHd_ER6mS9TSqsBukGsbBh9sHDGbtl2P4Ngl6WLr7bNfh0OCsB4BlXdHOmOZElWCEoq/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzzoly4fNMIr56oxuUEgFY0qME-E38RoU4D-HoZu8vh8zS-oqS5Twg7SQL-YH7TSlz1hw4VMu_ZtHd_ER6mS9TSqsBukGsbBh9sHDGbtl2P4Ngl6WLr7bNfh0OCsB4BlXdHOmOZElWCEoq/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px;">Thanks to Rod Schjerning of The Viking and The Wolf River Expeditions, I got to raft down 25 Kms of the Klondike River and fish for Arctic Grayling...Also, thanks to Norm Brown for signing me up and for explaining the joys of NZ's North Island. This was the tour that starts at 6 PM, and ends around 9 PM. Yukon close to the summer Solstice makes for long glorious days.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPS18NY2TeuMQoGUBW28ozgxHgMITdyJxoEJUFQ5FLD3mZc9WliqxMehp4jrykyKyoaP3j989iuOmtKZflBlPcnECtgmdfc_rJnyU7cWU7JOdlBQKgPdtVYUZntpDlGTuyRvxa1DDQqIf/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="747" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPS18NY2TeuMQoGUBW28ozgxHgMITdyJxoEJUFQ5FLD3mZc9WliqxMehp4jrykyKyoaP3j989iuOmtKZflBlPcnECtgmdfc_rJnyU7cWU7JOdlBQKgPdtVYUZntpDlGTuyRvxa1DDQqIf/w538-h429/image.png" width="538" /></a></div><br />From a quickly moving raft, getting this shot was difficult, and I did NOT know which species it was until I downloaded the photo: Northern Shoveler, <span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><i>Spatula clypeata.</i> This duck breeds throughout the Yukon.</span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div><div><span face="arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NsSusyXTNTjV72e1sGQmrdAZfr-RLp1m_o3AaLof9aBOwFNcObxMjdQgGhbKdM9TA1eN5r8QXtKTVcgQ5h7cgA3UMv58L7H7OFB7XHQZ2ocmpcdtG1hFGK_vJvpinIphWFBhtWoijsBh/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1021" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NsSusyXTNTjV72e1sGQmrdAZfr-RLp1m_o3AaLof9aBOwFNcObxMjdQgGhbKdM9TA1eN5r8QXtKTVcgQ5h7cgA3UMv58L7H7OFB7XHQZ2ocmpcdtG1hFGK_vJvpinIphWFBhtWoijsBh/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></span></div><div>Up the Dempster Highway, not too distant from Whitehorse, and there are tours from Whitehorse: Tombstone Territorial Park. This is a view of the Tombstone Mountains, whence the name. For nature buffs, I recommend renting a 4 wheel drive vehicle for travelling the Dempster Highway. Tour Tombstone, then go further, and you will be on the Tundra.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQvstzpsn9GdUyeGcmK2O5RQf0K6zFWIorIeln13Q3EgYp1mD28ZhzHxdR57zn7YVSdV7CRSKDqS7yZnFdWOf8OOIGCC4d9jBwwc-dSYJ5973qn1pCb-4NxJuJntSNyiK5CSl08GgEOhW/s6000/2018-07-05+Tombston+187.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQvstzpsn9GdUyeGcmK2O5RQf0K6zFWIorIeln13Q3EgYp1mD28ZhzHxdR57zn7YVSdV7CRSKDqS7yZnFdWOf8OOIGCC4d9jBwwc-dSYJ5973qn1pCb-4NxJuJntSNyiK5CSl08GgEOhW/s320/2018-07-05+Tombston+187.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: Whitney, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="font-size: small;"><span class="comname display-name" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; content: ""; white-space: nowrap;" target="_self">Gray Reindeer Lichen,</span> <span class="sciname species secondary-name" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #aaaaaa; font-style: italic; white-space: nowrap;" target="_self">Cladonia rangiferina</span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3e3c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lichens in the Yukon support the Caribou, Musk Ox and other hoofed animals throughout the winter. In fact, Caribou are one of the few animals that have special microorganisms in their stomach which allows them to digest the lichens.</span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3e3c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3e3c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3e3c;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="SplitTaxon taxon species Fungi has-com-name parens" style="box-sizing: border-box;" title="Gray Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia rangiferina)"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3e3c;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKVP0FD5VErRWrlGOHGYRoKNKw-GvOQI4hRN-3fYNUyLOpn5MXS4HPGE3rC1urXD4JL8u-J6SrmDd0eumnGKoIKNVnslXryBcqZHd9kxHACMrWpeYsoPi4J7_lFTsCwd8Uyn52eP3thuQ/s1741/2018-07-05+Tombston+105.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1173" data-original-width="1741" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKVP0FD5VErRWrlGOHGYRoKNKw-GvOQI4hRN-3fYNUyLOpn5MXS4HPGE3rC1urXD4JL8u-J6SrmDd0eumnGKoIKNVnslXryBcqZHd9kxHACMrWpeYsoPi4J7_lFTsCwd8Uyn52eP3thuQ/s320/2018-07-05+Tombston+105.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the Cornell University, All About Birds Website:"</span></span></span><span face=""helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;">birds on breeding territories are aggressive defenders of the nest site, flying at intruders and persistently attempting to chase them from the area." </span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span face=""helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Lesser Yellowlegs, <i>Tringa flavipes</i>, breeds thorughout the Yukon. This bird was VERY noisy, as it worked to keep me from ther nest. You can see the bill is open, as it cackled at me. This was my first time seeing this bird at a nesting site. There is a stream not far from the bird. Nests are usually on the ground, not far from a stream. There were many other species of tundra breeding birds at this site. One that I saw even farther off was the subject of a study, this day, by Yukon territorial biologists, south of the Tombstone Park. I stopped ot talk to them. They had not found any Golden Eagles. Looking to the west from this site, I saw one!</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXboNewcZbyvStXkuZAU7gUUp3hTKZVMyxYZuYvkcRRmTIrQ9l0UIPBxIzoQuf1_xU89kua2aXOQ1ho5v4atv-bfSxKfMxeiJJ0uese_eg1o4NyPbFLWapUTl2jXOBiD_Te_Z7DH-KOLx/s523/2018-07-05+Tombston+113.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="264" data-original-width="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXboNewcZbyvStXkuZAU7gUUp3hTKZVMyxYZuYvkcRRmTIrQ9l0UIPBxIzoQuf1_xU89kua2aXOQ1ho5v4atv-bfSxKfMxeiJJ0uese_eg1o4NyPbFLWapUTl2jXOBiD_Te_Z7DH-KOLx/s320/2018-07-05+Tombston+113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Returning to south Vancouver Island, we now take a long trip by car all the way to Kingsville, Texas, on teh western side of the Gulf of Mexico, just north of the US-Mexican Border.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI1Q1QWdLaIasn_tL3IXVwehJsx01ITb6W5tqdy60CX4Gjy8sEKL5hb-9wTodxCgAmYL0QK-Vqumpd8-fheCSSDDr_aBl5Oeuc9BZEyQ7RiKODwZkQisFx303hvY5UPa-vH3rVlecGUNd/s844/SydneyKingsville.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="844" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI1Q1QWdLaIasn_tL3IXVwehJsx01ITb6W5tqdy60CX4Gjy8sEKL5hb-9wTodxCgAmYL0QK-Vqumpd8-fheCSSDDr_aBl5Oeuc9BZEyQ7RiKODwZkQisFx303hvY5UPa-vH3rVlecGUNd/s320/SydneyKingsville.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnItqupyf5glmcYPyN7VDItQrh_qbGK9284qvQFRqzKooI5VWDZ_rVTMaP19uh3hmX3AMFRjhJVPYPxU6-TYfyNUpJbGfNV5mKuJQJXelXcBRRZPPQWS7mlv_KCJUPP6GWapBojKHsxiT/s2048/KingRanch13dec11+010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPnItqupyf5glmcYPyN7VDItQrh_qbGK9284qvQFRqzKooI5VWDZ_rVTMaP19uh3hmX3AMFRjhJVPYPxU6-TYfyNUpJbGfNV5mKuJQJXelXcBRRZPPQWS7mlv_KCJUPP6GWapBojKHsxiT/s320/KingRanch13dec11+010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px;">The Collared Peccary, <i>Pecari tajacu,</i> is a species of mammal in the family Tayassuidae found in North, Central, and South America. They are commonly referred to as javelina, saíno, or báquiro, although these terms are also used to describe other species in the family. The species is also known as the musk hog. In Trinidad, it is colloquially known as quenk. I saw these on my Eco Tour of the King Ranch led by Jim Craig, in December 2011.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LeVm6dggLZwjCgt33kdcq1FvLhoXUVvjzxi-0mfkJ5NonJ8M6DekeNdFE69kBjQZN_ywfMBtxHKZZm4L8H15GLLbPDtm3gL9O9qgT-MFAs8IqHzldlGXn31HnodZpKTK5DAgFxtk73nm/s1240/KingRanch13dec11+027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1203" data-original-width="1240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5LeVm6dggLZwjCgt33kdcq1FvLhoXUVvjzxi-0mfkJ5NonJ8M6DekeNdFE69kBjQZN_ywfMBtxHKZZm4L8H15GLLbPDtm3gL9O9qgT-MFAs8IqHzldlGXn31HnodZpKTK5DAgFxtk73nm/s320/KingRanch13dec11+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;">Green Jays, at a feeder on the 850,000 acre King Ranch.</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui-9-yvS3S9nALz1PhItA8Inva6IPtHIYFfs0CyxLZ6a4f11MFKRbjdUzQmjDUSxMLT-mkqrxf5kAW9pzQx7WATLFv8zHEfxpE-BEeXB2tDc70gMvAt3UrYUu6Y_EC7RbRYrek5pY33mZ/s1344/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+014.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="1344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui-9-yvS3S9nALz1PhItA8Inva6IPtHIYFfs0CyxLZ6a4f11MFKRbjdUzQmjDUSxMLT-mkqrxf5kAW9pzQx7WATLFv8zHEfxpE-BEeXB2tDc70gMvAt3UrYUu6Y_EC7RbRYrek5pY33mZ/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Above and below, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Estero Llano State Park, Texas. This bird is resident here along the Rio Grande, and is a migrant nesting along the north shore of Lake Ontario.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwYbtUlKiysa34rDfE5C_Lh2nf6rJJEWbB9ofenRBFBTn1RrnIXyTUTaM8A8LFxP6SeEjsjacCpMY9wyeN25UL0JePz7nsPaTZe2AbzmNLOScVBOwiMJfH8GTMcghWWuiB0VLN3irKVTw/s1210/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="963" data-original-width="1210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwYbtUlKiysa34rDfE5C_Lh2nf6rJJEWbB9ofenRBFBTn1RrnIXyTUTaM8A8LFxP6SeEjsjacCpMY9wyeN25UL0JePz7nsPaTZe2AbzmNLOScVBOwiMJfH8GTMcghWWuiB0VLN3irKVTw/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zl486EQRjBg9ZMqf3b9CYI2ZC6dZsOlqKmflhLMPVMylNmNju628G9_wcdDZmL9I2RrckXHgo6D-fNB4AdCtrzSCCzX5zcHSkU-Vul1BFOIi1NJtwlIoxuj5a8JutA5s2-iZgB3JDvll/s732/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+050.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="732" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zl486EQRjBg9ZMqf3b9CYI2ZC6dZsOlqKmflhLMPVMylNmNju628G9_wcdDZmL9I2RrckXHgo6D-fNB4AdCtrzSCCzX5zcHSkU-Vul1BFOIi1NJtwlIoxuj5a8JutA5s2-iZgB3JDvll/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Some birds are also at the northern limit here at the north side of the Rio Grande. Above, Long-billed Thrasher, </span><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;">T</em><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">oxostoma longirostre</span></em><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;">, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;">and below a Black-crested Titmouse, </span><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Baeolophus atricristatus</span></em><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;">, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;">which has a very limited range in northeast Mexico, and in the adjoining part of Texas.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdJrzGjroN_NtvmAYvIfm1bDo78aoYbsNLjMgzV0bMlcC_SC5fbjr8pQki8aWr8gXirpn3JB8Btzxi0emfuhtx5eaGdZVS9nFGukZ7Ui8kD0tv8AM6QDRNLElWkvmiKeN3idFx984ozxv/s1012/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+055.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1012" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdJrzGjroN_NtvmAYvIfm1bDo78aoYbsNLjMgzV0bMlcC_SC5fbjr8pQki8aWr8gXirpn3JB8Btzxi0emfuhtx5eaGdZVS9nFGukZ7Ui8kD0tv8AM6QDRNLElWkvmiKeN3idFx984ozxv/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+055.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVHqbpXOxU4Tj7H15f8UXYjJSQNYA9k-k9kBKukOK33wLI0qvSDjZHpTDRneRbkj3fR7RmFfrqBYVc2heWzfEwgwTO-3j5qe040xIJsyPRDwJN2a0dfYjhG6rd4Ucq5I-fa_GltrVSBu-/s801/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="801" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVHqbpXOxU4Tj7H15f8UXYjJSQNYA9k-k9kBKukOK33wLI0qvSDjZHpTDRneRbkj3fR7RmFfrqBYVc2heWzfEwgwTO-3j5qe040xIJsyPRDwJN2a0dfYjhG6rd4Ucq5I-fa_GltrVSBu-/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>A large number of North America's waterfall winter here. Above, is this the same duck I saw in the Yukon? A pair of Northern Shovelers at Estero Llano. Below, Great Kiskadee, </span><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pitangus sulphuratus, </span></em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;">a large flycatcher found through most of South America, and in Texas, only along the Rio Grande.</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEucMRr_ZZvMwYx4sRFdU2vPcYEVcn1QQTPcyt3M4DdNndyMw_JccHB824Xy6hMbQrG1E51gCQ8qUzClHV419eFjsBC4nS_d5kvf7fONPeaJ7e1S5RSDcGl6oWuLxjObvQj-YMwk2iJJ0F/s904/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+111.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="904" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEucMRr_ZZvMwYx4sRFdU2vPcYEVcn1QQTPcyt3M4DdNndyMw_JccHB824Xy6hMbQrG1E51gCQ8qUzClHV419eFjsBC4nS_d5kvf7fONPeaJ7e1S5RSDcGl6oWuLxjObvQj-YMwk2iJJ0F/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCD85stAdENE_gYdyHpJn6AFVKkJZyAmqqInSg4bzCcWC9OKtMOZZfu71pMG_s_RVRwh3yn9POmC9-bZUqb4mtvsC4GXyckpZDss4e6RlbVez7zoWaDxgyqOwcFXuRMFmPz9iigAcIghh/s511/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+139_2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="290" data-original-width="511" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCD85stAdENE_gYdyHpJn6AFVKkJZyAmqqInSg4bzCcWC9OKtMOZZfu71pMG_s_RVRwh3yn9POmC9-bZUqb4mtvsC4GXyckpZDss4e6RlbVez7zoWaDxgyqOwcFXuRMFmPz9iigAcIghh/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+139_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Another Mexican and Central American bird may be seen here, the Altamira Oriole, </span><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Icterus gularis</span></em><em style="background-color: #e9e9e9; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;">, </em><span style="background-color: white; color: #0a0a0a; font-size: 16.6134px;">. This is a very large Oriole, and, like most Orioles, can't resist fresh fruit. Below, the last of the Rio Grande birds, a relative of our Whip-Poor-Will, the Common Pauraque, </span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #e9e9e9; font-style: italic;">Nyctidromus a<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71fBNW1YAl0wCId9s3MNfDPxAqTeykjsnnjAsygNMHV4Tco3wt1HQ4yk_jvd1ZMOmeihNN1rNnMXTHVzJwN3js9UgGiOVKT6mZqqruyrfWv1EY27jwa8dzTO-vrq74Nz5lmwCdue0lCkj/s1640/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+127.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="1640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71fBNW1YAl0wCId9s3MNfDPxAqTeykjsnnjAsygNMHV4Tco3wt1HQ4yk_jvd1ZMOmeihNN1rNnMXTHVzJwN3js9UgGiOVKT6mZqqruyrfWv1EY27jwa8dzTO-vrq74Nz5lmwCdue0lCkj/s320/AlamoInnandEsteroLlanoStatePark+127.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />lbicollis,</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i> </i>found throughout Central America and Northern South America.</span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOBOs5-krwpNRTODOW2HRm-46zSUic5ZG73G5oBO6-xxtFDrl1rFqazPit9VUGVrUAmmcPM-70SCMoy0KPtOLdughcbDWUjsmhvwRiWke5DTJHuT36Zx4GyuHM7TojzztHeITcxuHLn_x/s1886/AransasNWRaboardskimmer29NOV11+004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1204" data-original-width="1886" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOBOs5-krwpNRTODOW2HRm-46zSUic5ZG73G5oBO6-xxtFDrl1rFqazPit9VUGVrUAmmcPM-70SCMoy0KPtOLdughcbDWUjsmhvwRiWke5DTJHuT36Zx4GyuHM7TojzztHeITcxuHLn_x/s320/AransasNWRaboardskimmer29NOV11+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Back up the coast past Corpus Christi, and Roger, Ann and I board the Skimmer at Port Aransas to view wildlife in the very shallow bay at the mouth of the San Antonio River. This very special shallow bay supports the wintering Whooping Cranes, that nest in Wood Buffalo National Park in our country.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBllIZGDqMnaqsHk5V6MJkri7v6jwZTUvSAtvUyczjhK9EvHWbgpV5qhbgOi_4egqG5NRkRET-x9SYBM65N2ohVd__gN50tfmbF0E0sJD6WTKZYs62FjFJVOqeBFyjOvgqB-znu6yoSC4N/s1330/AransasNWRaboardskimmer29NOV11+021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="1330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBllIZGDqMnaqsHk5V6MJkri7v6jwZTUvSAtvUyczjhK9EvHWbgpV5qhbgOi_4egqG5NRkRET-x9SYBM65N2ohVd__gN50tfmbF0E0sJD6WTKZYs62FjFJVOqeBFyjOvgqB-znu6yoSC4N/s320/AransasNWRaboardskimmer29NOV11+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U1_wJ0JgTiVkJ37F8VObn151YN1v3s842MJkPtvU4GXdcSeThj4AfmGxAGuxUthlxnOxk6M-nkFx5r-0SNM2ZY1W8WwhvTjaw8oZR70N4t2yTZX1GoTD8rOcnbkMV_s6-4V6CINBiyUZ/s784/PINS30nov11+027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="784" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5U1_wJ0JgTiVkJ37F8VObn151YN1v3s842MJkPtvU4GXdcSeThj4AfmGxAGuxUthlxnOxk6M-nkFx5r-0SNM2ZY1W8WwhvTjaw8oZR70N4t2yTZX1GoTD8rOcnbkMV_s6-4V6CINBiyUZ/s320/PINS30nov11+027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Back to Corpus Christi area, where I accessed the Padre Island National Seashore. This one hundred mile long barrier island is home to a great number and diversity of bird species during the winter. Above, a rare Piping Plover, <i>Charadrius melodus</i>, wriggles his right claw above the sand, supposedly to mesmereize prey.</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uF_28PJfJKevu7t966tnxU8giyddDEj0047aRs4EHJj8KbEN7oK1b-naMUEcdxca_wMbLzqIyXO1HOV6TlYvtVhcw2PE_aEv1RbPMX6zTT9nEUQGQjIl72GSO4_drzGTroNek_vI4NtK/s2048/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+004.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uF_28PJfJKevu7t966tnxU8giyddDEj0047aRs4EHJj8KbEN7oK1b-naMUEcdxca_wMbLzqIyXO1HOV6TlYvtVhcw2PE_aEv1RbPMX6zTT9nEUQGQjIl72GSO4_drzGTroNek_vI4NtK/s320/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Padre Island is home to many migrating and resident species. I counted 10 species of ducks in one pond, before they lifted off , including Ruddy Ducks, Redheads, Canvasbacks, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and Pintails (above). While the Roseate Spoonbill, <i>Platalea ajaja</i>, below, just kept one eye on me after a graceful landing. This species is the only one of 6 Spoonbill species to nest in the Americas.</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvONAZQYir_b-HLbGd0_60pEA-ttloN8dH_meiiqTbnhS4orKUesfykUEg9P5kboa23NwFPiBJzN6jOIZrUwpFpp1Bi_yvRvsPN4SH4H2ULl4rFk8seaxNMcsTFKxYrXQxnog7kk61A-h/s505/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+008.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="505" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLvONAZQYir_b-HLbGd0_60pEA-ttloN8dH_meiiqTbnhS4orKUesfykUEg9P5kboa23NwFPiBJzN6jOIZrUwpFpp1Bi_yvRvsPN4SH4H2ULl4rFk8seaxNMcsTFKxYrXQxnog7kk61A-h/s320/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+008.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43RDbC9PQpUnNjEsBieDP_aRmlcKeL1kLgRwlHe1fZKo-F_-8eQiMgS5NjJ58c3VzT8TcL4vH7y-3Bm45ix0zfoxduCg6QawG4UEL1rP6nq64fBNJmTFb9wjzInzwuZWI6bMdv1nN7Z5X/s889/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="889" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi43RDbC9PQpUnNjEsBieDP_aRmlcKeL1kLgRwlHe1fZKo-F_-8eQiMgS5NjJ58c3VzT8TcL4vH7y-3Bm45ix0zfoxduCg6QawG4UEL1rP6nq64fBNJmTFb9wjzInzwuZWI6bMdv1nN7Z5X/s320/Nov26_11_PadreIsland+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4vZJyovHQUSYw96YRgBtq6E0sZ_6k8ISJCTDTONyL_JHt5_EJpWDd6CH5i_6NGrFNC2lScIg8DwWFStgzTJU8-o80XyuAi411ysFPL5vAZBTg2IZvZxdBcF6SZmjl3_-yHT8ALS73U-v/s963/KingsvilleEverglades.JPG" style="font-size: 15.9744px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="963" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4vZJyovHQUSYw96YRgBtq6E0sZ_6k8ISJCTDTONyL_JHt5_EJpWDd6CH5i_6NGrFNC2lScIg8DwWFStgzTJU8-o80XyuAi411ysFPL5vAZBTg2IZvZxdBcF6SZmjl3_-yHT8ALS73U-v/s320/KingsvilleEverglades.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From the King Ranch, and Corpus Christi, we take a long drive along the north shore of the Gulf Of Mexico, down across central Florida to the Everglades. Here is Suzanne, another Macnamara Field Naturalists' Club Colleague, ready to tour the "Glades. That is a very special tree behind Suzanne...</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAvFLLBRspkbQgitcsMXh_qu_ofjJFCWERWvCP8bFpPPVfaT0Fd24nwUsQPqLaslAdFiM8ZOTbhGQTGmFAWGhLIE-TGjmTq3s0sqLsy_Am4P1gOQLz0QBbFP_567-PA7xc974GpbdqynL/s314/Everglades4e.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAvFLLBRspkbQgitcsMXh_qu_ofjJFCWERWvCP8bFpPPVfaT0Fd24nwUsQPqLaslAdFiM8ZOTbhGQTGmFAWGhLIE-TGjmTq3s0sqLsy_Am4P1gOQLz0QBbFP_567-PA7xc974GpbdqynL/s0/Everglades4e.jpg" /></a></div>below, you can see the trunk of this tree. <span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">The tall tropical Gumbo Limbo tree, <i>Bursera simaruba</i>, grows from South Florida into Mexico, the Caribbean south to Brazil and Venezuela. The tree has a distinctive shiny red bark that looks like it is constantly peeling.They’re sometimes called “the tourist tree” because the peeling red bark resembles the skin of so many first-time South Florida visitors. Best seen at Gumbo Limbo Trail, Royal Palm Visitor Center, Everglades National Park.</span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SwBtBMHv_vQ3zuwEBPSLyu_4oEQeAJ2pTeQIQr3cO1MtB6o1mBNu9AD5AggSGwDLkxc959GhUyWTIBfCzLQZdDYkDAgkqodMOkecL4vTQUoGcIyo-2y_mhscm3LCD7F3yDgzFwnaGZXS/s2048/Everglades4Mar11+006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SwBtBMHv_vQ3zuwEBPSLyu_4oEQeAJ2pTeQIQr3cO1MtB6o1mBNu9AD5AggSGwDLkxc959GhUyWTIBfCzLQZdDYkDAgkqodMOkecL4vTQUoGcIyo-2y_mhscm3LCD7F3yDgzFwnaGZXS/s320/Everglades4Mar11+006.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2irB7F8Zz8gpjZwOfnmERsWweOPPUUh153oBNiPKpuKrtDM034h5RIafZayfcb7coKZwsHTs5D6J7omS7_Zpf7g10Itjx34RuGsOJYGLmu5Q6o7YhNDXKuq_rr_czO8E_h4AsHjQFkInu/s2048/Everglades4Mar11+025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2irB7F8Zz8gpjZwOfnmERsWweOPPUUh153oBNiPKpuKrtDM034h5RIafZayfcb7coKZwsHTs5D6J7omS7_Zpf7g10Itjx34RuGsOJYGLmu5Q6o7YhNDXKuq_rr_czO8E_h4AsHjQFkInu/s320/Everglades4Mar11+025.JPG" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">You may have to take a canoe/kayak guided paddle through the salt water Florida Bay to see the above plant. It is <i>Tillandsia fasciculata Sw. var. densispica </i><b>Mez </b>Giant Airplant along the coastal Mangrove Swamps. </span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">Below, you don't have to paddle to see the bird below. We have Turkey Vultures in our area. A more southern vulture, the Black Vulture, <i>Coragyps atratus</i>, is common in Everglades National Park. Caution, if you park within the National Park, cover your windshield wipers. Black Vultures seem to be attracted to them!</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;"><br /></span><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFVqEk8qiN4oukhcccG2M3b3TSJhOAYCvoZSVlnBIG6Kae-lbFSmlAd-7Y8XcR8mbY25DmtmWXb12vxle-s72GveSBSauJfsD-mGvNKVqR9-9SzurJPaergQ-JsT6PtAM6UIOiOSMR6Vh/s2048/Everglades4Mar11+030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFVqEk8qiN4oukhcccG2M3b3TSJhOAYCvoZSVlnBIG6Kae-lbFSmlAd-7Y8XcR8mbY25DmtmWXb12vxle-s72GveSBSauJfsD-mGvNKVqR9-9SzurJPaergQ-JsT6PtAM6UIOiOSMR6Vh/s320/Everglades4Mar11+030.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wEHQ0igCi-CPrXG2Vllt6pEdPi9JyIyhVD1MId7cSs9v62qQKivhiRu9N-m_rQOrK-3FebfNwIfvcXeEZO2gHXXB3YbpTSIWJ17Cgh8XmfZdEnzVZf11pP2riH7r2df78u7YOtkCE1PO/s2048/Everglades4Mar11+042.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9wEHQ0igCi-CPrXG2Vllt6pEdPi9JyIyhVD1MId7cSs9v62qQKivhiRu9N-m_rQOrK-3FebfNwIfvcXeEZO2gHXXB3YbpTSIWJ17Cgh8XmfZdEnzVZf11pP2riH7r2df78u7YOtkCE1PO/s320/Everglades4Mar11+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Two of the Everglades signature species: Above, the ancient Anhinga, <i>Anhinga anhinga</i>, a fishing bird, has to dry its wings after each hunting trip. The common name of this bird is Snake Bird, as it does resemble a snake as it swims under water. Anhinga is from the Brazilian Tupi language, and roughly means the same as the common name. </span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;">And it has to keep one of those lovely blue rimmed eyes on the lookout for this dominant Everglades species (below), the American Alligator, <i>Alligator mississippiensis</i>. This big bull was entering the stream to go fishing, not far from where the Anhinga sat.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9cIUHkdeSk4wUDiVSi8q02gCEg8zNdKIfcgoP5GoQ5btRI5LZe_xFEh5zNzJ1gpexztGx26r2gIlPN84s9_x8CH9oC9icUjKnlKJusLLRLMgVIxNOgrRp8Y8hR15vj7DylkbMO4uTPpe/s2048/Everglades4Mar11+090.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9cIUHkdeSk4wUDiVSi8q02gCEg8zNdKIfcgoP5GoQ5btRI5LZe_xFEh5zNzJ1gpexztGx26r2gIlPN84s9_x8CH9oC9icUjKnlKJusLLRLMgVIxNOgrRp8Y8hR15vj7DylkbMO4uTPpe/s320/Everglades4Mar11+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yes, there is also an American Crocodile, and they are found along Florida Bay (salt water, brackish water, and occasionally fresh water) in Everglades National Park. This </span>12 footer is one of about 2000 American Crocodiles, <span style="color: #003300; text-align: -webkit-center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Crocodylus acutus </i>in the waters of the southern tip of Florida<i>. This is a</i></span></span>n example of endangered species recovering from the brink of extirpation from Florida.</div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-siKjN3ObLEvK04AWHEi0re-CCmZdhp3ow3mUB8m2UqvrOBWZQ-uXqBs_sCPXfXYrR8IUtlM7na72adbpTcM-xO0QGkIzAd4lst5HaO2GZJIXkIVs39JIO7se2hzVhH3GbgQaZ3IkfOh/s2048/Everglades4Mar11crocflamingo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-siKjN3ObLEvK04AWHEi0re-CCmZdhp3ow3mUB8m2UqvrOBWZQ-uXqBs_sCPXfXYrR8IUtlM7na72adbpTcM-xO0QGkIzAd4lst5HaO2GZJIXkIVs39JIO7se2hzVhH3GbgQaZ3IkfOh/s320/Everglades4Mar11crocflamingo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlbRhLehNJb2ilo7UZXT7LmXRN_cp2A6gM5ODYeoV8CqQzFKvIsJkCt1LAMyqKg4sM6gufEPS88A1l8jRxKBZhUyjnMyUpV3MdKMIPDoqKSQ-ZAYcJx3xUfQEqkotg3kHfC0MfTKI2mlq/s1783/Everglades4Mar11frankietheranger.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1783" data-original-width="1159" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlbRhLehNJb2ilo7UZXT7LmXRN_cp2A6gM5ODYeoV8CqQzFKvIsJkCt1LAMyqKg4sM6gufEPS88A1l8jRxKBZhUyjnMyUpV3MdKMIPDoqKSQ-ZAYcJx3xUfQEqkotg3kHfC0MfTKI2mlq/s320/Everglades4Mar11frankietheranger.JPG" /></a></div><div>In a few Parks and Reserves, Nature Interpretation is strong, notwithstanding cuts here and there. The classic US National Parks Ranger outfit on Ranger Frankie. These people are ever so valuable for helping to educate so many about nature. Below: Powdery Strap Air Plant, <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Catopsis berteronian</i>a, commonly known as the powdery strap airplant, is an epiphytic bromeliad thought to be a possible carnivorous plant, similar to Brocchinia reducta, although the evidence is equivocal. Its native range is from southern Florida to southern Brazil.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7dX7djssQHTlvkh9bqVeb455kVYH4KsCjqLayhmaUsUIlB6LwktyyRuNRI690zQkyqcWDO18uRrcBaqQr2tffTOBxCl9n5-d8QicToFgVnDry0EL5dRxcUnZuVNYBeeNSQclw7wJ0-05/s2048/Everglades4Mar11Powdery+Strap+Airplant+.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7dX7djssQHTlvkh9bqVeb455kVYH4KsCjqLayhmaUsUIlB6LwktyyRuNRI690zQkyqcWDO18uRrcBaqQr2tffTOBxCl9n5-d8QicToFgVnDry0EL5dRxcUnZuVNYBeeNSQclw7wJ0-05/s320/Everglades4Mar11Powdery+Strap+Airplant+.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">From sub tropical Everglades</span></span><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">, we begin our journey home along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, stopping at Merritt Island, and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Reserve </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;">at the boundary area between Florida and Georgia:</span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygPqyg_vlCmj_BnQFzgiHItEzBMkN0zqnxpdtLQL9QmjPqhoLQN2-yhTTAbbbQrAvWhMYKXDyPni2GGbZO4TrXcwxhXT_IjNveAh5Q_efZLwtJCd3_tjcCZWLvOV8oup5TnsH1HMFSbK1/s665/everglades2okefneokee.jpg" style="font-size: 15.9744px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="662" data-original-width="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygPqyg_vlCmj_BnQFzgiHItEzBMkN0zqnxpdtLQL9QmjPqhoLQN2-yhTTAbbbQrAvWhMYKXDyPni2GGbZO4TrXcwxhXT_IjNveAh5Q_efZLwtJCd3_tjcCZWLvOV8oup5TnsH1HMFSbK1/s320/everglades2okefneokee.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSovmzFTq-RpNykuHQPwCfElRN7ZvxfW7YqtF59fwFFt4MTymRvMSzTOrdsxcXXyqnAJ4RUIvQPNjI3U3ieO9TkiQFcC92FThvDOjkpB-79g3Bta0xBU3hYoAaWPvSjk-3On0s0bDOn-c/s2048/Fl5nov12+015.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinSovmzFTq-RpNykuHQPwCfElRN7ZvxfW7YqtF59fwFFt4MTymRvMSzTOrdsxcXXyqnAJ4RUIvQPNjI3U3ieO9TkiQFcC92FThvDOjkpB-79g3Bta0xBU3hYoAaWPvSjk-3On0s0bDOn-c/s320/Fl5nov12+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>Above, <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;">Zebra Longwing, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 16px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Heliconius charithonia</i></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;">, the state butterfly of Florida.</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qrX6wMIs6RY5LMHRMYtybcbX7lf7L4mIn-O-X4w-gEV4Lmuvx-ASC8ckm_r03eBM2st0TLYQXyD2sEuH3HEguuV3kgkOPMzkMYfVJITv-o0NyKpScIjuu3HkJ8lVJjNRhsn0ZPFAODSE/s776/fl9-10nov12urbanusproteuslongtailedskipper.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="597" data-original-width="776" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qrX6wMIs6RY5LMHRMYtybcbX7lf7L4mIn-O-X4w-gEV4Lmuvx-ASC8ckm_r03eBM2st0TLYQXyD2sEuH3HEguuV3kgkOPMzkMYfVJITv-o0NyKpScIjuu3HkJ8lVJjNRhsn0ZPFAODSE/s320/fl9-10nov12urbanusproteuslongtailedskipper.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit;"> The <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;">Long-tailed Skipper </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;">(Urbanus proteus) above, is a spread-winged skipper butterfly found throughout tropical and subtropical South America, south to Argentina and north into the southern part of the United States of America. It cannot live in areas with prolonged frost.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3adDUqnEU-WxY081KsBDU47dcxJa1dyVaYlOZyzHfzY1Sze0M37ddtyc0MJ_cTYUgP_29siAgrK38EIhqLuIevEUBS7oKiFVE9Ede907mMjb2jumk-EPE25h1zR0SGLsdprdkZtq9FVZo/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3adDUqnEU-WxY081KsBDU47dcxJa1dyVaYlOZyzHfzY1Sze0M37ddtyc0MJ_cTYUgP_29siAgrK38EIhqLuIevEUBS7oKiFVE9Ede907mMjb2jumk-EPE25h1zR0SGLsdprdkZtq9FVZo/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Above, a sign and fence separating the Space Center from the National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Below, a view toward the Kennedy Space Center from the Refuge. I prefer the $10 charge for the NWR. It costs $50 a PERSON to enter the Space Center! Note, I have met two real rocket scientists who work for the Space Center who spend their free time looking at birds.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">One of the residents, a Reddish Egret, </span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Egretta rufescens, </span></em><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: medium; text-align: left;">is very happy to share space with a space center. There are several species of white wading birds here, including a white morph of this bird.</span></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2MODFx67EDqYYz_simxOtussaa0D7JsQaKWLSj38lN4nZz6bcV4ddWC8edmHqj1bP0mR_YL4t7DyR5eylWILWqG6EDa-zb96w1ICxYPtUDvJIKk7dfo3h1im_2xFFjqIJig_X1vZ6PQO/s903/PictureMerritt1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2MODFx67EDqYYz_simxOtussaa0D7JsQaKWLSj38lN4nZz6bcV4ddWC8edmHqj1bP0mR_YL4t7DyR5eylWILWqG6EDa-zb96w1ICxYPtUDvJIKk7dfo3h1im_2xFFjqIJig_X1vZ6PQO/s320/PictureMerritt1.png" width="320" /></a></div>Tens of thousands of shore birds, wading birds and waterfowl spend winteres at Merritt Island, like the White Pelicans on the right below. These are prairie nesting birds, going as far as Saskatchewan and Manitoba in summer. The Roseate Spoonbill, below, left, is a resident of the NWR.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKzooZp4J_L93_rr3a8vJgbZ7SM-FSO-FxE9N3cft_eTbpdPmYSnBqML5945AAqo1UOyVUGYrzH2FuQ1aaN9Bqmyr2ryssUhHkBadktMTkmPu2LHRNnd4P83bpqb34L-y3TOEeniAIgnV/s903/Picturemerritt2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKzooZp4J_L93_rr3a8vJgbZ7SM-FSO-FxE9N3cft_eTbpdPmYSnBqML5945AAqo1UOyVUGYrzH2FuQ1aaN9Bqmyr2ryssUhHkBadktMTkmPu2LHRNnd4P83bpqb34L-y3TOEeniAIgnV/s320/Picturemerritt2.png" width="320" /></a></div>Like the Red-shouldered hawks, the Pileated Woodpeckers, </span></span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Dryocopus pileatus</span></em><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "helvetica neue", Helvetica, Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;">,</em> in Florida are substantially smaller than our northern Pileateds. This one, below, is more of a curiosity since it has a malformed bill. We wondered how it had survived. The smaller body volume of resident birds here is considered to be exemplary of Bergmann's Rule (see note above regarding otters).</div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q0r3MKIFo9FjB2FTd-OWPL7NcJbc8HV_l_b1XEGCCP_lF-BWJorThyphenhyphenWgkepxb0BkweoXiVQz7n6dh0ReiXPcAMH1Wd55r1EOxS0H1v5ffMCZT-QNKReXYgrHgEmR2ZoX06VG5ZD9B2kg/s903/PicturePilWoodpecker.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3Q0r3MKIFo9FjB2FTd-OWPL7NcJbc8HV_l_b1XEGCCP_lF-BWJorThyphenhyphenWgkepxb0BkweoXiVQz7n6dh0ReiXPcAMH1Wd55r1EOxS0H1v5ffMCZT-QNKReXYgrHgEmR2ZoX06VG5ZD9B2kg/s320/PicturePilWoodpecker.png" width="320" /></a></div>When in the south of North America, one of the most renowned of the nocturnal mammals is also one of the few marsupials in our part of the world, the Opossum, below. In fact, it is the only marsupial found north of Mexico and does range into Southern Ontario, northern New York and Vermont. THey are expanding their range into Canada, in southern Quebec, Eastern Ontario and southern British Columbia.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ66Mob7-yVIqFFm0W_cP7SdUjaoqFJ2L-cKLkKuMwrQ-qb22MQoYm-5eyh8q9CN6xPLoQlAwkijbiNvwJwophdulCWxlr5rv49zxfcvTHE_d22P2OT_gcxfFoXhHrqx90E918KH_KU7O/s903/Picturepossum.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKJ66Mob7-yVIqFFm0W_cP7SdUjaoqFJ2L-cKLkKuMwrQ-qb22MQoYm-5eyh8q9CN6xPLoQlAwkijbiNvwJwophdulCWxlr5rv49zxfcvTHE_d22P2OT_gcxfFoXhHrqx90E918KH_KU7O/s320/Picturepossum.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R71W1rB1GlGkbdnTYEBFydtI2PT32nxLyDy761w5hjQeqiwbpqFBUshAzaV0eT0cE3ynfBlPPnfMWdF1_s7LO1G8_-mJqZLvBb7sG1wDKiEtIBMarQv1ItoihSujGJA075rGj8Io0LMc/s903/PictureRShawks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4R71W1rB1GlGkbdnTYEBFydtI2PT32nxLyDy761w5hjQeqiwbpqFBUshAzaV0eT0cE3ynfBlPPnfMWdF1_s7LO1G8_-mJqZLvBb7sG1wDKiEtIBMarQv1ItoihSujGJA075rGj8Io0LMc/s320/PictureRShawks.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;">Above, a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks, </span></span></span><em style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Buteo lineatus</span></em><span style="font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;">. These birds are very common throughout Floida. Although the same species as our Red-shouldered Hawks, the Florida birds are considered a separate sub-species, on average smaller and are paler than our birds.</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">Below, one of the rarest and most delightful birds in Florida, </span></span><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">Scrub Jay, </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><em style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aphelocoma coerulescens</span></em><em style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">, </span></em></span><span style="font-size: 15.9744px;">Merritt Island NWR Dec. 31, 2012. Is there a better way to celebrate New Year's Eve?</span></div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WDsHLLRffc2ZVfCmbG4LxfEGHpJuzTvwbrsg7yFWR6WRwrod_QyEdEVg2HqCNTKEPr_8eeNhdGxnQ7ntsphVizUPt5pH7zY4br1GiKjqC0e5F-V0Pda4F0W7q07CmLc-ZME6236JsN9R/s903/Picturescrubjay.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WDsHLLRffc2ZVfCmbG4LxfEGHpJuzTvwbrsg7yFWR6WRwrod_QyEdEVg2HqCNTKEPr_8eeNhdGxnQ7ntsphVizUPt5pH7zY4br1GiKjqC0e5F-V0Pda4F0W7q07CmLc-ZME6236JsN9R/s320/Picturescrubjay.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeHgIgm1BUhUPmd7VND4GEVLIjPr-5rcCG1fDqZrhd8Jvo-9lUSN8K-5489uu4reDgTgnOPEWvWg7oAhUShoNlTce9g4BqS0BwTYVMiG_NqRy4KEyhIgkBamV-t9QNrPJ-sJekn0psLN6/s924/okefenokeewinston.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="924" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeHgIgm1BUhUPmd7VND4GEVLIjPr-5rcCG1fDqZrhd8Jvo-9lUSN8K-5489uu4reDgTgnOPEWvWg7oAhUShoNlTce9g4BqS0BwTYVMiG_NqRy4KEyhIgkBamV-t9QNrPJ-sJekn0psLN6/s320/okefenokeewinston.png" width="320" /></a></div><div>Welcome to Okefenokee National WIldlife Refuge (NWR). The Okefenokee NWR is mainly a bog inside a huge, saucer-shaped depression that was once part of the ocean floor. The Okefenokee now lies 103 to 128 feet (39 m) above mean sea level.[8] Peat deposits, up to 15 feet (4.6 m) thick, cover much of the bog floor. These deposits are so unstable in spots that trees and surrounding bushes tremble by stomping the surface. This reminds me of our walks at the White Lake Fen. Native Americans named the area "Okefenokee" meaning "Land of the Trembling Earth". Habitats include open wet "prairies", cypress forests, scrub-shrub vegetation, upland islands, and open lakes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuGthcGRUMD935sP8_Dy7irw7A5jzoAuadlMX5rszjbgb3wtPiGRV-Te1FXK-jduhY55UzwE1snVcBDf9x9HDWW5e_-fS8r-hbJesml9CpSJNdSBPW8eYjhb3WI5oqWy0R0d31jq9guw2/s903/okefenokeebullgator.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSuGthcGRUMD935sP8_Dy7irw7A5jzoAuadlMX5rszjbgb3wtPiGRV-Te1FXK-jduhY55UzwE1snVcBDf9x9HDWW5e_-fS8r-hbJesml9CpSJNdSBPW8eYjhb3WI5oqWy0R0d31jq9guw2/s320/okefenokeebullgator.png" width="320" /></a></div>We did not let Winston play with this big bull alligator, pictured above as we toured the bog in the late afternoon aboard one of the electric NWR tour boats. This one demonstrates thermoregulation by opening his mouth. Further in, we got too close to another bull, which hissed loudly at us, as a warning.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1lSf3uxD1aBJrJ36UCzHpXEeu87-wSuUIV8oYhOwuR8EK5Khgxt_QqyWtt4IzzeNj8HACnUgJJMETXE_bQEkwND1-Q7DAkk5F5WtKpbwjkYOunMdPFrUhhO-cgTKM1G4wBLyVNRiIlif/s903/okefenokeefencelizard.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV1lSf3uxD1aBJrJ36UCzHpXEeu87-wSuUIV8oYhOwuR8EK5Khgxt_QqyWtt4IzzeNj8HACnUgJJMETXE_bQEkwND1-Q7DAkk5F5WtKpbwjkYOunMdPFrUhhO-cgTKM1G4wBLyVNRiIlif/s320/okefenokeefencelizard.png" width="320" /></a></div>At one of the conserved old farms in the upland portion of the NWR, we found this male Fence Lizard, </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #272b2d; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sceloporus undulatus,</span></span> demonstrating for a nearby female.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVzE4PEFU6rT9upnm5FqpHV51bsl_Dt85EKxdxi2dloM8rRIQ5TkJYenXK6ot-tfNJagW1fLAf-na6XDr1PeGc4WINARhDCG91W7yPpZb22qu3x7v5UrVeNCJs6w-4pu4nUvRT8_k98pt/s4000/IMG_1856.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVzE4PEFU6rT9upnm5FqpHV51bsl_Dt85EKxdxi2dloM8rRIQ5TkJYenXK6ot-tfNJagW1fLAf-na6XDr1PeGc4WINARhDCG91W7yPpZb22qu3x7v5UrVeNCJs6w-4pu4nUvRT8_k98pt/s320/IMG_1856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Here is the Chesser Farm, now interpreted through the Okefenokee NWR. The Chessers still live in nearby Folkston, Ga. A good deal of their income was derived from the Slash Pine, <i>Pinus elliottii</i>, tapped or slashed for pine resin. The pine resin has many industrial applications. Baseball fans know it as pine tar, used to improve bat grip. The resin processing system still exists at this farm, as do some of the taps. The Fence Lizards enjoy the Chesser Homestead fencing.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpY5QpabVxcLBTclbMIFk2txXegaJvibYk_vzVKH_6QmwjKGMYFKJIqBs9Swz94NtcdOg2CEbbuYYxqbpo_AD8UBWaNJR3rLg7q-9PwYttPN97IS1tklCoo7tJIG50fhkexr4JiOATfRd/s4000/IMG_1333.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2664" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpY5QpabVxcLBTclbMIFk2txXegaJvibYk_vzVKH_6QmwjKGMYFKJIqBs9Swz94NtcdOg2CEbbuYYxqbpo_AD8UBWaNJR3rLg7q-9PwYttPN97IS1tklCoo7tJIG50fhkexr4JiOATfRd/s320/IMG_1333.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Slash Pine, above. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And....what is a bog without carnivorous plants. Below is a Pitcher Plant, <i>Sarracenia spp.</i>, blooming in April in the Okefenokee NWR. Okefenokee NWR is home to three of the 8 North American species of Pitcher Plant. I believe this is <i>Sarracenia flavia</i>, the Yellow Pitcher Plant, which is only found in the southeast US.</div><div><span style="box-sizing: inherit; line-height: inherit;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhejvikaDoPEZchWkj6PKmk37GoaeogYSuvSxyiN9ZSZBjKEQ88FLX8C0To8cTMNi7aT4F2z_TyOldsbpyYswGiwi54xZGN1f6uocCpmmsFF9QDVYHpKNr-pnG3T9kE2HqHfT3eBkADwtX/s903/okefenokeepitcherplantfl.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhejvikaDoPEZchWkj6PKmk37GoaeogYSuvSxyiN9ZSZBjKEQ88FLX8C0To8cTMNi7aT4F2z_TyOldsbpyYswGiwi54xZGN1f6uocCpmmsFF9QDVYHpKNr-pnG3T9kE2HqHfT3eBkADwtX/s320/okefenokeepitcherplantfl.png" width="320" /></a><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrQTjnnxk9GdFiscpq5uNtZ8bgvYJ9wY0GMY5gte52z-xxZ6H-Y0B9sQQHAq1X9pqwWy24bjjc0dcmAcpQa3WL00UjMj7tlrvDxzxtmFEK_iShvElpRo6xXcQaQdv7KkG2rRhMwvi0ELN/s732/okefenokee2carolinabch.JPG" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="732" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrQTjnnxk9GdFiscpq5uNtZ8bgvYJ9wY0GMY5gte52z-xxZ6H-Y0B9sQQHAq1X9pqwWy24bjjc0dcmAcpQa3WL00UjMj7tlrvDxzxtmFEK_iShvElpRo6xXcQaQdv7KkG2rRhMwvi0ELN/s320/okefenokee2carolinabch.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wending our way along the Atlantic Coastal Plain, we arrive in the Carolinas! Nothin' could be finer! There is nothing more Carolinian than the Carolinas (biology humour). Here we will focus on the Carolina Beach State Park in the SOUTHERN part of North Carolina, and Huntington Beach State Park in the NORTHERN part of SOUTH Carolina. Clear, eh?</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First a night time view from the condo we used as our home, at Carolina Beach. Nice, huh?</span></span></div><div style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 1.1; margin: 10px 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; font-size: 15.9744px; line-height: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiN55u_CCNRKCYdO4mg5jjMpjCWztZGYWr0i0YSnw9-ubk_lLvcdB9yf6dcuw533P4fVieLQ_ZHD0GduLS-7JeFcTaWhE6pezbj5quv9vhhtoUMRNf5nX5bMCIJZxeVSI1LsQ1LjHz71Q/s2048/Car_beach_moon+001.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiN55u_CCNRKCYdO4mg5jjMpjCWztZGYWr0i0YSnw9-ubk_lLvcdB9yf6dcuw533P4fVieLQ_ZHD0GduLS-7JeFcTaWhE6pezbj5quv9vhhtoUMRNf5nX5bMCIJZxeVSI1LsQ1LjHz71Q/s320/Car_beach_moon+001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></span></div></span></span></div><div id="place-chooser-container" style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333; font-family: Whitney, "Trebuchet MS", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-top: 20px;"><div class="PlaceChooserPopoverTrigger RecordChooserPopoverTrigger undefined" style="box-sizing: border-box; cursor: pointer; white-space: nowrap;"><span class="fa fa-map-marker pre-icon" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; font-family: FontAwesome; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 1; margin-left: 5px; text-rendering: auto;"></span></div></div></div>Below, one of many Common Loons, <i>Gavia immer</i>, wintering off the coast. I have asked fellow bird enthusiasts in the Carolinas and Florida what they do to our lovely patterned birds that we send down to them each year.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wavURfj0k7fT9mAuFY8yMdbbfyoj9vpcwZZTNBEOuxof4Xo8YPelrP6lqws2-9QMGmDeIWGK-_HrWj-WSnWv8vMrfX-QKUal28OrwdJK6f_Qm794xt-F81p6kp25bzFuPPKcFJ69dUyc/s1640/huntbchsp24mar15+023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="1640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wavURfj0k7fT9mAuFY8yMdbbfyoj9vpcwZZTNBEOuxof4Xo8YPelrP6lqws2-9QMGmDeIWGK-_HrWj-WSnWv8vMrfX-QKUal28OrwdJK6f_Qm794xt-F81p6kp25bzFuPPKcFJ69dUyc/s320/huntbchsp24mar15+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTH0IU6EmbfIk7R-pof8J-BACKTUEkOXdN-kDCLj6dzR5KLYBsdxxRgF1LSDchh-SOBsnINIX9gFtQRhRYToOfnViJ7S4YHH-LMsYtv9aSOl3yRgVfjhmrnfAd6j60BnMMsqf-vsFovEE/s2048/myrtbea12Mar15+012.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1563" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglTH0IU6EmbfIk7R-pof8J-BACKTUEkOXdN-kDCLj6dzR5KLYBsdxxRgF1LSDchh-SOBsnINIX9gFtQRhRYToOfnViJ7S4YHH-LMsYtv9aSOl3yRgVfjhmrnfAd6j60BnMMsqf-vsFovEE/s320/myrtbea12Mar15+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Atlantic Coastal Plain is host to many resident birds, like the Loggerhead Shrike, <i>Lanius ludovicianus</i>, above, and some quite uncommon migrants, like the Wilson's Plover, <i>Charadrius wilsonia</i>, below. Huntington Beach State Park is one of the few places Wilson's Plovers breed. I took this photo a few days after their arrival in March. The Park management had already closed their breeding grounds to visitors. Dogs are never allowed in this part of the Park. Piping Plovers also breed along this same stretch of the Park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_nbHVwn1pMua98oK18YRt5AQ0lCUtBAUotNDmJxC3bRYOVPxcuJXqzTWsXdiMZJdWFVsZgPeEHTnHPj1TKfbduS6pkC_g_siR4c4IelhD-V4iu3rEVQ3qspa6_8Fw00NSYKF6COBv6OU/s2048/huntbchsp24mar15+028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1539" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_nbHVwn1pMua98oK18YRt5AQ0lCUtBAUotNDmJxC3bRYOVPxcuJXqzTWsXdiMZJdWFVsZgPeEHTnHPj1TKfbduS6pkC_g_siR4c4IelhD-V4iu3rEVQ3qspa6_8Fw00NSYKF6COBv6OU/s320/huntbchsp24mar15+028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The Carolina Beach area hosts, in Winter, a number of Northern Gannets, which nest in colonies off the coast of Canada. These large birds patrol the coast looking for fish. Their bullet-like dives are renowned in the bird world. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUD62-oh26VB7HQmn8MIF_bwmynYjYHK7bJF2lI4y8U0LbOhMOi_LfqQCUxSobQL-kbCU0NK25sB_owgRZSzqxkQ5nn1gergLUzFB-p4aVJx3kxYwjuUwexxeUZKtl9iejmHnV8vKqmwb/s296/wrightsville_feb21_12+021.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="295" data-original-width="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMUD62-oh26VB7HQmn8MIF_bwmynYjYHK7bJF2lI4y8U0LbOhMOi_LfqQCUxSobQL-kbCU0NK25sB_owgRZSzqxkQ5nn1gergLUzFB-p4aVJx3kxYwjuUwexxeUZKtl9iejmHnV8vKqmwb/s0/wrightsville_feb21_12+021.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Visiting Carolina Beach State Park is a must for naturalists. This Park hosts rare Longleaf Pine habitat, which is very sandy and acidic, making for a harsh environment. In order to maintain the habitat, controlled burning is essential. We arrived at the Park just after one of these burns. There were, surprisingly, few people about. Jan and I found the Park Naturalist who was very happy to take us on an impromptu tour, with a very rare highlight.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOVHpJr9WDDa0sIqRPMfm9MWhbnmn1PaSQZe1cIBkSPp2ssM-tnNHtdwrFaNp5DAEW0vHsv4l_YfF7xyNKE0k8y5DbVdFGO3TOc2CvPOJKIwb37gapWn5JSLXeVAQrpU2iGQLIsc-97r0/s2048/CBSP_Mar11_12+002.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1358" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiOVHpJr9WDDa0sIqRPMfm9MWhbnmn1PaSQZe1cIBkSPp2ssM-tnNHtdwrFaNp5DAEW0vHsv4l_YfF7xyNKE0k8y5DbVdFGO3TOc2CvPOJKIwb37gapWn5JSLXeVAQrpU2iGQLIsc-97r0/s320/CBSP_Mar11_12+002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can see the burn marks on this seedling Longleaf Pine, <i>Pinus palustris</i>. Note the barren ground around it. This is typical of the habitat in late winter, when it is very dry.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2g6VodhOlYvuQ1UNlYUhFzA-YXpu5QOD1F6Jl-ACo1SQOIpR6lzlOOShbEsA35lbxH7PuPMEvavqHeoLDq0DuZmcgmIekADQbxrAkLYk3mynlGvhAxsbwk7VydiEgK_5jqq3ei7cLZLuq/s2048/CBSP_Mar10_12+010.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1358" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2g6VodhOlYvuQ1UNlYUhFzA-YXpu5QOD1F6Jl-ACo1SQOIpR6lzlOOShbEsA35lbxH7PuPMEvavqHeoLDq0DuZmcgmIekADQbxrAkLYk3mynlGvhAxsbwk7VydiEgK_5jqq3ei7cLZLuq/s320/CBSP_Mar10_12+010.JPG" /></a></div>In another part of the Park, with somewhat denser forest, we found this Hermit Thrush, enjoying the sunny winter day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUgGq_M46YFE1GPnymLFeCpABw0fGkgKtgLLrkkPCeoKAzGjWbnHl2G3_OtUUozVOjDE5exh3N_DqiisTAQjMQn7zcWk2_std56ED4rLyW-0il6nnkDnRIfX28mhSnbsjQWIiVbbMoB-6/s903/CBSPHerThrush.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="620" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUgGq_M46YFE1GPnymLFeCpABw0fGkgKtgLLrkkPCeoKAzGjWbnHl2G3_OtUUozVOjDE5exh3N_DqiisTAQjMQn7zcWk2_std56ED4rLyW-0il6nnkDnRIfX28mhSnbsjQWIiVbbMoB-6/s320/CBSPHerThrush.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And then, in a very special part of the Park, which is difficult to find, the Park Naturalist pointed to these very tiny plants growing in the burned area;VOILA!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> The only community containing wild native Venus Flytrap, <i>Dionaea muscipula</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />. Each plant is no bigger than a coin. They only grow in this specialized habitat inland from the Atlantic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UpY9IDzsiBK-DRDpSMsVBEhwQ7qMX1_kqM6I29pL8nXVolvjP10CpW7_g3fdVBpPDUWaKrH4bWOMo7KCqHVEkUDC0sapEgn7VCTsnnB-gSeCIeatWUbQ1ym5j-pYjFD8PvO2D6l7_7fC/s2048/CBSP_Mar11_12+023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1319" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3UpY9IDzsiBK-DRDpSMsVBEhwQ7qMX1_kqM6I29pL8nXVolvjP10CpW7_g3fdVBpPDUWaKrH4bWOMo7KCqHVEkUDC0sapEgn7VCTsnnB-gSeCIeatWUbQ1ym5j-pYjFD8PvO2D6l7_7fC/s320/CBSP_Mar11_12+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYAYn3yo0p8F_AwqgtZdEQSU356rwSIB6O4lHIVW1qAKzboQQh6LcPqvHUP3UyyX6Gf9T1CyWkjXXkhlpf_8j7h9H_RnTSshKZJrP4d39GWPiusucPDb7pSxFYerswcG0DsAanue6ZBqj/s572/carbchassat.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="572" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYAYn3yo0p8F_AwqgtZdEQSU356rwSIB6O4lHIVW1qAKzboQQh6LcPqvHUP3UyyX6Gf9T1CyWkjXXkhlpf_8j7h9H_RnTSshKZJrP4d39GWPiusucPDb7pSxFYerswcG0DsAanue6ZBqj/s320/carbchassat.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Before going inland to the Appalachians, the Adirondacks and home, let's go north along the Atlantic Coastal Plain to two of the crown jewels of nature in North America, Chincoteague NWR and Assateague National Seashore (national park status) in northeastern Virginia and southeastern Maryland. A side note: Ernest Thompson Seton grew up in Toronto, and spent time in Manitoba. His boyhood memories in Toronto are captured in an extraordinary book titled "Two Little Savages". Seton later spent a lot of time in the USA, got to know Teddy Roosevelt very well, and was instrumental in establishing the National Wildlife Refuge network. That book inspired many to follow in Seton's path, including Michael Runtz.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdSU2TB4ZGNlW1DxTUuKaSGmf9Ql0e4RjgoUUs6pHqHMo4PkTu9UQGyZpDNixSwT4S8CMZ2h_9Pge_0yGrSID9mwDpmiaWnAhXLH1c9GbySeEIG3dVr2f88QpuJEmyN1urwL7Y0m5KivN/s2048/chinco13Oct14+023.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfdSU2TB4ZGNlW1DxTUuKaSGmf9Ql0e4RjgoUUs6pHqHMo4PkTu9UQGyZpDNixSwT4S8CMZ2h_9Pge_0yGrSID9mwDpmiaWnAhXLH1c9GbySeEIG3dVr2f88QpuJEmyN1urwL7Y0m5KivN/s320/chinco13Oct14+023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jgOgHKJwDkZmxm0__9eTpuEZTrpDcLQ2DT2E9A5afSJLlmvxH9TRqdpzy4fs0A8gtlpMTZ4s-NkqSFVJVHPr2jy1auLy7SrLma6fjWP_y-PeiaOKsS0w_yys7cKk4pfFWEc2SnCY_zJe/s2992/chinco13Oct14+088.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jgOgHKJwDkZmxm0__9eTpuEZTrpDcLQ2DT2E9A5afSJLlmvxH9TRqdpzy4fs0A8gtlpMTZ4s-NkqSFVJVHPr2jy1auLy7SrLma6fjWP_y-PeiaOKsS0w_yys7cKk4pfFWEc2SnCY_zJe/s320/chinco13Oct14+088.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Great Black Backed Gull with Laughing Gull. The next day, I assisted with the Gull Count for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, travelling north along 25 miles of seashore (Assateague NS) into Maryland, including most of the seashore where visitors are not permitted. I learned to differentiate juvenile gulls very quickly! I also learned that Great Black Backed Gulls and Lesser Black Back Gulls stay in their own groups on the beach.</div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvrtyo6pHnoQn9P9gYv9TbljHIdS-EwJCJDrg49BxDreAY8wwY0rWNVgEhGZg4yObYf2ebOUjVekcRxf8LyzjWIfK0C_vC5zQN_WxZ8i7C-UR1zPUza06wlvUBtmI1jhw1t5G_SZMzcak/s2866/chinco13Oct14+041.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="2866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvrtyo6pHnoQn9P9gYv9TbljHIdS-EwJCJDrg49BxDreAY8wwY0rWNVgEhGZg4yObYf2ebOUjVekcRxf8LyzjWIfK0C_vC5zQN_WxZ8i7C-UR1zPUza06wlvUBtmI1jhw1t5G_SZMzcak/s320/chinco13Oct14+041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDaE_Bw9jDxVu3Mx8vLZJs4aUeVGRBnUICh5ZWkuKYLmSCwrZFAx6eWigOV7J3zF2S6c2WyRdQyAwpeQ9wLLR4NYdjE9nQmeQvY_oIodjUTj_pRkV5maTIgsoSjKHgGjxoTD57pOkggow/s2992/chinco13Oct14+006.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDaE_Bw9jDxVu3Mx8vLZJs4aUeVGRBnUICh5ZWkuKYLmSCwrZFAx6eWigOV7J3zF2S6c2WyRdQyAwpeQ9wLLR4NYdjE9nQmeQvY_oIodjUTj_pRkV5maTIgsoSjKHgGjxoTD57pOkggow/s320/chinco13Oct14+006.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Above, a Black Skimmer, Chincoteague, Virginia.The Black Skimmer, <i>Rynchops niger</i>, is a tern-like seabird, one of three very similar birds species in the skimmer genus Rynchops in the gull family Laridae. It breeds in North and South America. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Below, American Oystercatchers, <i>Haematopus palliatus</i> . Another strange name for an American bird (more later). Think of how fast oysters move! Hard to catch, eh? They do, in fact, eat mostly salt water molluscs.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnH8KM4wdD2H_ALjw8C3XaCHjoJC9cgaKDuvOsmaV6xRXurF6INLwNDc1BXvlDJd0ON29hDNrnh2PcFOvHfVKqO8vQwuZmOG5pkhhy-TA1pOxK5qvR22dsN8ZTczrPkZKsLo0lrFubTp3/s2992/chinco13Oct14+048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnH8KM4wdD2H_ALjw8C3XaCHjoJC9cgaKDuvOsmaV6xRXurF6INLwNDc1BXvlDJd0ON29hDNrnh2PcFOvHfVKqO8vQwuZmOG5pkhhy-TA1pOxK5qvR22dsN8ZTczrPkZKsLo0lrFubTp3/s320/chinco13Oct14+048.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIStMS5SwdBEQlVn0l-0OQy7iG04du6ZIwdqoYhDFdHt9iDzrZVB7fQ4A5y6QXfssI15roxYnEeqOB2Lzv3CV2on7Pop0B7Kw9mzShPaBhJToDzyJVRAG47dr7wfnhtZmWEH-9eaG1ggo/s2992/chinco13Oct14+011.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUIStMS5SwdBEQlVn0l-0OQy7iG04du6ZIwdqoYhDFdHt9iDzrZVB7fQ4A5y6QXfssI15roxYnEeqOB2Lzv3CV2on7Pop0B7Kw9mzShPaBhJToDzyJVRAG47dr7wfnhtZmWEH-9eaG1ggo/s320/chinco13Oct14+011.JPG" /></a></div><div>Above, Horseshoe Crab, <i>Limulus polyphemus</i>, and below, Sand or Ghost Crab,<i> Ocypode quadrata</i>. <span style="background-color: #fffffe; color: #020101;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Horseshoe crabs are not actually crabs at all, they are much more closely related to spiders and other arachnids. </span></span><span style="background-color: #fffffe; color: #020101;">Horseshoe crabs are “living fossils” meaning they have existed nearly unchanged for at least 445 million years, well before even dinosaurs existed. </span><span style="background-color: #fffffe; color: #020101; font-family: inherit;">The American horseshoe crab is a common sight on Virginia's beaches, and easy to see, as they are normally 35-50 cms. "Easy-to-see" is NOT a quality of the Ghost or Sand Crab. These small (5cms.), mostly nocturnal, crabs live in the sand and blend in quite well, even when one ventures out in the middle of the day. THey do change colour to match their surroundings. Very chameleon-ish. Find one in the photo below. Good luck.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yA05lsZqmY2QoVBFVHu2l12c06Vid_ZPrIGokcfdDS8OdxqBOxyaEsQxUiBg7uqxtlKdK4r_ToJAeBrNAJDo5gHPhYWN2ome48pfn6Hmvxl2I62Gl9NN8xU6iRRtX6T-ubxEsTGStkhs/s2992/chinco13Oct14+074.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0yA05lsZqmY2QoVBFVHu2l12c06Vid_ZPrIGokcfdDS8OdxqBOxyaEsQxUiBg7uqxtlKdK4r_ToJAeBrNAJDo5gHPhYWN2ome48pfn6Hmvxl2I62Gl9NN8xU6iRRtX6T-ubxEsTGStkhs/s320/chinco13Oct14+074.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is a beach 2-fer: my favourite goldenrod being visited by a Monarch Butterfly, <i>Danaus plexippus. Solidago sempervirens</i>, the Seaside Goldenrod or Salt-marsh Goldenrod, is a plant species in the genus Solidago of the family Asteraceae. It is native to eastern North America and parts of the Caribbean. It is an introduced species in the Great Lakes region and the Azores.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0jT9HbLcSgIAkcmcVEX9AgHi_ESiwcRJYcjh9hjnqb4L5OUV4i4RxoYDmDJFrbVTn5OysDI7D43RIySUjnqrZH6NiE4G6Kji9s8TO62MgLOC2EfcXLYGUqXp5_3nnEYONODGCi_tsEIY/s1386/chinco13Oct14+017.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1386" data-original-width="1337" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0jT9HbLcSgIAkcmcVEX9AgHi_ESiwcRJYcjh9hjnqb4L5OUV4i4RxoYDmDJFrbVTn5OysDI7D43RIySUjnqrZH6NiE4G6Kji9s8TO62MgLOC2EfcXLYGUqXp5_3nnEYONODGCi_tsEIY/s320/chinco13Oct14+017.JPG" /></a><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Who's a pretty bird? <span style="background-color: white; color: #444444;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Arctic Peregrine Falcon, <i>Falco peregrinus tundrius,</i> is one of three subspecies of peregrine falcon [. The Arctic Peregrine nests in tundra regions of Alaska, Canada (Yukon, Northwest Territories, Quebec, and possibly Labrador), and the ice-free perimeter of Greenland . It is a long-distance migrant that winters in Latin America from Cuba and Mexico south through Central and South America. In October, you can find them at Assateague National Seashore, as they follow Arctic shorebirds southward.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjDbxNXEVIArDNqPtueakQdKmb_vZ_5V2KjVvm2FppGs1bykUzSj8ou-Dnrz1K-eDg8MdrmrA2NJBxLQOgRZJLJ0nMbNdBLjhovEw1Qx8H11keHnsYpLyxiR48IIK01UWuq4JLYhjQqJV/s2992/chinco13Oct14+078.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2992" data-original-width="2992" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMjDbxNXEVIArDNqPtueakQdKmb_vZ_5V2KjVvm2FppGs1bykUzSj8ou-Dnrz1K-eDg8MdrmrA2NJBxLQOgRZJLJ0nMbNdBLjhovEw1Qx8H11keHnsYpLyxiR48IIK01UWuq4JLYhjQqJV/s320/chinco13Oct14+078.JPG" /></a></div>While meandering through to see the above Falcon, I came across this very large dead shark on the beach. The Fish and WIldlife people were aware of it. Few people have seen one of these: a Thresher Shark, Alopias spp. Although 26 feet long, this shark's length is 50% tail. The tail is whipped at schools of fish, which are torn apart by the force of the lashing of the tail. All 3 extant species of the genus are threatened.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytRuRFppSKUvc9G552hZrosvAOH1rWiHMcM-Wbk7skUH-7u1XVRCTy1JohLDXrkFYofldqrBurnv2NC9QAdkc8sxv43NiIKym8_owMqp4wbL-uOapLdV8SxQLzm1CiSOnRaqwE2pA_KoY/s594/chinco13Oct14+082e.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytRuRFppSKUvc9G552hZrosvAOH1rWiHMcM-Wbk7skUH-7u1XVRCTy1JohLDXrkFYofldqrBurnv2NC9QAdkc8sxv43NiIKym8_owMqp4wbL-uOapLdV8SxQLzm1CiSOnRaqwE2pA_KoY/s320/chinco13Oct14+082e.JPG" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvsS13KrRuZZY21iDWc8BEQOmLYVvQ-g88hy7KaE1LqUNQZlgzz01DVJB6VQGMsAbvaIAaLgGcA47FAMf3TrJ3TGbVM3fU1JUEg7Q_FDAgqGhKpqX7ztla3r6fyEmNTJ2HOUkZkFxW-qv/s663/chinc2adiron.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvsS13KrRuZZY21iDWc8BEQOmLYVvQ-g88hy7KaE1LqUNQZlgzz01DVJB6VQGMsAbvaIAaLgGcA47FAMf3TrJ3TGbVM3fU1JUEg7Q_FDAgqGhKpqX7ztla3r6fyEmNTJ2HOUkZkFxW-qv/s320/chinc2adiron.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>To get home, we travel north from Chincoteague, perhaps going bird watching at Cape May, New Jersey, after taking the Ferry, moving inland away from the Atlantic Coastal Plain through the Appalachians, arriving at the largest protected area in the lower 48 states: Adirondack State Park in New York, below.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lCuCr6Lpexh6D0viEpe6rYXPE5QjeCVgaLP62iF6Eqz3b6cRpZXIU_8_tuCbsQ3GZtMKLtEAvPg0-X6F-OzcBfjg76HveoLBqV8R_HkoU442ZZkG0r-ZrMtSWOH2hXYRSsRg3zYadXGL/s3053/IMG_4306.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1927" data-original-width="3053" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7lCuCr6Lpexh6D0viEpe6rYXPE5QjeCVgaLP62iF6Eqz3b6cRpZXIU_8_tuCbsQ3GZtMKLtEAvPg0-X6F-OzcBfjg76HveoLBqV8R_HkoU442ZZkG0r-ZrMtSWOH2hXYRSsRg3zYadXGL/s320/IMG_4306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Below is a late summe characteristic wetland plant, Chelone glabra, White Turtlehead.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJjijKZWitSDip9cA-XMwmbTsjlcHlCJs5bD5jNLuZNHA2C_dXamVCz_eSsp3ixRFMtNJOcmnaA_M154g9VWDyeqMJQdo9PQpUy6ms3xf5NYnGgdZlFyYS6_phMCks7wBlo0ORrSnzflg/s1592/IMG_4325.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="857" data-original-width="1592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGJjijKZWitSDip9cA-XMwmbTsjlcHlCJs5bD5jNLuZNHA2C_dXamVCz_eSsp3ixRFMtNJOcmnaA_M154g9VWDyeqMJQdo9PQpUy6ms3xf5NYnGgdZlFyYS6_phMCks7wBlo0ORrSnzflg/s320/IMG_4325.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg8_G-CVlcYBf0Rm2SBBnSizSEq-_P1gqka1Y9gzB-MU7YD09QCWcV8hlwcUvYzA7QA2jyrP7n86ppYoTcsnxue5CXx7NuKLGh1mi0sCaknrTWMCwIKIeYN4CdUimvKFoLtOZW_p_Rubv/s4000/IMG_4329.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="2248" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggg8_G-CVlcYBf0Rm2SBBnSizSEq-_P1gqka1Y9gzB-MU7YD09QCWcV8hlwcUvYzA7QA2jyrP7n86ppYoTcsnxue5CXx7NuKLGh1mi0sCaknrTWMCwIKIeYN4CdUimvKFoLtOZW_p_Rubv/s320/IMG_4329.JPG" /></a></div>Above is a fungus we see on Maples in our area, Northern Tooth Fungus, <span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Climacodon septentrionalis. </i>And below, proof that not all Common Loons in the USA are missing their familiar patterns.</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR7QZAW0oeTMN66t-6KQbGtXa4mqEkjburh0Lqvmte8a_O-fkWGX9rORYtHef5zI91neLjDRqKrhdThkgFgo7VWVpfuOvU8L6SCJoTZReN2HZS9a76NE_5BOxjU5_3uQ4fXCYWCNW-X4s/s4000/IMG_4319.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZR7QZAW0oeTMN66t-6KQbGtXa4mqEkjburh0Lqvmte8a_O-fkWGX9rORYtHef5zI91neLjDRqKrhdThkgFgo7VWVpfuOvU8L6SCJoTZReN2HZS9a76NE_5BOxjU5_3uQ4fXCYWCNW-X4s/s320/IMG_4319.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKzBcKUwynTmbjOqzq_W5J1KI60Ii2Lz3o_cVX43XW98MdF9hqFbf5ppREYcUPRlCeyJeNGcaKw5Nch1gWTWgHtr4vUX-6M0yo1DztIen6t7n8l8lU67PORY5Su0pJpp6M1QQrWyV77N-/s4000/IMG_0144.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguKzBcKUwynTmbjOqzq_W5J1KI60Ii2Lz3o_cVX43XW98MdF9hqFbf5ppREYcUPRlCeyJeNGcaKw5Nch1gWTWgHtr4vUX-6M0yo1DztIen6t7n8l8lU67PORY5Su0pJpp6M1QQrWyV77N-/s320/IMG_0144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bogs are more expected in this area, than they are way down in Southern Georgia! And here is another species of Pitcher Plant, <span style="text-align: left;">The Pitcher Plant, </span><em style="text-align: left;">Sarracenia purpurea. </em><span style="text-align: left;">The bogs of Adirondack State Park also have the other carnivorous plant familar to those who visit Algonquin Park, Roundleaf Sundew, </span><em style="text-align: left;">Drosera rotundifolia</em><span style="text-align: left;">.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Ytd679MIx08Zvg64z6E5TylG9VzrsSaYOZWQyVEj2gfhERNmlYz8ixPEnVFh3GMiqkPWMPur566qVUNtaL9umbKAwqWmXLsJw3PTR7hdGxQM1N0ZgDDYu8j6IDHMmDWwRItKiQKM2qd/s4000/IMG_0142.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-Ytd679MIx08Zvg64z6E5TylG9VzrsSaYOZWQyVEj2gfhERNmlYz8ixPEnVFh3GMiqkPWMPur566qVUNtaL9umbKAwqWmXLsJw3PTR7hdGxQM1N0ZgDDYu8j6IDHMmDWwRItKiQKM2qd/s320/IMG_0142.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5KdNBkCpPw9kxkD4wC1FKOAwEXeMQ6OYrX1SmAIZ2l61Aus3D9Eq-DwLzSxpOiRVnGxTYnG48WX9jCTUbcJ33KkSbD3gwIUAnc_R0ThG11hwTVKj-NcqYLVV6qM5cpBESGi6gJS3d07g/s876/adiron2home.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="655" data-original-width="876" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo5KdNBkCpPw9kxkD4wC1FKOAwEXeMQ6OYrX1SmAIZ2l61Aus3D9Eq-DwLzSxpOiRVnGxTYnG48WX9jCTUbcJ33KkSbD3gwIUAnc_R0ThG11hwTVKj-NcqYLVV6qM5cpBESGi6gJS3d07g/s320/adiron2home.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The trip back to our area is about 4 and a half hours. Along the way, let's see what has been happening in some of the conserved lands of our area: The Queen's University Biological Station, High Lonesome Nature Reserve and the Macnamara Trail in Arnprior.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytVAQESr2-69cmSoiy0rryIqXrfr3IUxpDvRhHsHO6QQCDULHU2xN208eYwJ5n4vAg2jq-oBZEKExQuRmp6oWxbLK-hzUpaWa5N21qEjnbNBfsXTl8JFFz6bUVg9nTEmrewFaXMBO20SM/s903/artmichQUBS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytVAQESr2-69cmSoiy0rryIqXrfr3IUxpDvRhHsHO6QQCDULHU2xN208eYwJ5n4vAg2jq-oBZEKExQuRmp6oWxbLK-hzUpaWa5N21qEjnbNBfsXTl8JFFz6bUVg9nTEmrewFaXMBO20SM/s320/artmichQUBS.png" width="320" /></a></div>Above, a Bluebird, <i>Sialia sialis</i>, successfully nesting at high Lonesome Nature Reserve. Then, Michael and Art on a day of discovery at Queen's University Biological Station (photo by Suzanne Monnon). A female Blanding's turtle goes for a stroll at high Lonesome. Below, an outing on the Macnamara Trail in Arnprior, led by Suzanne, and some current and past members on annual Macnamara Trail maintenance duty, October 2012.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtJJmW3L0uB5fMu4aXm7_m0twW_j_uNsEUyGT6Vuv53zNW81fDb35A_w9akI8UrrNML15TCD8hhyphenhyphenVEtT8N9ivCd0y7iRLn1rC1prclO0ea8FngRlmBb8MhkxV4sQndy0TPWiyGorlNbdx/s924/MActrail.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="924" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAtJJmW3L0uB5fMu4aXm7_m0twW_j_uNsEUyGT6Vuv53zNW81fDb35A_w9akI8UrrNML15TCD8hhyphenhyphenVEtT8N9ivCd0y7iRLn1rC1prclO0ea8FngRlmBb8MhkxV4sQndy0TPWiyGorlNbdx/s320/MActrail.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Art has been in Spain with Jan in 2019 and 2020. Art gave this presentation in October, 2020. In November, Alberto Suarez-Esteban will give the presentation. Coincidentally, Alberto will be featuring Donana National Park in southwestern Spain, and here are Art and Jan at the same place:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0NLqZ6XfuPx5JAfDlKHKhJlRuwD_EBHGqksjylHhl-aG5wRNtUOsa1J-8Z1gPRVq5hUJwYQMYob6sQLg-QKBVupzK2ZlzA-OY-LR4KgBcci27-L_jWFhBvv1omR8klvO28CFaiITHON9/s6000/DSC_0034.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI0NLqZ6XfuPx5JAfDlKHKhJlRuwD_EBHGqksjylHhl-aG5wRNtUOsa1J-8Z1gPRVq5hUJwYQMYob6sQLg-QKBVupzK2ZlzA-OY-LR4KgBcci27-L_jWFhBvv1omR8klvO28CFaiITHON9/s320/DSC_0034.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A thought about the European Blackbird and our Robin: Our Migratory Thrush, <i>Turdus migratorius,</i> named Robin by European settlers, because they thought it resembled the European Robin, <i>Erithacus rubecula</i>, which is at the top right, of the photograph, below<i>. </i>In Spain, I became familiar with the Common Blackbird (<i>Turdus merula</i>), which is almost identical in size, behaviour and song as Turdus migratorius, EXCEPT for coloration. Now we know why scientific names are valuable!</div><div><br /></div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdXQ3BAbRXmT3l4S_COKcIB4Oo1n2hl4RBLZpZhkSoD1M_7r9Ka1F-f333qB22cfZosxOer7Sq7teQnEkZfR9eQpft_pQSD6t5gjS2LTi8KMNQZ5RXNNUOl8uIKkAIkCWOL11lmqkHtvF/s903/eurorobinpic.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdXQ3BAbRXmT3l4S_COKcIB4Oo1n2hl4RBLZpZhkSoD1M_7r9Ka1F-f333qB22cfZosxOer7Sq7teQnEkZfR9eQpft_pQSD6t5gjS2LTi8KMNQZ5RXNNUOl8uIKkAIkCWOL11lmqkHtvF/s320/eurorobinpic.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVwJcFkRRQKG7-3ha3WreKCjuo1OKSELRQrbg79pwlc8LYeA0tc7Ngu9Xpw5yaRwgQXp-OoIdB0Ap3L8dwdhaqyRgwP6hezBBIYFtOBAKkeR2ZINMBwh5nsWihdKr0eA3EAsgXVwWK0_4/s4000/IMG_4867.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2248" data-original-width="4000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVwJcFkRRQKG7-3ha3WreKCjuo1OKSELRQrbg79pwlc8LYeA0tc7Ngu9Xpw5yaRwgQXp-OoIdB0Ap3L8dwdhaqyRgwP6hezBBIYFtOBAKkeR2ZINMBwh5nsWihdKr0eA3EAsgXVwWK0_4/s320/IMG_4867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Above, Griffon Vultures, <i>Gyps fulvus</i>, in Grazelema National Park. These huge birds are intimidating. I thought I heard them discussing how to turn me into meat.They are is 93–122 cm (37–48 in) long with a 2.3–2.8 m (7.5–9.2 ft) wingspan. That is just a touch smaller than the California Condor.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWAQCztwBhRdjlqom4-H_BBMmq5bESdUqWtfFpsVsdbBG93LPetR7lYsCffiaysyN4ocL_1FLDzKTY4A007W2CJT2u8PEafR_ILt29_hHBjm3WorL19V4OqEAOCvFZG61DonfD8Kmp3vD/s3163/DSC_0199.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3163" data-original-width="2954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIWAQCztwBhRdjlqom4-H_BBMmq5bESdUqWtfFpsVsdbBG93LPetR7lYsCffiaysyN4ocL_1FLDzKTY4A007W2CJT2u8PEafR_ILt29_hHBjm3WorL19V4OqEAOCvFZG61DonfD8Kmp3vD/s320/DSC_0199.JPG" /></a></div><div>Iberian Ibex, El Torcal de Antequera:</div><div>The Iberian ibex, Spanish ibex, Spanish wild goat, or Iberian wild goat, <i>Capra pyrenaicais</i>, a species of ibex with four subspecies. Of these, two can still be found on the Iberian Peninsula, but the remaining two are now extinct.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>More on Spain in later blogs.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXjR-75GfCHBc70EDP7ALRRfopUTI5KlbqJvM1YGd-NE_3STfwfR5YBA564BRshlor2kIwyqotX0n1K968CmqSH5i8urrxpYprUmZZvakRmCR6_nV-JJ-e1zbfHJp0zt8RZyM4ScpsgXV/s903/Picture1thanks.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="903" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXjR-75GfCHBc70EDP7ALRRfopUTI5KlbqJvM1YGd-NE_3STfwfR5YBA564BRshlor2kIwyqotX0n1K968CmqSH5i8urrxpYprUmZZvakRmCR6_nV-JJ-e1zbfHJp0zt8RZyM4ScpsgXV/s320/Picture1thanks.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-82171483842301716252020-03-25T07:24:00.000-07:002020-04-16T10:55:17.330-07:00Spanish Vignettes 2020-Then The Virus -Chapter 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Spain 2020-The Story</div>
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Chapter 1 Travel and New Friends!</div>
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Jan and I left for Spain on a typical wintry cold January 14th in Ottawa. Dave, my much older Bro-in-law, kindly drove us to meet the Air France bus at the Ottawa Train Station. The bus dropped us off at Dorval Airport (the new name does not resonate with me), where Air France/Air Europa took us to Malaga Spain. We arrived around noon local time, January 15.</div>
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Montse (pronounced Monya), our ever lovely Nerja 21 Taxi Driver, was waiting to take us to our rented abode at the eastern end of Nerja. Next morning:</div>
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Typical sunny, cool (10-15C) weather in the Costa del Sol. It is quiet, since this is "low" season. Immediaterly, I started my "Birds of Spain" refresher, while recovering from "jet lag".<br />
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Taking a walk later that day, we meet another couple on a path and he asked what I have seen. It turned out that he is an Irish professional birding guide. We decide on a hike to Maro (nearby coastal town) to be capped off with a shared Menu del Dia meal. Below, in Maro.<br />
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Jan's selfie of Sue and Mike Cobley, from Cork County, Ireland. Photo bombing by me.<br />
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January 19: What a pleasure to be sharing our love of nature and birds! At the Balcon de Maro, looking out onto the Mediterranean Sea.<br />
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The aqueduct was not flowing. The farms in the Barrancos (gullies) were sooo dry. Then, Storm Gloria dropped 5 months supply of water over the next 5 days.<br />
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Blooms, even in January. Above, an Almond (<i>Prunus dulcis</i>), and below Spanish Broom <i>(Spartium junceum</i>). Later, on a trip to a mountain village, we took ripe almonds off a tree and ate them in the field. The taste surpassed all previous almonds, and proved the species name, "dulcis", is well deserved.<br />
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Another walk up towards the Tejeda Parque National. Looking back, a view of the brand new Nerja Sewage Treatment plant, and the Mediterranean. The sewage treatment plant pump stations, and pipeline infrastructure were being installed this winter. Looking closer, the Rosemary (Romero en Espanol), <i>Salvia rosmarinus,</i> was blooming away on the rocky slopes (below).<br />
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On January 27th, our date with old (OLD) friend Marc and Marie...follow the M's...in Malaga. We did not tour Malaga much the winter previous. Walking with Marc and Marie, we found so much about this historic Mediterranean city. Like most Spanish cities, it has a market where purveyors of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish provide opportunity to shoppers to buy very high quality local nutritious food, like this giant tomato, wearing sunglasses.<br />
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Above, the Roman theatre. We knew the Romans built this city. What we didn't know is that it was during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The theatre is 2000 years old, and still operates. I was told that the Romans did NOT install the lighting. If you look up the cliff, you can see the Malaga Moorish Alcazaba, which would have rivalled the Alhambra for intricate architectural splendour. It was built on top of Roman fortifications a mere 1000 years ago.<br />
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<a href="http://www.malagaturismo.com/es/recursos-turisticos/detalle/alcazaba/6">http://www.malagaturismo.com/es/recursos-turisticos/detalle/alcazaba/6</a><br />
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We KNEW that, notwithstanding all of the history and culture of Malaga, most people would adore the above photo. This classic pose by a<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Eurasian Collared Dove (<span class="w8qArf" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><i>Streptopelia decaocto</i>)</span>, takes advantage, in traditional pigeon/dove style, of the statue as toi</span>let facility.<br />
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The background: Recognition of injustices of Spain's colonial and authoritarian past has become de rigeur in modern Spain. <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">José Rizal was a proponent of peaceful reform of Spain's rule in Philippines.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read the tragic story here:</span></span><br />
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Rizal</a><br />
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<b>Road trip!</b><br />
Mike and Sue invited us to join them on a tour of some of the oldest structures in Europe, the Antequera Dolmens (Unesco World Heritage Site). Antequera is a small city in the mountains of Malaga province. The Dolmens were built by local cutlures between 4000-6000 years ago as both burial chambers and spiritual/gathering sites. The features echo some of the same building knowledge and philosophy of ancient cultures elsewhere in Europe (think Stonehenge, Celtic Stone circles).<br />
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<a href="https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1501/">https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1501/</a><br />
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Mike, contemplative in burial chamber.<br />
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Entrance.<br />
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Jan demonstrates one of the dolmen site features accented by P<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">eña de las Enamorados, the "sleeping giant" in the background. The dolmens were also oriented towards the unique El Torcal Mountains, which we visited later in the same day. In addition, these people oriented their buildings to align with the sun during the Equinoxes, creating magical patterns inside one of the dolmens. The Moors, also, took advantage of natural orientations of their buildings to capture light, and, in the case of the Alhambra Summer Palace (Generalife) provide natural air conditioning in summer (more on this later).</span><br />
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The scale caused me to take umbrage. Here, Sue, Jan and Mike rest on some of the giant rocks used in construction of the dolmens.<br />
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Built on top of a hill, this dolmen is a very large building, with most of it buried.<br />
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After a FINE Spanish lunch in Antequera, we left to tour El Torcal National Park, yet another large mountain park in Andalucia. The Limestone, Dolomite and Dolomitic Limestone makes for a stunning landscape.<br />
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We stopped to permit a large herd of sheep to cross the road. While they crossed, we took photos of the surrounding landscape. Yes, readers, there IS snow in Spain.<br />
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Since we were just above 1000 metres, there was no snow around us, and the tiny mountain irises were blooming: Wide-leaved Iris, <i>Iris planifolia, </i>the earliest flowering wild Iris in Andalucia.<br />
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When in the El Torcal Park, one must be on the lookout for wildlife, especially the Spanish Ibex, <span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capra pyrenaica</span></i></span>. The is the closest I have ever been to a herd of Ibex, and I took photographic advantage. These wild goats are sure-footed, like our own North American wild goats.<br />
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Above, a juvenile finds some sweet new growth, while the dominant male stares me down.<br />
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The juvenile's mom wasn't comfy with me being close to her offspring, so she came down to escort her offspring up the cliff, then SHE stared me down.<br />
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Next: <span style="text-align: center;">Chapter 3: Plants, Critters, and then Chapter 4: Lunch in a House in the Mountains</span><br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-60577551573959541442020-01-22T13:49:00.002-08:002020-03-24T12:56:39.449-07:00Spanish Vignettes 2020-Then The Virus -Chapter 2Chapter 2 After Storm Gloria<br />
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Nerja Spain Wednesday January 22nd, 2020<br />
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In the last 5 days, Storm Gloria has passed from the northeast part of Spain into France. During its slow progress, the drought that Andalusia, Spain was suffering has ended, with light rainfalls on the weekend and Monday, and then heavier rainsfalls yesterday and today, with lots of thunder today. The storm's centre passed far to the north, so we only had one day of strong winds, though nothing like the 130 km/hr winds, with snow and rain on the east coast of Spain. Just before sunset (18:30 PM), the heavy rains moved out, as Gloria continues its westward trek, I went out and took a few photos.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Looking from the aqueduct towards the east, clouds breaking</span><br />
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The farms in Nerja welcome the rain. We expect a lot of green and blooms in the next week. The birds were also welcoming the much needed rain.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The aqueduct was bone dry on our arrival January 15th, You can see the water in it now which we expect to increase over the next few days as water flows from the SIerra Tejeda (mountians in the background).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkqJ2RqLPGQGsGErGBM3CLsVFsNICIjDBxCdrXbfz3UNWSCIvbhgl2zAbTv3PQe6e7Tob1s7lxLq4U0bzBw_tbMeM8zbAvFbFOLREp16WwxldOQUzyuQPybHYc8HHGMOzL1VMOex2kIbH/s1600/IMG_5400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkqJ2RqLPGQGsGErGBM3CLsVFsNICIjDBxCdrXbfz3UNWSCIvbhgl2zAbTv3PQe6e7Tob1s7lxLq4U0bzBw_tbMeM8zbAvFbFOLREp16WwxldOQUzyuQPybHYc8HHGMOzL1VMOex2kIbH/s320/IMG_5400.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption" style="font-family: inherit;">The fig in the foreground is sure to burst with leaves and the Tejeda peaks will reappear in the coming days.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="fcg" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">This Almond's blooms couldn't wait for the rains. Lots of bees were pollinating these flowers. A big crop will result.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Almond blooms.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Burriana Beach, Balcon Europa, and the lights on as the sun sets at Nerja. This view towards the west sees the last of the heavy clouds on their way towards Gibraltar. This view of Nerja, Spain from the cliffs to the east of the city. Note the light blue roof in the centre of the photo is the roof of Ayo Restaurant.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Another view of Burriana Beach.</span><br />
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; outline: none; width: auto;" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption" style="font-family: inherit;">This is the view to the east from the cliffs. The Mediterranean has gone almost quiet.</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="fcg" style="color: #90949c; font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The surf crashing beneath me. My fear of heights prevented a closer look!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The beach below me, towards the west. Balcon Europa is seen in the centre right of the photo.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">As i returned to the villa, you can see pools of water on a road which rarely shows water, as it is gravel and sand. The Almond, and the SIerra Tejeda visible, as are the buildings in the east part of Nerja.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Pico del cielo (1650M) is above the cloud base. It snowed up there all day.</span>Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-12286918933336899552019-10-26T13:37:00.001-07:002019-11-01T12:53:39.376-07:00Up the Valley and The Mississippi (Yes, Virginia, there is one in Canada)August 19-27, 2017<br />
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Ever been on the Mississippi? Not THAT one! The OTHER one. It flows through Lanark County, Ontario to the Ottawa River, a LONG 700-mile (1,160 kms. for my Canuckian/European readers) river that carves a large valley as it makes its way to the St. Lawrence, at Montreal, Quebec.<br />
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When we locals say "Up the Valley", we mean the Ottawa (Outaouais, en français) River valley. Let's take a closer look.<br />
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Our regular readers will remember the Fun Guy, the Bug Man and now...the Fern Lady!<br />
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To begin:<br />
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We take a short drive on River Road (Renfrew County #1, a spectacular drive if you are out this way), to the west of Arnprior, Ontario.<br />
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One of the many responsibilities as a Director of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust Conservancy(MMLT) is to assess potential properties eligible for donation to us. As the name suggests, we operate within the Mississippi River and Madawaska River basins, and the territory between those two rivers, which retain quite a bit of wilderness, especially in the headwaters of both rivers.<br />
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The property shown above and below is not typical of the region. Note that the foreground of the top photo shows bare limestone rock and below note the dead trees over the rock in the background. I was hoping that this was a continuation of a habitat type that is very rare globally, but is found scattered in the glaciated territory between Lake Huron and the Ottawa River. These are alvars. Thin or no soil , wet in areas, and bone dry in others, these places host a different and unique community of plants and animals.<br />
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Although a well known alvar IS at the far end of this photo (the wet treeless part in the background), the area in the foreground was scraped bare by machinery. Oh well, maybe in the future someone will donate an alvar or two to the MMLT.<br />
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A few days later in August, Jan (above) and I made our annual trek to the Hugli Blueberry Ranch near Pembroke, Ontario. The plant rows are fruit-heavy Highbush Blueberry varieties. We pick about 50 kgs. and store them in our chest freezer for smoothies, desserts, cereal and crunchy granola.<br />
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Highbush blueberries are larger and easier to grow and gather than our local lowbush varieties. Highbush blueberries grow wild in the Carolinas in the USA.</div>
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After the heavy labour of blueberry picking, we stop in Beachburg for a cooling drink and dessert at Simple Things: <a href="https://whitewatercandle.ca/contact/">https://whitewatercandle.ca/contact/</a><br />
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Yes.they make those candles too:)<br />
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A few days later, the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust held an event at one of our properties: Rose Hill Nature Reserve. Some of our properties, including this one, are administered by MMLT through a 999-year Conservation Agreement, which creates an easement. The owner retains ownership and limited use within the parameters of the agreement. This works to benefit our natural wealth, as nature is conserved under these agreements, and owners often take on a management and stewardship role within the organization. Bethany Armstong, comfortably seated at the entrance, is a Rose Hill owner, AND a Director of MMLT. Note the sign for Rose Hill at the centre top of the photograph.<br />
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The story of the several properties that make up Rose Hill is here:<br />
<a href="https://mmlt.ca/protecting-nature/our-protected-properties/rose-hill-nature-reserve/">https://mmlt.ca/protecting-nature/our-protected-properties/rose-hill-nature-reserve/</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Above, MMLT Director <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;">Bethany Armstrong greets us at the entry to Rose Hill Nature Reserve. It is thanks to land donation by Bethany and her sister that started this very large reserve. Bethany is also the Director responsible for Rose Hill. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><strong style="background-color: lemonchiffon; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit;"> </strong></span>Our intrepid group (below) prepares for our hike along one of Rose Hill's trails. Individuals are encouraged to visit. Groups need to fill out an access form available on the linked page above. Our properties are first and foremost nature reserves. The basic rules apply: stay on the trails, take only photos, leave only footprints. Dogs are permitted on some reserves. Do read the rules available on the website before setting out.</span><br />
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And set out we did. August 15 to October 15 is, on average, prime mushroom (fungus) growing time, as days shorten, temperatures fall at night, and dew/precipitation tends to keep things a tad more moist. So, many of the following photos are of fungi, and, most of those are mushrooms (the fruiting body of certain fungi). Led by my MMLT colleague Cathy Keddy ( a superb botanist and naturalist), we march along leaning about the diverse rocky habitats mixed with wetlands in this part of the Frontenac Arch or Axis (a spine-like extension of the Canadian Shield that stretches from Algonquin Park in Ontario to Adirondack State Park in New York State).<br />
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Loyal blog followers will recall previous mushroom identification rules: a photo does not usually suffice! You need to analyze your finds in a laboratory after collection in a basket designed to maintain the integrity of your 'shrooms. These photos, once again prove this point. The young orange mushrooms (above), seen only from the top, have few necessary bits of information required for identification.These <b>could</b> be <i>Hygrophorus</i> (large genus), common mushrooms in coniferous forests.<br />
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See my blog on this topic here:<br />
<a href="https://opinicon.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/fabulous-fall-fungi-with-a-fun-guy/">https://opinicon.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/fabulous-fall-fungi-with-a-fun-guy/</a><br />
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There are many small orange mushrooms. For identification, we need to see the underneath of the cap and we need to see spores. Also, it is necessary to do several other laboratory tests to ascertain the family. To get down to a species is often not possible.<br />
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Are these Turkey Tails (below) and and old, ratty <i>Lactarius or Russula </i>(above)? The problems of IDing 'shrooms prevails. I cannot tell from a photo. If you want to learn about mushrooms/fungi or you THINK you know the edible fungi, please click the link above and register for one of Richard Aaron's courses at Queen's University Biological Station.<br />
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Even Turkey Tails, <i>Trametes versicolor</i>, are not immediately identifiable, as there is another bracket fungus, False Turkey Tails or <i>Stereum ostrea</i>, which looks very similar. You have to look UNDERNEATH the fungus. Turkey Tails are creamy white underneath, with pores. <i>Stereum ostrea </i>has a smooth underside, making it a crust fungus, while<i> Trametes versicolor </i>is a polypore (literally meaning that there are lots of pores on the under surface).<br />
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Adding further to the botanists' challenges, the Frontenac Axis is home to many species of rock-hugging lichens and mosses, as seen below. There are few experts studying these important pioneering plants of the Canadian Shield.<br />
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The moss on the left side of the above photo is <i>Polytrichum commune</i> or Common Hair Cap Moss. This common moss, along with the peat mosses, was used extensively to stuff pillows and make small brooms. At least one Indigenous Nation that I know of, used mosses of this type for diapers. The photo was sent to a retired Canadian Nature Museum moss and liverwort expert for identification. She confirmed the <i>Polytrichum commune</i>. I thought that the middle clump was a liverwort. She confirmed this. Finally, the reason I was so confounded by the clump of moss on the photo's right side is that there are 3 moss species!</div>
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Above, former MMLT Directors Janet, with Jedi, and Mike listen while current Director Cathy (below) passes on some of her botanical and ecological expertise.<br />
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My thanks to Cathy Keddy who graciously identified many of the plants on and around this floating peat mat on Fufflemucker Pond at Rose Hill. Note that she has printed the names right on the photo. Just seeing "Fufflemucker Pond" on the map made it essential that I visit.</div>
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Close-up of Sundew from last photo.<br />
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Rock Polypody<br />
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Several mushrooms were seen, including Amanita (left), also known as "Destroying Angel".<br />
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Club moss, above.<br />
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Some of the many moss species at Rose Hill<br />
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Above, at Rose Hill Nature Reserve, MMLT's past president, Howard Clifford, congratulates <span style="color: windowtext;">John Hatton. John's wife,<span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Patricia Hatton has ensured that her promise to her late husband, Robert Brodey, will be fulfilled and the place they had enjoyed so much will be preserved so that others will learn to love and respect nature as he did.</span><span style="font-family: Philosopher; font-size: 16px;"> Brodey's legacy added 258 acres to the original acreage donated by Bethany and her sister, Charlene.</span></span></div>
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The Macnamara Field Naturalists' Club held an event 8 days later (August 27, 2017) at Lis Allison's on Carp Road, where I joined fellow members to learn about our native ferns.<br />
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Lis (left) and Maureen (MFNC Trip Organizer) discuss ferns. Or is it my new haircut? Ok, it was ferns for sure!</div>
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Lis begins by displaying fern blades/fronds. Fern "leaves" are pinnules and pinna. A pinna is divided into pinnules. The "stem" of the frond, is a rachis. So now you have a few more words to enhance your Scrabble game.<br />
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Lis maintains a splendid fern garden with many local ferns growing happily, including the American Hart's-Tongue Fern, <i>Asplenium scolopendrium, </i>above. The name derives from the resemblance of the blades to a Hart, which is a European Stag. The North American variety is very rare. I have yet to see it growing in the wild.<br />
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Lady Fern (above) <i>Athyrium filix-femina --</i>a name most befitting a Lady! New York Fern, <i>Thelypteris novaboracensis</i> below. I recall one of my favourite naturalists locally, Harry Thomson, saying to me that you always knew a Lady Fern due to its lacy appearance. It is similar to New York Fern -except the latter does not have toothed margins on the pinnules. It is the toothed margins that give Lady Fern its lacy appearance.<br />
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Hay-scented Fern, <i>Dennstaedtia punctilobula,</i> above. One of our field trips in the Ottawa Valley was at a nearby farm tha<span style="font-family: inherit;">t had thousand</span>s of Hay-scented ferns growing together. This is typical of this species. If present, it grows large numbers over a great area.<br />
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Another rarity, Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake, <i>Pellaea atropurpurea</i>, below.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A close relative to Purple-stemmed Cliffbrake is Smooth Cliffbrake,<i> Pellaea glabella </i>(below). Both species have purple stems. Differentiating the two is a challenge, as the main difference is that the above species has a hairy stipe and rachis. That does sound <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; display: inline; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.3px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">risqué</span>, doesn't it?</span></span><br />
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This edition ends back home in Arnprior, at Gillies Grove, a Nature Conservancy of Canada protected site where there is one of the best examples of Ottawa Valley old growth forest, including Ontario's tallest tree, a 157 foot White Pine.</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start;">Northern Tooth Fungus,</span><i style="text-align: start;">Climacodon septentrionale, </i><span style="text-align: start;">on its favourite tree, the Sugar Maple (above). These fungi are very large, often half a metre in height and width, which is about the size of this specimen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Canada Goldenrod, <i>Solidago canadensis</i>, in Gillies Grove. We see a lot of this stunningly beautiful native flower, in all of its golden glory in the last half of our summers. In many parts of the world, and in my garden, it is a late-blooming ornamental that attracts myriad pollinators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There is confusion about this plant. A long held myth is that this plant causes most hay fever. That distinction goes to another native plant that loves to invade fields, roadsides and vacant lots: Ragweed, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i>Ambrosia artemisiifolia. </i>It is a distant cousin of the Goldenrods. Unlike Goldenrods, it's flowers are green and inconspicuous. Most people do not notice it, and when they do, they recognize that it is unobtrusive, homely and common. So next time you sneeze, remember, it isn't this lovely flower shown above.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A much rarer Hairy Goldenrod, <i>Solidago hispida</i>, found at Constance Bay, Ontario's Torbolton Forest, also in August 2017. The Torbolton Forest was mostly sand dunes, until it was forested. The section I visited was returned to its natural state, and some of the rare plants, like this one, were returning. There are 13 Goldenrod species in our area, and dozens more in North America.</span><br />
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Seaside Goldenrod, <i>Solidago sempervirens </i>(sempervirens means "always alive". It is well named as it beautifies wild coastal beaches along the Atlantic shore through most of the winter. Here is an example I found at the Assateague National Seashore in Virginia.<br />
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One of the old growth giants-a Sugar Maple, <i>Acer saccharum, </i>just a few blocks from our Arnprior, Ontario main street.<br />
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<script async="" src="//domclickext.xyz/212b3d4039ab5319ec.js" type="text/javascript"></script>In the next edition, we join the entertaining Michael Runtz on a hike at High Lonesome Nature Reserve,<br />
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<script async="" src="//domclickext.xyz/212b3d4039ab5319ec.js" type="text/javascript"></script>Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-18561524729587033932019-03-17T16:18:00.003-07:002019-04-05T12:36:58.166-07:00Una muestra de la cultura natural del Arte en España.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Arrival February 1, 2019. Madrid to Malaga by the AVE high speed train (top speed 275km/hr). Arrival in Malaga 2h20 minutes after departing Madrid. Francisco (Andalucians drop the "s") our taxi driver has our names on a sign at the station. He allows us to pick up some groceries in Malaga before departing to Nerja. Cool, very light rain. It is evening in Malaga. We pay Francisco and find our way to the villa in the Oasis de Capistrano, Nerja, Malaga, Spain. We wake up to bright sun (after all it IS the Costa del Sol), and this view. The tall peak to my right is Pico de Cielo, which is 1510 metres high. </div>
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Hurrying to the local supermarket, we found most of the constituents of the Mediterranean diet. Being coastal, this part of Andalucia has a constant supply of fresh seafood. And olives! And olive oil! These green jewels, and their heart healthy oil, are so much more tasty (and less salty) than those available in Canada.<br />
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Then we took our first walk (3 Kms.) to Nerja, pictured below, and yes, that is the Mediterranean (Burriana Beach may be seen in this photo).<br />
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Back to the patio, and my first (of 175 species) European bird perched and sang close by. The Serin, <i>Serinus serinus</i> is quite common. It sings constantly, and brightens one's day. It is a close relative to the Canary, <i>Serinus canarius</i>, which may be seen here too, as well as in its original home in the Canary Islands, off of West Africa.<br />
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Meanwhile, perched on a nearby villa, this White Wagtail, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Motacilla alba</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">,</span></i></span> became my second European specialty. These birds do indeed wag their tails constantly. We have also seen Grey Wagtails (photo near end of this blog), which are not quite as common.<br />
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Our walks in early February began with a jacket, and ended with jackets in our backpacks. The cool air permitted us to walk, as below, through the local farmlands, with the Mediterranean always in view. Our walks have become longer over time, and more ambitious, with recent walks into Tejeda Natural Park involving a lot of vertical challenges (and in my case, vertigo).<br />
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The hills, as shown below, have a mix of xeric species, some of which have escaped cultivation, such as the thick leaved Agaves, below, from California. The tree is a wild olive. Olives, both cultivated and wild, dot, and occasionally cover, the Andalucian landscape.<br />
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Below is a view of the Mediterranean from one of the barrancos (gorges) cut through the hard limestone of Andalucia. Fishing boats are not common. We could see only one or two each day. About 20 miles off the coast is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, as ocean-going freighters ply from and towards the Strait of Gibraltar.<br />
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Landscaping around the "urbanicaziones" is typical of zone 10, frost-free climates. For example, the villas are festooned with Bougainvilleas, which are also planted throughout the Caribbean. Below, a typical coastline view around Nerja: red limestones and conglomerates dominate, rising quickly into the Sierra Tejeda.<br />
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Oh yeah, if the olives aren't picked while green, they ripen!<br />
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We travelled to Almonte, in the southwest of Spain, and stayed at Casa Halcon, an organic olive farm and guest house owned by Angelika and Nigel. Our delightful hosts greeted us, and we then went for a walk along the road, passing by farms. At one farm, this lovely horse greeted Jan, who has always had a great fondness for all horses.<br />
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Most of the farms in this part of Andalucia have extensive gardens, with the occasional orange tree (yummy).<br />
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The next day, February 11, was Jan's birthday and when we returned from our tour of Doñana National Park, Angelika had made this tasty and colourful cake.<br />
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Then we returned to Doñana (how could you possibly tell?), where...<br />
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we saw Flamencos (Greater Flamingos, <i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Phoenicopterus roseus</span></i>) and many waterfowl, and wading birds....<br />
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including this White Stork, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><i>Ciconia ciconia,</i><i style="color: #545454;"> </i>which was NOT seen carring a baby.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Jan was more interested in the numerous wild horses, including some which were clearly Andalusians.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I still like the Flamingos more. The pink ones are full adults, and the white ones are juveniles.</span><br />
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We ended the day watching <span style="background-color: #f3f3f3;">Álv</span>aro, our delightful nature guide, helping our host Nigel demonstrate the technicalities of "curing" olives. Jan is seen in the background sampling the wares, with the olive orchard behind her. Nigel had earlier explained that he made olive oil by stomping on the olives with his "Wellies". We concluded that he wasn't giving us an accurate picture! How could he POSSIBLY get into that blue container and stomp? We know better than that, Nigel!<br />
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The next day, Álvaro started our tour in the historic, wonderful town of El Rocío, where live some of Spain's oldest olive trees, the oldest over 700 years old. Below is one of these trees.<br />
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Álvaro translated the sign below which tells the story of these venerable "<span style="background-color: white; color: #585858;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">árboles</span></span>".</div>
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The town of <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "muli"; text-align: justify;"><b> </b>El Rocí</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "muli"; text-align: justify;">o</span> is where the annual roundup of the Doñana horses takes place. The streets are all wide and sand covered. The restaurants/bars all have places for the Caballeros to have a pint while sitting on their horses. Each year (this year June 9-10), this village of 700 people welcomes Spain's largest pilgrimage, attracting about 1 million celebrants, to what is, at least in origin, a solemn religious experience. See more here (turn translation on!):<br />
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<span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>https://www.rocio.com/traslado-de-la-virgen-del-rocio-a-almonte-en-2019/</u></span></div>
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Speaking of religious experiences, Jan and I took the relatively short drive to Sevilla, after bidding our Almonte hosts "adios". This trip will be expanded to a full blog edition in the future. For now, know that we were treated to a very intimate Flamenco show by the three performers seen with us, above. The dancer, beside Jan, managed to demonstrate the force, emotions and vitality of Flamenco in a most visceral way. The guitarist demonstrated the intense professionalism of Flamenco guitar (both hands and all ten fingers active on the guitar). <span style="font-family: inherit;">We
<span lang="en-US">watched </span> a similar <span lang="en-US">flamenco
performance and once again </span>experience<span lang="en-US">d the
emotion of this dance form</span> in the caves of Granada.</span><br />
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Curiosity and a quest for knowledge drew us to the Maestranza (full title is <b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Plaza de toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla)</b>, one of Spain's most notable bullfighting rings. The tour included time in the ring (bulls were not present!) We were also treated to the Maestranza Museum, worth visiting in its own right. Aside from bull fighting memorabilia, the museum has an impressive collection of art related to this very Spanish (and controversial) tradition, including 10 original Goyas. The entrance to the Maestranza is below. The tour of the Maestranza includes the chapel where the Matadors pray before entering the ring (the prayers were included on the walls of the chapel). In the ring, the guide pointed out four doors. The one we used to enter is the same door the Matadors use. To the right of that is the very tall door where the horse-riding Picadors enter. To the right of that is the Bull's door. Last but not least, she told us, is the Ambulance door. Enough said.<br />
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She added that the seats in the shade (bull fights begin in April and go to October) are 29 Euros. Shade seats, where the notables sit, are almost 300 Euros. "I would take the sun seats for sure," I said. The tour guide then mentioned that those seats are subject to temperatures approaching 45C. "Oh," I said.<br />
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Sevilla has a big Cathedral, which originally (before 1490) housed a large Moorish Mosque. The Catholic armies of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella dispatched Moors and Jews. This sordid history is well interpreted in Sevilla. We followed the tour of the Jewish Quarter (immediately next to the Moorish walls) in Rick Steve's book about Spain.<br />
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The streets in the Jewish Quarter are the narrowest we visited in Spain.<br />
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The Moorish architecture and tile decorations, including benches such as this one, are eye candy.<br />
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Later in the month, we visited the old Moorish town of Frigiliana, in the hills above Nerja. The lovely white stone village also celebrates the 3 religious cultures of "old Spain" in the town's centre (below).<br />
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While Jan and son Thomas went off to Gibraltar, I visited Ronda for more nature touring with Álvaro. His brother-in-law runs this marvellous restaurant in Ronda, where all of the wines (above the bartender's head) are regional favourites. I am not the greatest wine connoisseur, however, these wines impressed ( I tried 3).<br />
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I returned to my room in the Boabdil Guest House (another great experience) through the narrow moonlit streets of Ronda (below).<br />
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Above is the church in Ronda's town square. Note the balconies. Álvaro explained that these were not for religious audiences, but were for the elite to watch 17-18th century bull fights! Álvaro told me a lot more, but those details will need a more expansive separate chapter. So I ended the night comfortably under the moonlight in this ancient Moorish city.<br />
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In the morning, we set off to Grazalema National Park,and other splendid wildlife locales around Ronda, the northern portion of Malaga province.<br />
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After a few minutes, I noticed that these Griffon Vultures, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>Gyps fulvus, </i>were looking quite "fondly" at me. "I am NOT dead yet," I shouted.</span><br />
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Álvaro hard at work finding me some "agriculture area" birds in the Osuna area. While he hunted for birds, I took this photo, below, of an Almond tree festooned with blooms.<br />
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Leaving the plains (where it never rained!) we rose up into Grazalema National Park, and found these Giant Orchids, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Himantoglossum robertianum</i></span> in bloom....<br />
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just after spotting these Iberian Ibex, <i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capra pyrenaica</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif;">,</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </i>lounging on the high cliffs.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Above, a rare Ronda goat cheese bought in a very Spanish restaurant (Venta La Vega) 15 minutes to the west of Ronda.</span></div>
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Back to Nerja, and a visit to Las Cuevas de Nerja, the huge, beautiful and colourful location of some of Europe's oldest cave drawings. It is now estimated these caves have housed our ancestors for 40,000 years.<br />
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After the Cuevas, the neighbouring Jardin Botanico contained hundreds of native Mediterranean plants, including the Gum Rockrose or Labdanum, <i style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cistus ladanifer</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">above.</span><br />
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Oh yeah, recall I previously mentioned the Grey Wagtail, <i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; text-align: justify;">Motacilla cinerea</span></i>. I found this male in the Rio Chillar, on the west side of Nerja.The black bib is a key field mark during breeding season.<br />
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With Jan (in the rose jacket) and our son Thomas (the tall person on her right) visited Granada. We stopped in Granada's oldest neighbourhood, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Albaicín</span></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">,</b><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> at night. Pictured below from Albaicin, the illuminated Alhambra. We </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">then </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">proceeded to Sacromonte, where Flamenco is performed in caves in which this art form has been practiced for over 500 years. The origin of Flamenco, as in Sevilla, relates to the forced conversions of Muslims and Jews following 1492.</span><br />
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Oh yeah, the Alhambra, above. And the Chapel outside the Granada Cathedral that contains the remains and memorial of Ferdinand and Isabella, as well as other Spanish royalty of the 16th century. Note my, "thumbs down" opinion on their policies! I can confirm they are still dead, that is, their coffins are still in the crypt.<br />
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Back in Nerja, we enjoyed the swirling colour of Carnaval, below.<br />
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I leave you with a view of flowers with the mountains of the Sierra Tejeda in the background (the view from our patio is similar), and also, on our patio, a Trumpet Flower or Angel's Trumpet, <i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Brugmansia arborea</span></i>, brightens the view during our noon time meals.<br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-23197651460487976422019-01-22T16:50:00.000-08:002019-07-04T20:23:10.187-07:00Charlotte Lake #5 and Beyond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This instalment takes us away from the botanical to the aesthetic, entomological, and piscivore elements of cottage life. There are two groups of moths that will take your breath away because of their size and colours. It is best to attract these insects with a special light and a sheet for them to land on. However, a few will come to a screen illuminated by a simple porch light. The two groups are the Silk Moths (Luna, Io, Cecropia and Polyphemus) and the Sphinx Moths. Above is the Modest Sphinx Moth, <i>Pachysphinx modesta</i>, a wide-bodied 4 inch insect with an array of subtle colours. The larvae love trees of the Poplar family. So if you are near a forest with lots of poplars/aspen, turn on your porch light!<br />
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Charlotte Lake is a clear, clean, cold jewel, sitting near the summit of the Algonquin highlands, in the Madawaska River watershed. Although motor boats do use the lake, the summer of 2017 was so wet, that most of the time we enjoyed the cottage, few motor boats joined me, as I paddled and fished (very successfully). Fairly large Yellow Perch, <i>Perca flavescens</i>), Smallmouth,<i> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Micropterus dolomieu</span></i> and Largemouth Bass, <i>Micropterus salmoides,</i> abound. Salmoides means "trout-like", from Latin. I expect that this lake was, historically, a trout lake . Once bass are introduced, though, most trout species cannot compete. Lake Trout are an exception, however, as they require very deep cold water where Bass rarely tread.<br />
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Above is a view from the cottage driveway towards the lake. This is typical Precambrian landscape, with a rocky, steep, granitic slope down to the lake. I decided on a Perch dinner one day, and, these are large, for Perch. By mid July, Perch in most lakes are infested with parasites. These Perch had few.<br />
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Back on the dock, a dragonfly visited. Then expired! Dragonflies live for a few weeks, and after mating, they may fade rather quickly. There are exceptions, for example the migratory Green Darner, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Anax junius</i></span>. This one is also a Darner, most likely a Lake Darner, <i>Aeshna eremita</i>. It was probably much more blue in life.<br />
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The lake beckoned Jan, above, out on the kayak, while my son and nephew enjoyed a few hours fishing from the canoe (real fishing that requires effort!). This most relaxing and pastoral scene closes out our time at the Charlotte Lake - Beethoven Pastoral Symphony playing in the background.</div>
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Just after returning to our home, I joined an Odonata (dragonflies, jewelwings and damselflies) event at the Morris Island Conservation Area. Morris Island is administered by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. It was created as a result of the damming of the Ottawa River for the Chats Falls Hydroelectric project. Notwithstanding its artificial origin, this is a jewel of biodiversity, especially for Odonata.<br />
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Below, one of the most common damselflies in Eastern North America is the Eastern Forktail, <i>Ischnura <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px;">verticalis</span></i>. Females have this orange coloration. <span style="font-family: inherit;">Males have a black<span style="background-color: white;"> </span> t<span style="background-color: white;">horax</span><span style="background-color: white;"> above, with </span><span style="background-color: white;">green shoulder stripes; pale green sides, and some blue at the tip of the abdomen</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.16px;">. </span>In Florida, there are more species of Forktail, including Citrine. They are ubiquitous, and not studied much, as far as I know.<br />
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This caterpillar was making slow progress across the gravel trail at Morris Island Conservation Area. <i>Spilosoma virginica</i> is a species of moth in the Arctiinae subfamily. As a caterpillar, it is known as the Yellow Woolly Bear. As an adult, it is known as the Virginian Tiger Moth.<br />
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The following information is adapted from the Wisconsin BugLady:<a href="http://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/news/">http://www.riveredgenaturecenter.org/news/</a><br />
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Slaty Skimmers, <i>Libellula incesta</i>, are in the skimmer family <i>Libellulidae</i>, the most common and brightly-colored pond dragonflies. Members of the genus Libellula (along with, in some books, the corporals and whitetails) are known as the “King Skimmers,” which Dennis Paulson describes as “some of the most familiar dragonflies to the general naturalist, as they are large and conspicuous, often with distinctive wing patterns” (and he adds the tasty tidbit that the king skimmers typically” perch with the front pair of legs folded behind the head,” which makes the BugLady want to go back and check all of her photos).<br />
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From Art: This is true. Count the legs of this splendid male Slaty Skimmer, and you will see 4 grasping the twig. We all know insects have 6 legs. Look very, very closely, and you will see the front two legs folded behind its head.<br />
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The King skimmers are sexually dimorphic, with males generally more colorful than females (juvenile Slatys are striking, but females fade to a grayish-brown). They often perch on the top of vegetation in the sunshine, and they hunt from their perch. The BugLady was curious about this dragonfly’s unusual species name. She came across an answer offered by Dennis Paulson (Dragonflies and Damselflies of the East, Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West) in an on-line forum: “Hagen [the 19th century German-born entomologist/Harvard professor who named them] applied many strange and often undecipherable names to odonate species. For example, Sympetrum corruptum (corrupted), Sympetrum illotum (dirty), Dromogomphus spoliatus (plundered), Brechmorhoga mendax (lying, deceiving), Enallagma praevarum (unsteady), Enallagma ebrium (drunken).<br />
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Sid Dunkle and I, in our checklist of North American odonates, tried to figure out the origin of these names but failed in many cases. For Libellula incesta, we wrote ‘incestuous, perhaps alluding to looking like a hybrid between other closely related species,’ but this was pure speculation. Hagen never explained the etymology of any of his names, and they will remain unexplained.”<br />
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Those who have struggled with identifying pond damselflies will recognize the most difficult case, above. This is a male "blue" type, refering to the predominance of the colour blue on the abdomen, giving this group of damselflies the moniker "bluet". To identify bluets, you need, at minimum, a handheld loupe or magnifier. Even with a good one, identification is difficult for us amateurs. To differentiate these damselflies, you need to differentiate the claspers, in males, such as the one above. This photo shows the claspers, but not in enough detail to make a certain identification. So this is LIKELY one of the 2 most common species, Hagen, <i>Enallagma hageni</i> or Marsh Bluet, <i>Enallagma ebrium</i>. However, it may also be four or five other species! Those paying attention will have noted that the first species, Hagen, is named after that Harvard professor, who chose weird inexplicable Latin names for species, and you will recall that the second species is one he named, as "ebrium" means drunk. After that frustrating experience, I was so happy to find an animal I could immediately identify.<br />
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It is common to find these snakes basking in the gravel beside the water. They are very colourful, usually calm snakes, which may grow quite large. Although, like all water snakes, these are curious, and will not scoot and scurry away like most snakes. They are quite harmless if left alone. This is the Northern Brown Watersnake,<span style="background-color: white;"> <span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.04em; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Nerodia sipedon sipedon. </i>If you visit rural Florida, as I do, you probably have encountered the Southern Brown Watersnake, which is similar. Unfortunately, people often mistake that snake for the venomous Cottonmouth. During winter, Cottonmouths are difficult to find, whereas the Watersnakes are often seen. Leave them be if encountered. They will not bite unless they feel threatened.</span></span></span><br />
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Some more Skimmers, which seem to pose to ensure you admire them. The striking Halloween Pennant, <i>Celithemis eponina</i>, above, is a kaleidoscope of colour and pattern. Note the pink pterostigma at the front edge of the outer last brown stripe on each wing. These, and the pattern, make Halloween Pennants easy to identify. This is a male, though the females are also very colourful and similarly patterned.<br />
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Below is one of our most common Skimmers, the Common Whitetail, <i>Plathemis lydia</i>.<br />
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I promised some diversity and this includes the reptiles and amphibians. Above, an Eastern Gartersnake, <span style="box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.64px; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis </i>and below American Bullfrog, </span></span><span class="ng-binding" ng-show="_app.species_object.code != 'all';" style="background-color: rgba(250, 250, 250, 0.9); box-sizing: border-box; letter-spacing: 0.1px; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 5px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Lithobates catesbeianus. </i>Most people have trouble differentiating the Bullfrog from the Green Frog. A helpful</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(250 , 250 , 250 , 0.9); font-family: inherit; letter-spacing: 0.1px;"> site for all of Ontario's (and surrounding bordering States/and Quebec) reptiles and amphibians:</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(250, 250, 250, 0.9); letter-spacing: 0.1px;"><a href="https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/species/">https://ontarionature.org/programs/citizen-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/species/</a></span><br />
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Ending with a bit of sex in the Hollywood tradition: Below, a male Bluet clasps the neck of a female Bluet in the tandem position. If mating proceeds, the male and female will form a "wheel" so that the male's sperm transfers from his genitalia at the base of the thorax to hers, which are just behind section 8 of the abdomen.<br />
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In the next instalment, we take a trip "up the Ottawa Valley" and afterwards, we join the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust on one of their outings. See you then.Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-73300972431610952182018-12-31T10:44:00.000-08:002019-01-01T14:40:04.926-08:00Charlotte Lake, Renfrew County, Ontario July 2017 #4<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You can't have lovely Monarch Butterflies without this plant, shown above. This is common Milkweed, <i>Asclepias syriaca,</i> the most widely distributed milkweed in our area. We call it a weed, but look at those flowers! Stunning! Monarch larvae (caterpillars) feed ONLY on milkweeds. Another milkweed found in our area is the Swamp Milkweed, which is even more colourful.<br />
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Above is another photo of <i>Aralia racemosa</i>, or Spikenard, an uncommon relative of Sarsapirilla, as detailed in a previous blog in this series. This is a splendid shrub-like (3-6 feet high and wide) flowering plant that would be a great addition to any backyard in our area. Look for it in a wildflower garden centre.</div>
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The Charlotte Lake cottage that we rented is on a very long private road which is maintained by local residents. We were fascinated by the simple and effective method for grading the road: an ATV dragging a metal grate weighed down by concrete blocks.</div>
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Above is Hairy Wood-mint, <i>Blephilia hirsuta</i>. Note long stalks of leaves differentiate it from Downy Wood Mint. Also, as "hirsuta" suggests, it is hairy along leaf stems. The Mint family is well represented in North America with many species which are widely distributed. You may recognize a close relative of this forest plant: Heal-all or Self-heal, <i>Prunella vulgaris</i>, which, if you are silly enough to maintain a lawn, you have probably pulled on numerous occasions. The name of the latter plant derives from its traditional application as a sore throat remedy. I prefer Ricola. This throat lozenge contains extracts from 11 herbs, including several common Mint family plants. Most cough drops contain menthol, which, as the name suggests, is an alcohol derivative of mint oil.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Above is a small flowering plant with round basal shiny leaves, and white flowers with protruding stamen: Round-leaved Pyrola, <i>Pyrola rotundifolia. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The Pyrolaceae (Pyrola family), now considered a sub-family of the Heaths, is well represented on our forest floors. Some of my favourites are the Wintergreens...always a thrill to a young person to savour their first Wintergreen leaf...and the <span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-center;">Pipsissewa. Don't try pronouncing the latter after 3 glasses of wine. The results might be, umm, unintentionally entertaining.</span></span></div>
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Tall Meadow Rue, <i>Thalictrum polygamum</i>, above, is a deep forest plant which is not often seen flowering. This was my lucky day.<br />
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Marsh Bedstraw, <i>Galium palustre.</i> Note this species lives in wet places, is weak stemmed (this one certainly is) has 6 leaves in whorls and WHITE flowers (Northern Bedstraw is more erect with white flowers, and has 4 leaves in whorls). Of course, the best way to identify a plant, or anything else in nature, is in the field. As you can see above and below, the field guide is with me, and the plant may be compared directly to the description, drawings, and photos. Bedstraw has tiny white 4-petaled flowers. The size compares to the weave of my lovely Levi Jeans (541's...more stretchy for an old waistline!)<br />
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Common Speedwell, <i>Veronica officinalis</i> is a species of flowering plant in the Plantain family Plantaginaceae. It is native to Europe and western Asia. It has been introduced to North America where it is widely naturalized.</div>
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Above is a buttercup. You already knew that! You used to hold one of the flowers under your chin to prove you liked butter. There are 7 species of Buttercups (<i>Ranunculus</i> spp.) in our region. Some of them are native, but the most common one (probably the above specimen included) is Tall Buttercup, <i>Ranunculus acris</i>, which is exotic, and invasive....but still delightful to us kids! If you want to know which species this is for certain, take a photo of the leaves! I didn't. Mea culpa.<br />
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As you will appreciate and recognize, this series of photos was taken to review some of the more widespread, common, and often exotic flowers we see in summer in open spaces, and along roadsides, fields and trails. The flowers above are not associated with most of the leaves, which appear to be nettles and grasses. The flowers are the exotic, and ubiquitous <i>Chysanthemum leucanthemum</i> (a rhyming mouthful), or Daisy.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlCHmTAVdImYno8g20lPd6LJ64LU7PKbEhNc6Lyl_e5-EszoZMymMuNlHwz-JEpZX62yxq1TpCvP-1aIo4C71BwHpE0z0LAuwDBZfLBAazAVLFKBpXliQcR4g4HT7gOIZVzemU9sjajaI/s1600/IMG_2192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlCHmTAVdImYno8g20lPd6LJ64LU7PKbEhNc6Lyl_e5-EszoZMymMuNlHwz-JEpZX62yxq1TpCvP-1aIo4C71BwHpE0z0LAuwDBZfLBAazAVLFKBpXliQcR4g4HT7gOIZVzemU9sjajaI/s320/IMG_2192.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another common import from Europe is the Rough-fruited Cinquefoil, <i>Potentilla recta.</i> I love the notched petals of the subtly coloured flowers. French speakers will recognize the common name means "5 leaves". Ironically, this species usually has 7 leaflets on each leaf stock.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWg-MK09aFqSxRIPLLqhyM8OgiZg5FUeHsVgK4rfzoD-xXy5WDPdyDm6VyhwlQVqCzUJymUTrkIs5hO14E8hrfmj7k0VP5qF5y2qGERfbsfhWuhqgZJk7WyAVxJeNtREk1Gylqs1A__Dq/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibWg-MK09aFqSxRIPLLqhyM8OgiZg5FUeHsVgK4rfzoD-xXy5WDPdyDm6VyhwlQVqCzUJymUTrkIs5hO14E8hrfmj7k0VP5qF5y2qGERfbsfhWuhqgZJk7WyAVxJeNtREk1Gylqs1A__Dq/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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A great Yiddish word is "kvetch", which, roughly translated means "constantly complaining". I always think of that word when I see this plant: a non-native member of the Pea family called Cow Vetch, <i>Viccia cracca</i>. Like most of this family, the roots fix nitrogen, enriching soil. The flowers are rich in nectar, attracting bees and buterflies. As the name suggests, this is a sweet cattle favourite.</div>
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Of course, you also popped the above "fruits" of the ever-present Bladder Campion, <i>Silene vulgaris</i>, or, if you are in the USA, Maiden's Tears (awwwww). The fruit is actually the calyx, enclosing the green seed-bearing fruit. At this stage, if you pick the fruits, you can pop them against your hand. When they flower, the calyx is a lovely pink colour (and they are a member of the Pink family), and the petals are white. They are so lovely.<br />
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In their native Europe, these plants are treasured as a salad constituent, especially in the southern Mediterranean, where the young shoots and leaves are added to salad. Older leaves are boiled or fried, according ot Wikipedia. When I visit Spain in February, 2019, I will attempt to corroborate this.<br />
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Another treasured "weed" is the Common St. Johnswort, <i>Hypericum perforatum</i>. This native of Mediterranean Europe and North Africa (like the Bladder Campion), was introduced to North America by the invading European humanoid bipeds. They brought it with them because it has always been used in traditional medicine. It has been shown to have some anti-depressant qualities, though not sufficient to replace prescription medications. Enjoy its colour and leave it be!</div>
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St. Johnswort is also toxic to livestock, and is therefore unwelcome in pastures.</div>
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The name derives from traditional harvest on St. John's Day (June 24). The Latin name is derived from Greek (hyper=over and eikon=picture), since sprigs were hung over photos on St. John's Day to ward off evil. Hmm....I wonder if I could use it over a photo of Donald Trump? Which reminds me of my peridontist's joke, as he was pulling my tooth a few weeks ago: "Nickname for Donald Trump? The Manchurian Cantaloupe." An explanation is available for a small fee.</div>
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This is an introduction to a few native plants that have become more successful due to agriculture and development. Above is Staghorn Sumac, <i>Rhus typhina. </i>The staghorns turn their familiar reddish colour later in summer, when birds, pollinators and me all partake of their tangy flavour. They make an excellent herbal tea, the tanginess is due to Vitamin C. Beware though, some people may have allergies.<br />
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Staghorn Sumac is native to Eastern North America, and it is planted elsewhere. I have one in my garden. The downside of this great fast growing tall shrub is that it spreads through underground stems that have to be continually cut during spring and summer. I think the result is worth it.<br />
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Staghorn Sumac is one of many plants in the <a href="https://plants.usda.gov/java/ClassificationServlet?source=profile&symbol=Anacardiaceae&display=31" style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #000099; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: 11px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Anacardiaceae </a>family, which includes poison ivy and poison sumac. The family includes other familiar fruit bearing edibles, like mangos and cashews.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQbYpJ66LIb4c23YUhXlV5TNFtCS4whAZ3vwzhMshGDrPK16n0B_t7K9IklwSNItnjMxNIcWU7ynfhDQOx1NpFWen4G3WdwNFQ9tR4lV96a-2FeHofbWaQOcVVABPdVlAr8seJRPs8Cei/s1600/IMG_2204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQbYpJ66LIb4c23YUhXlV5TNFtCS4whAZ3vwzhMshGDrPK16n0B_t7K9IklwSNItnjMxNIcWU7ynfhDQOx1NpFWen4G3WdwNFQ9tR4lV96a-2FeHofbWaQOcVVABPdVlAr8seJRPs8Cei/s320/IMG_2204.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_1235183209"></span><span id="goog_1235183210"></span>Another familiar eastern native flower is the Black-eyed Susan, or <i>Rudbeckia hirta</i>. This colourful flower dominates my garden in late summer. With this plant's close cousins, the Coneflowers, Rudbeckia flowers are native to most everywhere on this continent.<br />
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Next year, get a few of these "weeds" in your garden. They are well adapted to our conditions in the Great Lakes Region, and therefore, require much less care than those unwanted exotics.<br />
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We will conclude our "Charlotte Lake" series next time, and include some post cottage August favourites.</div>
Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-61705120499193681522018-12-09T21:43:00.001-08:002018-12-11T14:31:24.948-08:00Charlotte Lake, Renfrew County, Ontario July 2017 #3<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Charlotte Lake, Renfrew County, Ontario July 2017 #3</h2>
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What a biologically/ecodiverse/splendiferous region I live in. These qualities caused me to join the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust that purchases and creates easement agreements with landowners in the titled watersheds. Yes my American friends, Canada has its own Mississippi River.</div>
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The various land-forming processes (glaciers, huge rivers and even a salt water sea) have given shape to the surroundings, with a variety of wet/rich and not-so-rich habitats. This results in one of the most diverse collections of Odonate species (dragonflies and damselflies) on our continent.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV-AvaxoyYVojAPVmO7_s_-UOw82blaUdBW61bFR9FIxWngWjtwigeG7y-ztl_xNAWltwb1tkoelpByjePR8EvFwiPtgGzoSFe5__1CmqH2cGs27ZOZUzZXww21jt7t6p-k1ht6Y-GYQb/s1600/IMG_2106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimV-AvaxoyYVojAPVmO7_s_-UOw82blaUdBW61bFR9FIxWngWjtwigeG7y-ztl_xNAWltwb1tkoelpByjePR8EvFwiPtgGzoSFe5__1CmqH2cGs27ZOZUzZXww21jt7t6p-k1ht6Y-GYQb/s320/IMG_2106.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above, immature Male Common Whitetail Skimmer, <i>Plathemis lydia. </i>Charlotte Lake is getting quite north for this species, since it is uncommon in Algonquin Park and much more common south of the Canadian Shield.<br />
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Red Columbine, <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: small;">Aquilegia canadensis. </i>This lovely wild flower grows, sometimes in large numbers, around wettish areas in the Ottawa Valley<i>. </i>If you get a chance, find a local grower and add it to your garden. What a splash of colour and form!</span></div>
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Spreading Dogbane, <i>Apocynum androsaemifolium</i>, note recurved lobes, distinguishes from Intermediate <i>A. medium. </i> Compare to Indian Hemp and Intermediate Dogbane.<br />
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I need to take better notes! I mis-identified this uncommon plant (above) in a previous version of this edition. This is not the common Cornus rugosa (which I like very much!). It is the very UNcommon <i>Aralia racemosa</i>, or Spikenard. Spikenard is a very large round-leaved relative of the very common <i>Aralia nudicaulis</i>, or Sarsapirilla. You may have heard of a soft drink called Sarsapirilla, mispronounced in the US, sometimes, as Saspirilla. Strangely, the soft drink is not made from this plant! It is derived from <i>Smilax ornata, </i>a very different unrelated plant.<br />
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Both Aralia plants are in the Ginseng family. The size, leaves and cluster of flowers just emerging at the top of the plant are all indicative.<br />
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As seen in the last blog, ferns are abundant around Charlotte Lake. The Wood Ferns are the most frequently found ferns in rich forests locally, and they are very difficult to tell apart. This one (above) is the most elegant of the Wood Ferns. Pinnae are cut and cut again. The fronds are very long and rich coloured this time of the year. They arise from a central point. Pinnae are longest at the middle, and almost disappear towards the narrowing tip. This is Lady Fern, <i>Athyrium filix-femina.</i><br />
My fingers are clutching one of the newly developed fertile fronds which will bear spores later in the summer.<br />
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A favourite woodland maroon 6-petaled flower (April-May), Blue Cohosh, <i>Caulophyllum thalictroides</i>, is shown above. The flowers have already been replaced by developing fruits, which do turn a spectacular blue. Caution: these pretty fruits are poisonous.<br />
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For the bird-lovers, the sequence which begins with the above photo and continues below is, likely, a once in a lifetime opportunity which most of you may never experience. I was very fortunate to spot this newly fledged Blue-headed Vireo (used to be called Solitary Vireo for you older people!), <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Vireo solitarius.</span></i></span><br />
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An adult, on the left has arrived to feed the fledgling. Note the young bird is spreading its new wings. Mom or Pop turns briefly and lets out a call, perhaps signalling to the other parent.<br />
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More ferns! This one named itself when I looked on the underside of the fertile frond. The sori (the spore-containing bodies which appear as roundish and lighter than the pinnae above) are just developing on this Marginal Wood Fern, <i>Dryopteris marginalis</i>. And below, a more mature Lady Fern on my knee. Note the longer pinnae in the middle of the frond, and shorter ones toward the base..<br />
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The plant above with maple-leaf shaped leaves, and a large purple flower is Flowering Raspberry, <i>Rubus odoratus</i>. These are also very common in our Eastern Ontario<span style="color: #cd232c; font-weight: bold;"> </span>woods. The berries do look like very large raspberries. These are only palatable to wildlife, so don't be trying one!<br />
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Back we go to the trials of fern identification. This is a big fern, as you are able to see my fern field guide in the photo above for size comparison. Note that the fronds emanate from a common point in the centre. Below, you see mature sori (which are the dark spots, and the are not at the margin, but rather clustered along the mid veins of the pinnae. So it is not Marginal Wood Fern, but it does look like another of the Wood Ferns.<br />
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Note that, like the Lady Fern, the pinnules are toothed, though not as delicately as in Lady Fern. Also, the longest pinnae are not at the centre of the frond. Note also that the stipe (lower leafless stem of each frond) is hairy and scaly.<br />
I had not encountered this very large wood fern before, and I took home a piece of a frond to help with the identification. It is now dried within the pages of my fern field guide. Even though it is more than a year since I collected the specimen, it rests within the field guide at the page for Goldie's Fern, <i>Dryopteris goldiana</i>. After review at my desk, I am sticking to this identification!<br />
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Flowers and new creatures when we return for instalment 4 of Charlotte Lake soon!</div>
Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-52367337648936095012018-11-03T10:48:00.002-07:002018-11-03T10:48:18.944-07:00Whazzat? Or More Life at the Cottage.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Charlotte Lake, Renfrew County, Ontario July 2017 #2</h2>
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Perched near the summit of the Algonquin Highlands, not very far from the highest point in the region, Charlotte Lake merges the boreal with the temperate: conifer dominated forests and mixed forests. The understory is as diverse.</div>
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With a penchant for puzzle solving, I tackled a few of the more difficult classifications in the biological system: mushrooms (fungi) and ferns.</div>
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Those who have attempted 'Shrooms know the is s lot more to identification than colour and shape. Spore prints, structure, texture, odor, and, to some extent, taste are also important. It is best to gather target mushrooms and bring them to a lab to identify. To see how this works, several years ago, I was honoured to cover one of Richard Aaron's field courses at Queen's University Biological Station.</div>
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Click here to read about that if you would like more insight to mushroom ID:</div>
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<a href="https://opinicon.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/fabulous-fall-fungi-with-a-fun-guy/">https://opinicon.wordpress.com/2016/10/09/fabulous-fall-fungi-with-a-fun-guy/</a></div>
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If you would like ot know more about mushrooms, Richard continues to provide his field course in late September and early October at the Bio Station. Richard is also kindly providing an outing for the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust at High Lonesome Nature Reserve:</div>
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<a href="https://mmlt.ca/event/discover-the-fun-in-fungi/">https://mmlt.ca/event/discover-the-fun-in-fungi/</a></div>
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I thought that the mushroom pictured below was a toothed mushroom. Closer inspection of the cut piece at the lower left shows this is a gilled mushroom. There are two large genera of gilled mushrooms which account for a large propertion of our forest mushrooms: Lactarius and Russula. A young Lactarius will ooze latex when cut. This one did not, which leads me to belive it is a common Russula. I await with interest my "mushroom" friends input into this.</div>
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Many people want to know if a mushroom is edible or not. After several experiences with experts like Richard, I prefer to BUY my mushrooms! Recently, for example, at another High Lonesome Nature Reserve Event, we found a spectacularly beautiful full white gilled mushroom, which I was able to ID immediately: Amanita virosa, the Destroying Angel. It is well named.</div>
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Once you have been hooked by the challenges of mushroom ID, ferns don't seem to be quite as difficult. Since I took university niology back in the early 1970's, genetic research enabled by an explosion in technology and ability to parse DNA, has reclassified the ferns away from mosses and closer to flowering plants.<br />
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All of that science doesn't help much in the field. I took the photo above mainly because of the plant in the centre of the frame. It is flowing (three lobed leaves aboe, flower is in the V formed by the two flower stalks. This is Jack-in-the-Pulpit, <i>Arisaema triphyllum</i>. Then the ferns took over my interest. The one on the right is easy....Sensitive Fern, <i>Onoclea sensibilis. </i>The fern on the left, also pictured below, is one of the many Wood Fern (Dryopteris spp.). They are more difficult.<br />
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The photos below help, because many ferns may be identified by their leaf (pinnae) structure, AND the positioning of the spore sacs (sori) on the UNDERSIDE of the fertile fronds (the fronds that carry sori). One of our most common Wood Ferns is <i>Dryopteris marginalis,</i> so named because the sori are at the margins of the pinnae. This plant has sori just developing away form the margins.<br />
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Here is my field observation. See if you agree:<br />
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"Note the newly formed sori are NOT at the margins. This is NOT marginalis. Likely Goldie's, <i>Dryopteris goldiana</i>, which is big, dense and has scaly stipes (these look just "hairy" to me.)"<br />
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Taking a break from the botanical, insects at the water's edge always attract attention. I was singing the blues after seeing these two, above Silvery Blue Butterfly, <i>Glaucopsyche lygdamus, </i>one of over a dozen North American species of the Blue tribe Polyommatini. Another genus, the Azures, also reflect blue grey. The Spring Azure is a very commonly seen small butterfly.<br />
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The damselfly below also challenges the intrepid biologist, as there are many Bluets damselflies. They are often separated into groups by the amount of blue on the abdomen. Therefore, there are black types showing minimal blue stripes on the abdomen; intermediate types which are about 30-50% blue on the abdomen; and blue types which are about 75-80% blue in the middle part of the abdomen.<br />
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Immediately, we see this is one of the blue types of Bluet. Then it gets difficult! There are 6 species, with small differences among them. Mostly, you tell them apart by the claspers (males) which are the naughty bits at the end (10th segment) of the abdomen. This IS a male. Note the eyespots (and yes I checked out the claspers). They are clearly tear-shaped, which is the field mark of the Familiar Bluet, <i>Enallagma civile. </i>Ta daaaaa (marching band). Mystery is solved. That is until one of the experts points out something else that I missed!<br />
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Didja want some cheese with those quackers? Keeping on the "bleu" track, this Blue-winged Teal, <i>Anas discors</i>, and her three ducklings drifted past us several times each day. Teal are small ducks. The close relative to this one, Green-winged Teal are even smaller. The blue feathers are usually hidden unless the female duck is preening or flying. At a distance females of both Teal species are difficult to tell apart, and the field guides would have me call this one a Green-winged Teal. So, just to say, it ain't always so! I saw this duck close up and often enough to identify it by its size and blue feathers<br />
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A dragonfly's view of the lake may approximate these shots, with one of the ubiquitous Corporals eyeing me. Of course, to get the insect view, you have account for the differences in eye shape, location and the differences in colours and shapes in an insect's eye. Yet, occasionally, a photo from a different perspective provides a very different view of the world.<br />
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I love the above photo, as it is very high resolution and you can see very small details. When identifying plants, these small details are important and may elude you in the field. This is a very common (often named a "weed") member of the mint family: Self-heal, <i>Prunella vulgaris</i>. The purple flowers are typical of the mint family. In this case, you can see 4 or five flowers off of the compact spike or head, The mint family species are common in the woodland understory, roadsides, and fields/lawns. Some are native, like this one; many are escaped from gardens. Familar varieties are used as herbs, such as Thyme, Bergamot, Peppermint, Catnip, Pennyroyal and Marjoram. This one's common name derives from application as a traditional remedy for a variety of ailments, including wounds, burns, insect bites and allergies. Most of its parts are edible, though flavour is questionable! Like so many of our traditional herbs, this one is being studied for a role in treating a variety of diseases:<br />
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<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14595592">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14595592</a><br />
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Not too far away, just up from the lake shore, were these lovely rose nodding flowers. A member of the Honeysuckle family, these are Twinflowers, <i>Linnaea borealis. </i>Like many flowers in the coniferous forest, Twinflowers grow from a creeping long vine, and are therefore quite large plants. You may not find them in the wildflower section of your guide. Look under shrubs! This is also true for the many members of the Heath family which also grow in our northern woods: cranberries, partidgeberries, bearberries, blueberries and wintergreen.<br />
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These are so hard to find. Any snake in the boreal forest is a rare discovery. These are so small and inconspicuous, most people are unaware that they exist. There are two wee brown snakes that eat mostly earhworms and slugs: Dekays Brownsnake and the Red Belly Snake. I think this is the latter. Just to be sure, I sent the photo to an expert for confirmation. And he did confirm! Thanks Nick.<br />
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Next time, even more cottage life, including a bird one rarely sees in southern Ontario except in migration.Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-59607392595607579842018-07-25T20:14:00.002-07:002018-09-17T14:08:08.848-07:00A Few Stops on the Way to the Highlands and Lake CharlotteBits of May and June 2017, our rainiest in memory....<br />
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In fact, it was so rainy that most of the container plants in my
garden drowned, notwithstanding repeated attempts at draining the
containers. Mosquitoes and under-story plants flourished all summer,
even in dry areas. On the upside, we rented a cottage at Lake
Charlotte for late June and most of July. The rains kept over-sized
boats with large motors to a minimum, enabling frequent canoe and
kayak fishing outings and quiet nature observation.<br />
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Our first stop <span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;">-
</span>Prince Edward County.
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Pleasing to see a huge colourful bud of
a Shagbark Hickory while exploring “The County”. A May trip to
"the County" wouldn't be complete without a visit to the
Prince Edward Point Banding Station (covered in my May 30, 2014
blog). We found this Yellow-rumped Warbler hanging around awaiting
the banding volunteer. Birds are handled so very carefully by
trained volunteers, who pride themselves on their banding talents.
Getting to the mist nets early in the morning affords learning bird
enthusiasts the opportunity to get some nice close-ups of
difficult-to-see birds in their glorious spring plumage. However, beware of some very nasty stares back from the "misted"
birds!</div>
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I was dealing with a back ailment (you
know the drill - physiotherapy, exercises, and tough slogging on most
walks) that limited photographic moments. One flower always beckons;
its unusual 7 glowing white petals contrast with the shiny green
whorled leaves. It is worth the slog and the bend! This is
Starflower (well named), <i>Trientalis borealis</i>. Borealis, in a
Latin name, refers to the north. Trientalis means a third of a foot,
which is about the height of most Starflowers.</div>
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I joined the Board of the
Mississippi-Madawaska Land Trust in 2017. This is a charitable
organization that seeks to conserve and protect land, through
agreement and ownership, in the Mississippi and Madawaska River
valleys of Eastern Ontario. One of its flagship properties is called
High Lonesome, which is in the Pakenham Highlands just to the west of
our home in Arnprior, Ontario. I wrote about High Lonesome in my
December 2014 blog. You can also learn more about it here:</div>
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<a href="https://mmlt.ca/protecting-nature/our-protected-properties/high-lonesome-nature-reserve/">High Lonesome Nature Reserve</a></h3>
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Above is the new Welcome Centre, built mostly through volunteer contribution. Below is the crowd gathered for the opening of the Centre, including many of my fellow Board members, and volunteers, and Lolly, Shaun and Amelia's loyal pet.</div>
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The ceremony is hosted by Mary (Vice President) and Michael (hard-working former Board member).<br />
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Next stop - at the Cottage</div>
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Gathering our things, we are off to the
cottage at Charlotte Lake, where the dragonflies abound at the end of
June. Above, a Chalk-fronted Corporal, <i>Ladona julia</i>. Below,
the first, if not the finest, of many canoe fishing experiences over
the month.</div>
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The Ottawa Valley is home to a great
diversity of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies), due to its varied
wetland habitats. It is also home to a diversity of ferns. The
number of species of both of these organisms creates an
identification challenge and also reminds me of the special
ecological significance of the place I have chosen to live. Scroll
down to sample a few of the living things found around our cottage.</div>
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Above is a freshly-minted, just out of the water, damselfly. Identification of these is a challenge, since this is an immature male Powedered Dancer, <i>Argie svelte</i> which has yet to develop the "powder" that would easily ID him. Thanks to the WEB, I am able to connect to experts all over North America who helped me. The Internet CAN be useful!!<br />
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This American Toad, (<i>Bufo) A</i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">naxyrus </i><i>americanus</i>, rubbed up against something blue.<br />
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One of North America's most
successful songbirds is the Song Sparrow, <i>Melospiza melodia</i>,
which can be found wherever there is a shrub. On a recent trip to
Vancouver Island and Yukon, I learned that western populations of
this bird are larger and more reddish brown in colour than their
eastern counterparts. There are 24 sub-species of this bird on the
North American continent. It is well-named, as its song welcome us
at dawn in the spring.</div>
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Yes, I did mention FERNS. Here are the first two of this cottage stay: the common Sensitive Fern, <i>Onoclea sensibilis</i> (so named because it browns and withers at the first hint of frost)<br />
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and the less common Cut-leaved Grape Fern, <i>Botrychium dissectum</i>, growing happily just centimetres away from the Sensitive Fern.I could just make out the latter uttering weak complaints about its sturdy neighbour.<br />
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Two commonly seen related flowers are the Yellow, <i>Hieracium caespitosum, </i> and Orange,<i> Hieracium aurantiacum</i>, Hawkweeds. Both are European invaders which have found a home here and there. The field guides say that these two plants are found in fields and roadsides. These were growing happily in a rocky area just up from the shore of the lake.<br />
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What is an Ontario cottage without a dock and the impressive Dock or Fishing Spider? There are two species, and even the experts won't try to differentiate them based on a photo: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dolomedes tenebrosus</em><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-size: 18px;"> and </span><em style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #444444; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dolomedes scriptus. </em><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are Canada's largest spiders. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On our recent trip to Yukon, two of our friends recounted their life in Canberra, Australia where Donna had an "incident" with the world's largest spider, the Giant Huntsman, which has a legspan of 30 cms. Indeed, authorities in Canberra, upon viewing this particular spider guessed it to be even larger than 30 cms! No wonder Donna was a bit nervous seeing it in the window.</span></span></span><br />
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Another view of the ubiquitous Chalk-fronted Corporal (there were hundreds of them at lakeside at end of June) and another damselfly which illustrates the fun of being a biologist....identifiying these critters! The BLUE species of Bluet Damselflies are numerous and they look very much alike. Identification of these species requires a close up of the last few segments of the insect. Males and females are easily distinguished. Males of a half dozen species are only distinguished by the shape of their claspers (the very end of the last segment shown here). I could not make out enough detail, but the experts could and told me that this (next two photos) is likely a male Hagen's Bluet, <i>Enallagma hageni</i>(quite common around marshes and lakes).<br />
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A Lancet Clubtail, <i>Gomphus exilis</i>, below, takes a break from chewing on mosquitoes. One of my FAVOURITE experiences, rivalled only by the OPP taking down that idiot who was tail-gating me, is having a Clubtail or other large dragonfly catching a mosquito, or, even BETTER, a DEER fly, and noisily chomping away at it as it rests on my shoulder.<br />
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Finally, two more Chalk-fronted Corporals holding down some granite.<br />
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More cottage tales next time.Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-55269126528753059922018-07-22T12:31:00.001-07:002018-07-22T12:31:35.285-07:00Crazy Horse and March Highlands-Ephemerals a month laterMay 9, 2017 Still cold....flooding everywhere...rains not letting up.<br />
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Quite different than Tennessee here, isn't it? A month later, Tennessee was way warmer than Ottawa and surroundings. You will see Jan's jacket in the last episode. She has it around her waist. Today, she has it on.<br />
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Some ephemerals were making an appearance. We walked along the Crazy Horse Trail (to be reprised in 2018) until flooding turned us back. We did see a few flowers:<br />
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This one, above and below is common and easily overlooked, as the yellow-green flowers fail to impress.Later the round light blue fruit will appear. This is Blue Cohosh (<i style="background-color: white; color: #660099; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Caulophyllum thalictroides</span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #660099; font-family: arial, sans-serif; white-space: nowrap;">).</i></div>
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They look very enticing. From the GoBotany website (New England) we learn:</div>
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"<span style="background-color: #f0f0c0; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Blue cohosh is an attractive wildflower, with an unusual display of the spherical blue fruits held stiffly above the leaf canopy. The roots were widely used my </span><span class="gloss" id="gloss1" style="background-color: #f0f0c0; border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(195, 217, 65); color: #317b0c; cursor: pointer; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Native</span><span style="background-color: #f0f0c0; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, "Lucida Sans Unicode", sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> Americans as an herbal medicine to treat a range of ailments and as a general tonic."</span></div>
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From the Government of Canada's Biodiversity Information Facility (who comes up with these names??):</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"The plant contains chemicals that can cause cell damage. Experiments show that handling powdered root can cause irritation of mucous membranes, with possible dermatitis. No case histories of poisoning were found in the literature, but the plant has poisoning potential. Children should not be allowed to eat the attractive blue fruits of this plant (Muenscher 1975, Lampe and McCann 1985). No references were found of poisoning of livestock."</span></div>
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Another "just-about-to-flower-plant-which=would=look=way=better-if-it-was-flowering-and-which-I-almost-overlooked-because-looking-down-the-leaves-appeared-to-be-more-maplish" is an uncommon plant: Two-leafed Toothwort, <i>Cardamine diphylla. </i>It appears to become more common in the southern deciduous forests, but it isn't commonly found west of Ottawa, where the tend is toward more acid soils.</div>
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Another more common deciduous forest ephemeral is the ubiquitous "Trout Lily" <i>Erythronium americanum</i>, which is found right down to Georgia. Note the young maples on the forest floor dwarfed by the huge (haha) lily.<br />
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One of my goals is to be able to identify wild trees and shrubs, especially the more difficult ones. There are 9 Serviceberry species (Saskatoons out west)in our area, and this is one of the more spectacular ones. Pictured above and below, you will see the fuzziness on the new leaves/flower stocks and the clusters of 5 petaled white flowers. The fuzziness distinguishes this plant during Spring: Downy Juneberry or Downy Serviceberry or Shadbush, <i>Amelanchier arborea. </i>Look out at the forest if you are a car passenger this tie of the year, The clusters of large white blooms do stand out, even from far away. The lovely blueberry-like fruit is excellent eating if you can find them before the birds gorge on them.<br />
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Speaking of flowers, the above three are Jan (note the coat, as previously mentioned, and her two blooming friends Glenda (pink) and Sandra, who is ignoring the downy Serviceberry over her right shoulder.We had left the flooded Crazy Horse Trail and continued our hike on the March Highlands Trail, where the beaver lodge looked to be actively used. A developer owns this property, and we fear its loss in the not too distant future unless our city comes to its senses.<br />
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Development of suburban subdivisions in North America is driven by money driven local politics. It has to stop as it is eating up our wilderness in the Great Lakes region and our farmland. It is also reducing habitat for animals like this Great Egret, <i>Ardea alba</i> (top) which has just started to nest in our area since 2005...Climate Change? And this Ruby-crowned Kinglet, <i><span class="w8qArf" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bolder;"> </span><span class="LrzXr kno-fv" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Regulus calendula</span></i> (it is often you can SEE the ruby colouring)<br />
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Next time, a word about the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust, then on to the summer cottage at end of June, with, maybe, perhaps, possibly, a sighting or two along the way.</div>
Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-34623560519486506262018-07-21T15:55:00.001-07:002018-07-22T11:35:22.501-07:00Turn, Lift and Sparkle.....A Tennessee WalkApril 9, 2017 Sunny and warm Sunday in southern Appalachia.<br />
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Jan had not seen or experienced Falls Creek Falls State Park, Therefore, we spent Saturday stuck in Atlanta traffic after leaving the Okefenokee, arriving at the Park and our motel styled accommodation in the Park at a late hour.<br />
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We woke up to splendid breakfast at the Park restaurant, though I had feared missing it due to the late hour. In my seventh year of retirement, many previously vital bits of knowledge are much less vital. One of these bits is the time! As it turned out, we had crossed into Central Time, and were an hour earlier than thought. Serendipity!<br />
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As we left the restaurant, we met and talked to an obviously fashion-conscious visitor who took a photo or two of us. We learned that she had some model/photography experience. We therefore learned to TURN, then LIFT, and then SPARKLE, whereupon the shutter is released.<br />
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Janice pictured trying out this new process on one of the Park trails. As in the Ottawa Valley, Spring ephemeral flowers abound before the deciduous trees leaf out (6 weeks earlier here).<br />
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Two of these are below, Azure Bluet, <i>Houstonia caerulea</i>, which blooms in June in our area, and the omni- present <i>Viola sororia</i>, the Common Blue Violet, which appears in my garden in late April.<br />
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Fall Creek Falls is well named, as you can see from the typical photos taken on the trails. The mountains are alive with active streams in Spring, bringing in migratory birds to mix with the local residents. The large park is a favourite in the southeast. SO if you decide to go, try for April weekdays!</div>
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Otherwise, you may experience some crowding on the rope bridge across the gorge.....<br />
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Jan sets out and crosses with little difficulty...BUT<br />
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on her return two LARGE mountain men trailed a tad close, causing a few moments of anxiety. I crossed the year before. It being a weekday, I was alone, and successfully challenged my panic driven fear of heights.<br />
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Signs always intrigue us, especially those that cause wonderment, like this one:<br />
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After this experience we traveled back to the Ottawa Valley for a second spring ephemeral experience.<br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-51393671767017496642017-12-11T15:51:00.000-08:002017-12-15T13:06:44.593-08:00Remember Pogo and Albert? Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Chesser Island Homestead, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge</div>
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Saturday April 8, 2017 More sun and mild temperatures.</div>
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All three of us made our way back to the Refuge in the morning. We decided to explore the Chesser Island Homestead, an interpreted 600 acre farm on a dry island in the Okefenokee where the Chesser family eked out a living in the late 1800s, through raising livestock, harvesting the sap of the Slash Pines (turpentine), raising sugar cane, hunting and smoking meat/fish, and working in the Refuge after it was created in the latter part of the Great Depression (1937). Tom Chesser stayed until 1958 with the blessing of the Refuge, only leaving to follow wife Iva to Folkston, where she found the proximity to services somewhat more amenable.</div>
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Local history is the subject of several websites, including some Wikipedia entries. If interested, read on after luxuriating in this blog!:</div>
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<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesser_Island">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chesser_Island</a></div>
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You may also read about the industrial history of the "swamp", including the Suwannee Canal (used today as the origin of the eastern-side boat tours, such as the one I featured in the previous blog edition), and the attempted draining of the area in the 1890's, as well as the great fire of 2011, which burned over 75% of the Refuge:<br />
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<a href="https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/human-history-okefenokee-swamp">https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/geography-environment/human-history-okefenokee-swamp</a></div>
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Arriving at the Homestead, we were fortunate to find volunteer <span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">Gordon
Saager</span>, who provided us with a very informative tour. Gordon knows the Chessers, some of whom also volunteer at the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge(NWR). Our tour gave us his personal insights, and we shared a lot of our farming knowledge. We learned much more about southern farming from Gordon, for example, the process for tapping the Slash Pines reminded me very much of our Sugar Maple tapping for maple syrup. Above is a photo of Gordon, Jan and Winston in front of the Chesser home. Below, is a full house photo with the same three posing! Note the white sandy soil. Growing anything on this sandy substrate was a challenge.</div>
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Thanks Gordon, for this photo of your three guests. Below as the sign says, you see the water well technology....a hollow log.<br />
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We then toured the out buildings, amidst Spanish Moss festooned oaks. Note that the local lumber trade focused on Cypress and Pines. Cypress has many of the same qualities of our local White Cedar (Arbor Vitae) in Eastern Ontario, except that Cypress trees are giants compared to Cedars.<br />
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It being early April, a lizard's heart turns to romance. The Homestead was humming with wildlife romance, including the beautiful male Fence Lizard (in the <span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">following the two photos)</span> showing off for a nearby female.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> Fence Lizard (female)-note the "ladder" pattern on her back.</span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike><br />
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We left the Homestead and took a trail back into the wetlands, where we spotted this lovely turtle:<br />
Florida Red-bellied Cooter, <i>Pseudemys nelsoni,</i> which obviously ranges into the Okefenokee in Georgia. Notwithstanding the name, I had never seen this turtle in Florida.<br />
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Thanks to the staff at Okefenokee NWR for putting me into contact with Gordon.<br />
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We left the Okefenokee, and memories of Pogo and Albert, and ventured into Tennessee for the next chapter of our adventurous route home.Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-17707204050879126392017-12-03T10:11:00.001-08:002017-12-05T15:39:01.322-08:00Remember Pogo and Albert? Day 1Okefenokee Nation<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">al Wildlife Refuge, Folkston, Georgia, April 7, 2017, 4 PM and still gorgeous out!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Arriving in the late afternoon from our winter haunt in Dunnellon, Florida, we were up for a boating jaunt into the wilds of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. I had already explored the early April beauty of this 350,000-acre wetland, which lies just north of the Florida-Georgia state line. Jan was looking forward to her first visit. Winston, as seen below, was right into it, so to speak. The rainfall sourced bog and swamp supplies water to the St. Mary's and the Suwannee Rivers.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
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The tour boats do not allow dogs, so, even though Winston isn't much of a dog, we had to find alternative arrangements for him. Thank goodness he is cute. The staff in the office were happy to keep him for the duration of our exploration tour. Most of the alligators (there are 20,000 estimated in the Okefenokee), were also quite pleased to dog sit; however we thought that might not be the best approach.</div>
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You can see the broad smile on this largish 'gator indicating a Winston welcome. We found the 'gators to be very interested in our presence<br />
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As we passed the tall "Spanish Moss" festooned trees along the canal, we enjoyed the clear cool April air, and plentiful wildlife. More large smilin' 'gators greeted us every few yards, as the sunned amidst the native wetland flora, with birds singing from every corner of the swamp. The boat makes no noise, and leaves no wake, thereby enhancing the full sensory experience. In fact, as we wended our way, one large bull alligator let out a hiss and a roar, which caused Steve to say "'guess we were a tad close to that one!". This gave us quite a chuckle.<br />
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This time of the day, everyone is quite peaceful and liable to rest and bask, including this Great Blue Heron.....<br />
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...notwithstanding another large alligator not far away. The alligators are temperature regulating, not smiling, with their mouths open. However, I still like to think that they are smiling.<br />
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Then we left the Canal and entered the bog. Okefenokee (a word in the local Muskogee or Creek family of Native American languages, the same language group spoken by the Native Americans in the Dunnellon Florida area) means "trembling earth" and refers to the Spaghnum Moss layered "ground" in the bog, which trembles when one walks upon it.<br />
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Just like here in Eastern Ontario, where I live during acceptable weather, bogs are typified by a community of plants that can adapt to the nutrient poor wet environment, like this Pitcher plant (bloom below).</div>
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Another stunning wetland plant that doesn't quite reach our area is the <i>Orontium aquaticum</i>-Golden Club (below) which I also featured in this blog on my last visit to the Okefenokee.<br />
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Steve, our guide (the one here sporting the classic hat, shades and a long white beard) was so very knowledgeable about the history, natural history and ecology of the Okefenokee, as we meandered from the Suwannee Canal into the bog portion of the Refuge. As you can see, only one other person joined us on this "last tour of the day". This provided us with the opportunity to ask Steve about local biology/ecology.<br />
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As we curved and rounded our way along the Suwannee Canal and back to the dock, Steve told us about the early history of the land and its people, who eked out a living in this difficult environment, leaving behind their homesteads when the Government of the USA created the Refuge in 1937. One of those homesteads has been preserved by the Refuge, and interpretation of the history of this land is available. You will be able to learn a little about this aspect of the Refuge in my next blog instalment.<br />
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Meanwhile, with the moon rising, it was time to collect Winston from the caring folks at the office and return to our temporary digs at Kingsland, Georgia.<br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-20599091965038951792017-08-18T16:07:00.000-07:002017-08-18T16:07:09.361-07:00Muir's “go to” Place, More history, Human and Natural<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
March 10, 2017 Another sunny and warm day in Florida</div>
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As with the visit to Fort Cooper, we start with a Green Heron posing for the camera. From Dunnellon, we go north and a little west up highway 19 for 90 minutes<br />
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<u>Rosewood, Pencils and Muir</u><br />
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Passing by the former town of Rosewood,<br />
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<a href="http://www.blackpast.org/aah/rosewood-massacre-1923">Rosewood, Florida history</a><br />
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site of one of the most horrific racial incidents in US history, we reach Cedar Key, one of the few places developed in mid 19th century Florida. <br />
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John Muir knew about this island in the sun, so he set out from Indiana on foot, arriving in Cedar Key in October 1867 after a stroll of 1000 miles. I have copied the State historic plaque for you to read a snippet of this man's monumental contribution to North American conservation.<br />
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Typical museum piece and plaque- the fire reel above (1929), is resting at the State Park museum. The hard-to-read plaque is below. Any photo may be "right-clicked". Choose "open in new tab" in the drop down menu. You will then have a larger (and in this case, readable) version of the photo.<br />
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Cedar Key State Museum is a Florida State Park. The museum displays items (see part of very comprehensive shell collection above) collected by Saint Clair Whitman, a local resident who established the first museum in his home. The St. Clair Whitman family home is shown below.<br />
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<a href="http://www.parkplaceincedarkey.com/Time%20Line.html">Excellent pictorial history of Cedar Key...that is until the last few years when cats (ugh) are prominent.</a><br />
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The name of the island, Cedar Key, derives from a once prominent local tree, which you have seen elsewhere on this blog: the Southern Red Cedar,<i>Juniperus silicicola, </i>which like our Northern Red Cedar<i>, Juniperus virginiana, </i>isn't a cedar, but, as the Latin suggests, a Juniper. Note: many botanists do not differentiate the two junipers, listing both as "virginiana". <br />
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The Red Cedars were very prominent in the mid 19th century, when the Faber Pencil Factory harvested them for their pencils. I recall using Faber pencils back in grade school, and, indeed, they did have the characteristic juniper wood scent, though not from Cedar Key, since the supply ran out in the 19th century. You can see some nice scattered trees today.<br />
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Walking around the neighbourhood, we came across this Eagle's nest. The two young Bald Eagles, or Eaglets, were just about to fledge. The one on the right was exercising its wings. Typically, Eagles in Florida lay eggs in January. So mid-March fledging is not unusual.<br />
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Then....The Suwannee...finally, after a year of planning to get there.....<br />
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The Suwannee River runs into the Gulf of Mexico just north of Cedar Key. Thankfully, this part of the river is protected as a National Wildlife Refuge. Here is what is looks like:<br />
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We walked along the Suwannee River Trail, resplendent with March flowers, and came out upon the river.</div>
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The Butterweed, <i>Packera glabella</i>, above, and Horrible Thistle (it's HUGE!)<i>, </i><i>Cirsium horridulum, </i> below, are both well-named flowering plants of the Suwannee Valley.<br />
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Winston, below, enjoys (?) a Suwannee River view.<br />
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Later, we would go to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Folkston, Georgia.</div>
<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-67850625490774163742017-08-18T16:04:00.000-07:002017-08-18T16:04:55.951-07:00Smokin' Hot Trails<div>
Inverness, Florida March 21, 2017</div>
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Having just visited Fort Cooper State Park (see separate blog entry on Fort Cooper in March 2017), Jan and I decided to visit the much larger (50,000 acres, about one third of the Withlacoochee State forest) Citrus Wildlife Management Area (CWMA). It is host to some unique habitat (sand hills and caves) and species, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises and indigo snakes.</div>
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There are many trails in this huge tract, and we chose one that had some interesting sightings on Ebird. CWMA is the 8th best birding spot in Citrus County in terms of number of species. Another species of interest to me is Bachman's Sparrow, which was seen in the tract as late as June of this year. My interest in species named after Bachman was piqued when I visited the Magnolia Estate in Charleston, SC in December. Rev. Bachman hung out here and hosted J.J. Audubon on several occasions and he worked closely for decades with Maria Martin, Bachman's sister in law.</div>
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The sparrow and the short-tailed hawk are birds that have eluded me in Florida, so I intend to return to this tract to find these two species and others. Whooping Cranes regularly visit the lakes just to the east of CWMA. The Inverness lakes host a variety of water-loving birds.</div>
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Before setting out, we took a short walk near our cabin where the Dragonflies and Damselflies were plentiful. Among those we saw were:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Male Pond Hawk Dragonfly</div>
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Rubyspot Damselfly (same group as Jewelwings), possibly Smoky Rubyspot, <i>Hetaerina titia</i> .</div>
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Rubyspot Damselfly, possibly American, <i><span style="color: #6a6a6a;">Hetaerina</span> americana</i>.</div>
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My luck, that the Rubyspots I observed had none of the ruby colouring which characterizes this genus. Identification is very difficult without these markings. We had also been seeing many large and colourful Swallowtail Butterflies, including:</div>
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Pipevine Swallowtail, <i>Battus philenor</i></div>
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We then drove to the CWMA, parked close to the trail we had chosen and started to walk. This Sand Pine, a <i><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Pinus clausa </span></i><span style="color: #0b6138; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 13px;"></span>small pine of very sandy areas. The local subspecies is known as Ocala Sand Pine. It needs fire to reproduce and to maintain populations, which, coincidentally, the Florida State conservation staff decided to show us in person.....</div>
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So we trekked onto the trail, observing the various trees spread out, savannah style, and then we came upon a very recent controlled burn.....<br />
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so recent that is was still smokingin some places,<br />
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making life difficult for this Prickly Pear Cactus, above.<br />
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As you can see, pine cones not only survive the fire, but the seeds inside needs fire for germination. Of course, Winston, below, was both unimpressed with the heat and lack of shade (the pink tongue searched longingly for water_.<br />
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Some of the stumps of unwanted trees were still burning (above and below)<br />
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I read online a paper that declared the very noxious invader <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis//plants/forb/solvia/all.html#FIRE EFFECTS"></a>originally from South America, below, as having an uncertain "fire status". It was thought that the Tropical Soda Apple, <span style="color: black;"><i>Solanum viarum</i>, would only be "top killed" by fire, since the roots survive. The photo may indicate that even the above-ground portion may survive fire OR the plant quickly regenerates and blooms! I have featured this plant in a previous blog, where you can see the fruit. The observant reader may notice the genus name Solanum, as belonging to the same group as the Nightshades, Tomatoes and Potatoes (Solanacaea).</span><br />
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We did have a great walk, found a few birds, like the Eastern Towhee,<br />
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<tr class="even"><td class="views-field views-field-field-scientific-value"><i>Pipilo erythrophthalmus, </i>already occupying the fire-resistant shrubs. We all survived the sunny warm day, enhanced by the burn. </td><td class="views-field views-field-field-family-value"></td></tr>
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-3143833273491826422017-08-15T15:25:00.001-07:002017-08-15T15:25:31.630-07:00Fort Cooper State Park , Florida and the Seminole Wars March 11,2017 <br />
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Fort Cooper State Park , Florida and the Seminole Wars: One time that indigenous people didn't lose</h3>
<b></b><b></b><br />Our morning walk revealed several opportunities for close-up wildlife experience...the Green Heron above, and Alicia, the Alligator below.<br />
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A Florida State Park
historian gives us the background for the historical recreation
event. Which took place in 1836, when another ranting demagogue,
Andrew Jackson, occupied the White House.</div>
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This man told us all about
African American slaves who escaped their shackles and joined with the
Seminole. Many migrated to the Bahamas before and after the Seminole wars. Some wound up in the west, especially Oklahoma. You can read a more comprehensive account <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Seminoles">here.</a></div>
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Major Cooper, and his horse
Terminator (name of this horse owned by the actor!), while awaiting
the return of General Scott, led his men out of the fort to
encounter the Seminole, who were not in the least put off by the
American troops. Incidentally, the Seminole had better guns than the
soldiers.</div>
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One would expect that the
Seminole warriors were a tad younger than these gents, but you have
to love their enthusiasm, and dress!</div>
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That is, until I spotted
this colourfully dressed younger man, firing off his musket with gusto.
He seemed a smidgeon more, ummm authentic!</div>
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The
invasive soldiers even had a cannon, which made a loud boom, and scared
the birds, The Seminole suffered nary a scratch from all this bluster
and muster.</div>
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For comparative
purposes, here is the authentic Seminole with two of his less authentic
colleagues:) I learned a few more things from the man on the right.
For example, the Spaniards were known to name the indigenous people
they met (prior to making their lives miserable) according to what
they understood from the indigenous language being spoken. This
practice was continued by the other European invaders. Therefore,
when some Europeans traded with indigenous people from the swamps of
southeast Florida, they asked the people who they were. The people of
the local nation interpreted the gesticulations as “Where are you
from” and the answer was “me -ame”, which means something like
“over there, that way”. So the Europeans thought they were called
Miamis .Heh.</div>
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I also learned I had
been mispronouncing Seminole. The final “e” is pronounced in a
soft “e” kind of way. This is similar to the soft sound that
ends Iroquoian words. North American indigenous languages may be
more connected than many of us thought in the past.</div>
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Afterwards, your joyful
blogger sought out a few of the combattants. The one to my right
turned out to be a college history professor and the one on my left
turned out to be the only real Seminole. His costume seemed to be
more realistic, and indeed it was. He told me that the Seminole
started to wear turbans with feathers after they saw turbaned Indians
(the real ones from India) trading at St. Augustine. That is so cool.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbibLyVe_9YwXHbXuEwiHB_iArAsjievNXSAaFesyWc21iUZZBWAeMPGseatRCF_XglxwlRu4BTc5xpslCs2KMPRjVhDUCmeFnT1n4WIFZeVci0O3_VGfzTjDL2XknSP73vzoR9DIgy4r/s1600/IMG_1566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibbibLyVe_9YwXHbXuEwiHB_iArAsjievNXSAaFesyWc21iUZZBWAeMPGseatRCF_XglxwlRu4BTc5xpslCs2KMPRjVhDUCmeFnT1n4WIFZeVci0O3_VGfzTjDL2XknSP73vzoR9DIgy4r/s320/IMG_1566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We had a great conversation,
learning much from each other. The Seminole have been very
politically active in Florida and have managed to maintain their
independence and dignity. There are 4500 living in the
Everglades, where they decided to go, as this area was inaccessible
to the Americans in the 19<sup>th</sup> century. They still live
there. They were never defeated, and never signed a treaty. They do
have agreements with the Florida State Government which cover a lot
of issues of importance to the Seminole.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFoLlUBj1BZfedpfACuiO9FwUid7DmU71dzOLavJ1RL4D8IoKhUJm7-cCi42DO_ki7u2BjD8qhweXaHcFsgkWgVoWgOhz4l4GpjfnwgNTY8AOYKT_mEMKJqXyM7QcCiNCIRtBbihH9xaB/s1600/IMG_1565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFoLlUBj1BZfedpfACuiO9FwUid7DmU71dzOLavJ1RL4D8IoKhUJm7-cCi42DO_ki7u2BjD8qhweXaHcFsgkWgVoWgOhz4l4GpjfnwgNTY8AOYKT_mEMKJqXyM7QcCiNCIRtBbihH9xaB/s320/IMG_1565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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He then introduced me to
his daughter, one of the youngest Seminole. Note the historically
authentic Oreo cookie in her hand:) hehe.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXMa7RYyzI4nTdf3VPYbb_XQk5LDA54Ag58Fc6pSQxpoanw7_oFop0z3gPWjaPRb9ASQg_oofcieXtAkIgowhYh007vDjIwTOi8tdsf2NXgKnxFHEw1-55dutrM04Dutaau5Qe6OsXNX6/s1600/IMG_1575rot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXMa7RYyzI4nTdf3VPYbb_XQk5LDA54Ag58Fc6pSQxpoanw7_oFop0z3gPWjaPRb9ASQg_oofcieXtAkIgowhYh007vDjIwTOi8tdsf2NXgKnxFHEw1-55dutrM04Dutaau5Qe6OsXNX6/s320/IMG_1575rot.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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We then visited the Seminole Camp, where we learned a lot about local bush craft. The woman, pictured here, was especially informative about tools, foods and other resources available in the local wild. This knowledge and ease with the challenging Florida natural environment afforded the Seminole a very large advantage during the 3 Seminole Wars.</div>
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I photographed this sign,
so that you may read the park's history of the events here. Right click the photo, then choose "open in new tab" from the drop down menu. You will see a large, readable version of the photo. You can also enlarge the photo by zooming in.</div>
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Although known primarily as the site of a Seminole War battle, Fort Cooper State Park is also a nature preserve. As with most state-owned lands in this region, controlled burns are needed to return habitat to its natural state. The Turkey Oaks (above) often survive one or two burns, as seen above. This small Oak is one of the species that tends to invade, and is controlled by fire.</div>
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We were fortunate this Winter/Spring to see more butterflies than average, including any of the very stunning Zebra Swallowtails, <i>Eurytides Marcellus.</i></div>
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The trail we took turned out to be much longer than expected. Fortune shone upon us when we met a ranger in an ATV along the trail and he drove us back to our car! He was a biologist, so we had a great conversation about some of the more unusual species and events in this park. He was also the one who told us about the controlled burn in the park. Florida State Park staff have been so helpful, informative and generous with their time during all of our visits. If you plan a trip to Florida be sure to visit as many of these gems as possible.<br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-31452754165274039722017-03-25T20:25:00.002-07:002017-03-25T20:47:43.760-07:00Wilderness Golf, Florida style, and some Birds, Flowers and More along the Way<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
January-March 2017</div>
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Dunnellon,Fl.</div>
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Deeply inspired by Jasper Friendly Bear, of the late, great CBC radio programme Dead Dog Café Comedy Hour, I have adapted the game to the Florida wilderness!</div>
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In the following six photos, I demonstrate required equipment, a typical course and technique (the binoculars are not required, but come in handy for bird-watching during the long periods when your opponent's turn comes up).</div>
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In Central Florida, it is best to collect the necessities after a wind storm, which do occur now and then in deepest, coldest winter. Thanks goodness, the local trees (oak, hickory, sweet gum, pine, and red maple) lose branches of the exact length necessary, preferably with a substantial club-like end for hitting the projectile.</div>
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The projectile is also derived from the sweet gum tree, as they shed their prickly round fruit during winter, which are the exact size required. You can also use slash pine cones, but their size and shape are problematic.</div>
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The sweet gum fruit prickles do prevent rolling. This does add an interesting dimension to the game, which, I would offer, is way more interesting than the little dimpled golf eggs that the inebriated Scottish game inventors have forced upon us for the popular, but dull, standard game.</div>
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This fairway, the paved 2.5 mile trail, does not end in a traditional "hole", but rather, in a parking lot, which is a mere 5 minutes from the local watering hole. The player who gets their projectile to the parking lot in the least time, with minimal strokes (it is still a game of honour, and each player must keep track of both strokes and time) wins, whatever use that is. The score is calculated as follows:</div>
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Time/3 x strokes - 1/4 age of player + 1/2 weight (in kilograms) of player x number of parking lots played.</div>
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Most people find that an 18 parking lot game takes too long (usually a month). Therefore, the 9 parking lot game is more common. I will be pleased to answer any questions so you can get right out there and play,</div>
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<a name='more'></a>On to other cultural features of the local Florida landscape:<br />
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For two winters, we have been told that there is a Valentine's "Heart Tree" in the forest beside the Rainbow River. We finally found it, and the following photo is evidence. It is essential that every visitor to the area on or about Valentine's Day visits and takes a photo of this tree. Thankfully, Jan and I accomplished this task.</div>
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Pictured below is <i>Bidens bipinnata</i>, a common flower in wet areas, more commonly known as Spanish Needles. Along with the white Spanish Needles (<i>Bidens alba</i>), these species feed most of the butterflies and bees in Florida during the winter. This flower appears to have lost some of its petals. No I did not knock of any petals during my round of Florida Wilderness Golf. The five petals distinguish this flower from some close relatives.<br />
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Just to illustrate the point, this white Spanish Needle flower is accommodating a nectar-lapping Zebra Swallowtail, <i>Eurytides Marcellus. </i><br />
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Above is a very pretty small flower which looks like it should belong to the mint family, but does not. It is a Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) called Savannah False Pimpernel, <i>Lindernia grandiflora, </i>found only in Florida and Georgia. Those lovely spots on the back of the petals are unique.<br />
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The Limpkins, <i>Aramus guarauna,</i> are indeed unusual birds. As you may have read in this blog last year, Limpkins hunt mostly for large Apple Snails in marshes along the rivers here. Their screeches can be heard far away. Florida is their only North American residence.<br />
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The above butterfly is indicative of the joy and heartbreak of taxonomy. Many species are very similar and are hard to tell apart. Some will interbreed, resulting in offspring with characteristics of both parent species. This is a Crescent. There are two similar species in Florida. The Phaon Crescent (<i>Phyciodes phaon) </i>has a cream-coloured row of rectangular spots in the median forewing. As you can see, some of these spots are LIGHTER, and a few are cream coloured. The Pearl Crescent (<i>Phyciodes tharos) </i>is mostly orange and black, with patterning, similar to the Phaon Crescent. To identify it, I needed to see the underside, which was not possible.<br />
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This winter, we visited another gem (above) along the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, the Inglis Dam & Island Recreation Area. The trails in this area were resplendent with wildlife, varied habitats and vegetation and lots of fishing at the west end of Lake Rousseau, renowned for very BIG large-mouthed bass.<br />
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Closer to our winter residence, I photographed this stunning, and aptly-named White Peacock, <i>Anartia jatrophae, </i>a tropical butterfly found in Florida. Below, is our friendly Red-Shouldered Hawk <i>Buteo lineatus</i>, named "Red", who calls around us most days. He is currently finishing raising another brood! The Florida subspecies is the palest of the 4 subspecies. These hawks may live over 20 years in the wild.<br />
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At the end of January, most of the world was treated to the conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Mars. Mars doesn't show in this photo. Compare my photo to another taken in Cork, Ireland:<br />
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<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0201/849333-mars-and-venus-to-give-stargazers-a-treat/">https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0201/849333-mars-and-venus-to-give-stargazers-a-treat/</a><br />
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We are fortunate to stay in a location in Florida that has no light pollution. The night skies have been a treat this winter.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to Jan for the wilderness golf photos. Much more to come.</span>Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-30746141971262473142017-02-26T19:41:00.000-08:002017-02-26T19:41:08.919-08:00On the way down, we stopped here, and.....then we got to our destination and saw other things.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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February 15, 2017. Dunnellon, Florida. <br />
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So, I have fallen behind a bit. Every day begins with so many opportunities. A choice is made and the next day begins with even more. In between, the American administration, i.e. number45, and their silly AND scary ways adds so much more to do, in order to help and encourage environmental conservation education, and humanitarianism in a world that seems to be charting a dangerous course.<br />
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Jan, Winnie and I left our humble Arnprior residence on December 28th. We spent a night at Fort Indiantown Gap in Pennsylvania; and then another night in Roanoke, Va, where the hotel manager revealed that he was just starting to calm down from his heightened anxiety caused by the US Presidential election. That feeling seems to be pervasive among so many!<br />
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Our third and fourth nights on the road were spent at Charleston, South Carolina. The highlight of those days was my second, Jan's first, visit to Magnolia Plantation:<br />
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<a href="http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/">http://www.magnoliaplantation.com/</a><br />
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That visit eased any anxieties we may have had and helped to transition us to the natural wonders of the US South.<br />
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When I first visited back 4 years ago, Marc and I took the tour guided by tour guide, Dick. Dick is also a nature nut. I really enjoyed the tour notwithstanding the cool post Hurricane Sandy weather.<br />
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The Eastern Kingsnake, <i>Lampropeltis getula, </i>is a harmless snake of the pinelands. From coastal South Carolina through Florida, the Kingsnake mimics the deadly Coral Snake. Thus the mnemonic, "black on yellow kills a fellow". This colour pattern is unique to the Coral Snake. That's Dick's gloved hand. He wore gloves to protect from the cold, not from the snake! Marc and I were the only two brave people on this tour.</div>
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At the end of this most recent tour by Dick, there were several highlights. It turns out that the Barred Owl's call, which we in the north say mimics the words "who cooks for you?", is SLIGHTLY different in the south. It may mean this is a separate sub species! According to Dick, and I must say I have HEARD it, the southern Barred Owls say "who cooks for y'all".</div>
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As we left the tour train, Dick was heard to say "The women's washroom is on the left; the men's washroom is on the right, and there is a fire hydrant for Winston".</div>
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We were lucky to see this Gulf Fritillary, <i>Agraulis vanilla, </i>an uncommon visitor outside Florida. Those three white dots on each forewing identify this beauty.<br />
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This is the most photographed bridge in Charleston. Dating from the second Magnolia Plantation mansion in the 1840's.the bridge connected the house to the gardens.<br />
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Jan and I crossed the bridge on our return visit in December. Of course, it was much warmer there in late December 2016 than it was on the last day of October 2012.<br />
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Jan and Winnie had to try out the wicker chairs on the verandah of the mansion (below), which dates from the 1860's after the second mansion was burnt down during the civil war. The Drayton family built the original house in 1676. The 15th generation of Draytons still own and run the property. The gardens have been open to the public since 1870.</div>
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The interpretive programme includes an excellent history of slavery, which is strengthened by restored slave cabins, like the one above. <br />
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There are many appealing features to the property. Most of the 500 acres are in their natural state, with hundreds of native species in the forests and marshes next to the Ashley River. Farm animals are included in and around the formal gardens, like the Peacock, above. I couldn't resist trying the shrub maze (below), as Winnie and Jan wait at the viewing platform.<br />
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I heard rom my friends back in Ontario and New Brunswick about some snow they had in the last few days. The same system was responsible for some nasty weather here in Dunnellon, FL today. The strong winds and clouds led to some thunder and rain for about 10 minutes this afternoon. The temperature then dropped from 26C to 20C by supper. It is clear now and we are just assessing the havoc wreaked by this storm.<br />
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This branch struck my windshield and rested on one of the windshield wipers.<br />
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Some oak leaves blew down and stuck to the car hood.<br />
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Many more leaves blew onto our door mat,<br />
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<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>And an orange dropped, necessitating my intervention ( I picked it up and ate it).<br />
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Of course, if one knows where to look, the Florida forests contain a fine array of <span class="text"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">serendipitous fruit. SO it is not necessary to scour the landscape after a windstorm.</span></span><br />
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Further to the attempt to feed my self from the wilds, some of you are aware of my questionable fishing ability. This winter, I secured both a fresh water and a salt water licence. After much deliberation, I found a convenient spot to drop a line into the Gulf of Mexico, which teams with fish of a thousands species.<br />
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<b></b><i></i><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><u></u>Many of these species are some of the most desirable edible fish on Earth. Unfortunately, this species, the Striped Burrfish, <span class="_Xbe kno-fv"><i>Chilomycterus schoepfi</i></span>, is NOT one of them. This member of the Pufferfish family is not poisonous or dangerous, but I did not take a chance, borrowing gloves and pliers to ensure this individual returned to the Gulf of Mexico. This one is as big as they get (10 inches) and those burrs do look intimidating close up! Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-14916423466057243652017-01-30T17:43:00.000-08:002017-01-30T17:43:20.333-08:00Follow the P's: Payne's Prairie Preserve (State) Park Photography Payoff<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Friend Maureen recommended this Park to me last year. Alas, I didn't get there until January 14th, 2017. It did not disappoint! The Park was the first State Preserve in Florida in 1971, and it is now recognized as a National Natural Landmark. The northern part of this 21,000 acre mixed marsh-lake-savannah wonderland borders Gainesville, and a long bicycle trail in that university city. The south end is close to Micanopy Florida down highway 441.</div>
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We stopped first along 441 to view the Prairie, and found hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds already nesting in the marsh. We proceeded to the north entrance, location of the visitor center, obtained information and brochures, and then hiked to the high lookout tower. Vistas seem endless. I could see a few Sandhill Cranes, wild horses, and a Black-crowned Night Heron.</div>
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I also had good view of many other wading birds like the Great Egret, above, and the Great Blue Heron, below.<br />
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The day was waning, so we hurried to the LaChua Trail, in the Gainesville side of the Park. It being the weekend, the trail was filled with University of Florida students and their families. It was good to see so many younger people enjoying this natural place. This trail winds along ponds, lakes and wetlands 1.5 miles out to another observation tower overlooking the shallow Alachua Lake. The canals and ponds are rich in fish and a large population of American Alligators (see two photos below).<br />
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As I walked out to the Lake, the mud flats appeared on both sides of me, with so many Sandhill Cranes, <i>Grus canadensis</i> (above) shore birds, waterfowl and wading bird(see below)s, I had a hard time determining where to look. We Canadensis Snowbirds and the Cranes have a lot in common!<br />
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A number of the wild horses, originally brought by the Spaniards, were grazing peacefully nearby. Piles of horse hooey, horse hockey pucks, or whatever you call horse leavings, were the only hazard along the trail (aside from University of Florida students wearing various scents).<br />
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The mudflats hosted more and more Sandhill Cranes (the Crane calling din drowned out all other sounds) foraging for food in the mud until....<br />
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I noticed one crane that was all white, with both a red chin AND forehead (above and two photos below photographed from the observation tower). I now have seen a Whooping Crane in both Florida AND Texas!<br />
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But, the Sandhill Cranes dominate....thousands as far as the eye can see, along with egrets, ducks and wading birds.<br />
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These Yellow-legs were one of many shorebirds, like Sandpipers, Dunlin, Willetts and others.<br />
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Challenge: count the Sandhill Cranes in the photo above. The sun was falling, and, in theory, the Park closes before sunset. In reality, as long as you are on the trail before 5 PM, it is fine to continue to finish the 3 mile loop.<br />
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Therefore, with cranes, ducks, blackbirds and more flying overhead to various roosting spots, I was able to capture a stunning sunset over the Prairie.<br />
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I plan to go back and document all the birds along the LaChua Trail.<br />
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For more info:<br />
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<a href="https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Paynes-Prairie">https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/Paynes-Prairie</a><br />
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See you next time!<br />
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Art<br />
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<br />Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-47723212072955976302017-01-19T21:20:00.001-08:002017-03-27T20:33:13.669-07:00Withlacoochee and The Florida Greenway-Dunnellon TrailsThe State of Florida has an ambitious plan, already in initial stages of implementation, to build the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway (hiking and biking), from Daytona, on the Atlantic, to the Nature Coast (Gulf of Mexico). A 2.5 mile section (the Dunnellon Trail) was completed last year (2015) and is right next to the Rainbow Rivers Club. This affords your fortunate hiker-blogger walking access to the Dunnellon Trail and some excellent offshoots, resulting in some extra special natural history and people watching.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFiI-RI6KVSV6wUfXYMfCcebx4FM7OsT9UcuKmtfmqK2Z-rapyZQG9cuyrsBX-ie_yjJQ_GV48xkMWA2EOWsEmxbfMCzRzfub_NaClonYrDa9lS-oekg4Tknuj67pU6sjAMRNd1eyOH51/s1600/IMG_1061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFiI-RI6KVSV6wUfXYMfCcebx4FM7OsT9UcuKmtfmqK2Z-rapyZQG9cuyrsBX-ie_yjJQ_GV48xkMWA2EOWsEmxbfMCzRzfub_NaClonYrDa9lS-oekg4Tknuj67pU6sjAMRNd1eyOH51/s320/IMG_1061.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a view of the trail looking to the east. Jan enjoys taking Winston for a walk along the pavement, and she keeps a sharp eye out for alligators, snakes and bobcats.<br />
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A view towards the west at the same position shown above. Note natural vegetation on each side of the trail. Also, the trail was constructed with geosynthetic mesh fabric, which has many advantages in this type of environment, including free flow of water from the bald cypress swamps to the left and the Rainbow River to the right. Geosynthetics could also reduce: construction costs, environmental damage and maintenance costs. The first photo shows how near the Rainbow River is. The second photo is the bald cypress swamp on the other side of the pavement. It is not unusual to see wildlife feeding within a few feet of either edge of the pavement.<br />
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Or, if you look UP, you may see a male and a female red-shouldered hawk. We saw this pair mating yesterday as we ate lunch. Very entertaining for the 10 seconds this usually lasts!<br />
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Mammals may also be seen along the trail. Armadillos, like the one below, are often active toward dusk. They use their snout to find invertebrates on and in the soil.</div>
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Ferns grow prolifically, more than 70 species in Florida. Sword ferns are often seen in thick clusters along the trail. The native sword fern, shown below, is the <i> Nephrolepis exaltata. </i>Back in the 19th century, an entrepreneurial pair of Floridian brothers brought this fern into horticultural production. Eventually, the horticultural variety became known as "Boston Fern". The great botany bloggers George Rogers and John Bradford tell the story here:<br />
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<a href="https://treasurecoastnatives.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/boston-fern-miami-fern-apopka-fern/">https://treasurecoastnatives.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/boston-fern-miami-fern-apopka-fern/</a><br />
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George has helped me a few times over the years. He writes in a most entertaining and educational manner. A personal note: back in 1977, I visited Fern City (Apopka), as I was in the tropical plant business. I had a personal tour of the Boston Fern production facility mentioned in George's blog.<br />
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This January, Jan and I also walked a few miles of the neighbouring 46 mile portion of the paved Withlacoochee pedestrian and bicycle trail at Citrus Springs. It is surprisingly different from the Dunnellon Trail as the following photos suggest. Both the Dunnellon Trail and the Withlacoochee Trail merge with hiking (only) trails which take you into the splendid Rainbow River State Park and the very large Halpata Tastanaki Reserve (which protects many local lakes and the north shore of the Withlacoochee over a large proportion of its length). Together, these trails are hundreds of miles of Florida nature, rarely interrupted by traffic or other human influence.</div>
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The beginning of the Withlacoochee Trail features uplands, with oaks and pines dominating the forest. Several of these large pines were a Turkey Vulture roost (above and below).</div>
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"I am SOOO pretty, don't you think so?"</div>
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Several of these shrubs were filled with white blooms. I have yet to identify them, as I have not seen this kind of shrub anywhere else. If you have an idea, do let me know. UPDATE, March 27, 2017: Ignore my previous update. This is Chickasaw Plum, <i>Prunus angustifolia. </i>It is an interesting and useful NATIVE shrub.</div>
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Read more about it here:</div>
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http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st504</div>
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Back on the Dunnellon Trail, there is a lot more moisture, from springs, the rivers and many cypress swamps. The Slash Pine (above) rules here, whereas Longleaf and Loblolly Pine is more dominant on the Withlacoochee Trail.</div>
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And, in this moist environment, many flowers, like the violet, may be found, and ferns, like the ubiquitous Royal Fern, below.<br />
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It is the birdlife that most people notice, though many small songbirds, like the Blue Gray Gnatcatcher, below...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_oIjAmnEiBoGPBsFLPNfaZRipCS2d8uRG-W42f0ottd5-TD7wEaue3rU8IQU5Ro67486ST2i7sCj8-XfTLbgYkPJuSFJKneaLqFte20LJenIAXwzis9wbRC-ik_Ujg9LjFfXXzJ2UGNf/s1600/2016-01-19+16.13.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE_oIjAmnEiBoGPBsFLPNfaZRipCS2d8uRG-W42f0ottd5-TD7wEaue3rU8IQU5Ro67486ST2i7sCj8-XfTLbgYkPJuSFJKneaLqFte20LJenIAXwzis9wbRC-ik_Ujg9LjFfXXzJ2UGNf/s320/2016-01-19+16.13.46.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
and wading birds, like the White Ibis, below, and...<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyVGal1WF53bRorj16ovZWJPq0MWedPrcy_ljuvLidDWFhZI2AF-ZltYkSdw4UqTPecPiBxEcH_HJk1-rJk9YiAA350gK6vmDCzv3JlQdZj09w2LDavD2LHu42slI35wmMT72BCcst27m/s1600/2016-01-20+16.30.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyVGal1WF53bRorj16ovZWJPq0MWedPrcy_ljuvLidDWFhZI2AF-ZltYkSdw4UqTPecPiBxEcH_HJk1-rJk9YiAA350gK6vmDCzv3JlQdZj09w2LDavD2LHu42slI35wmMT72BCcst27m/s320/2016-01-20+16.30.15.jpg" width="295" /></a><br />
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an adult and juvenile (white) Little Blue Heron in one of the marshes.....<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjz4HAxN0m5qyM4glAgPS9-N2gGUniJ5ftVe4j2UnFDaIbepb66ESbAFa5baXBaEQwn_m5qwDf22I-YfdJ646XXUDux48EeZKyqzlbIvF1cPyUGXhXLs_2auqV2R3fJOsqGR3o2BzYan4/s1600/2016-01-22+17.50.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvjz4HAxN0m5qyM4glAgPS9-N2gGUniJ5ftVe4j2UnFDaIbepb66ESbAFa5baXBaEQwn_m5qwDf22I-YfdJ646XXUDux48EeZKyqzlbIvF1cPyUGXhXLs_2auqV2R3fJOsqGR3o2BzYan4/s320/2016-01-22+17.50.04.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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and if you are very fortunate, a Limpkin might yell out its loud screech.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj2Ioi6-OijoYEiGMhYWe6tbikBIEav-pcPF2NXkzbQ9dCPfL9nmmgzlR7dVztm6iVDYvY9zYF5ujFoM0finwn5hA4HHsHzwnvw9V6WO5O7488FjlJAHrtV6CS75K8_TS5ApLBgC2BK3l/s1600/IMG_5195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJj2Ioi6-OijoYEiGMhYWe6tbikBIEav-pcPF2NXkzbQ9dCPfL9nmmgzlR7dVztm6iVDYvY9zYF5ujFoM0finwn5hA4HHsHzwnvw9V6WO5O7488FjlJAHrtV6CS75K8_TS5ApLBgC2BK3l/s320/IMG_5195.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Jan and I hear Pileated Woodpeckers doing their "Wipeout" call constantly. I took a photo of this one last year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ5QCTXDe6M7_EnWNdHS44Ct6d6iqB5FjalgHjdJR5vSnXzyyEz-qr-920bsTuCGpqXOB-dBs7lBXEXautXeRS58_Kij0DE9EiAB5Y6ZbmnKyuFT87p1tB4a-QQ-ZI9Yw9vWbOAEVnr4y/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTQ5QCTXDe6M7_EnWNdHS44Ct6d6iqB5FjalgHjdJR5vSnXzyyEz-qr-920bsTuCGpqXOB-dBs7lBXEXautXeRS58_Kij0DE9EiAB5Y6ZbmnKyuFT87p1tB4a-QQ-ZI9Yw9vWbOAEVnr4y/s320/IMG_5174.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj7kNWMVpHwtGh2vNIqmxWR4WEi5nfJnA9nkVeh0GQxVYUG33TT32-uJ9andCVfdNcK94ADhVWRfH1bo0BYQizxhAekd5lytfM0i1Hag-NAUArvLPFF0cHKBAhPdmT6-a7XMatf9WZmfz/s1600/IMG_1129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvj7kNWMVpHwtGh2vNIqmxWR4WEi5nfJnA9nkVeh0GQxVYUG33TT32-uJ9andCVfdNcK94ADhVWRfH1bo0BYQizxhAekd5lytfM0i1Hag-NAUArvLPFF0cHKBAhPdmT6-a7XMatf9WZmfz/s320/IMG_1129.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
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Yesterday, while paddling in the Rainbow River, right beside the Trail, I saw this bird taking a drink. I wonder if the bill deformity will shorten its lifespan? I have seen deformities such as these in fish-eating birds in the Great Lakes. They are said to be caused by toxins. I wonder if there is something similar going on here?<br />
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Pileated woodpeckers love the oaks and pines of the Nature Coast. There are many species of Oak along both trails, but the Water Oak is found in numbers only along the rivers of the Dunnellon Trail. It is distinguished by its spoon-shaped leaves.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczZy1Aik1fjn9plTpAu89O_w0DEV4sLWGJ5Rkw7kJepYvMvEwAwL3vKyRdwfEbi7FYVZOFLsnQtjcBJ7nCR4uduPpplozTwR2D4Y9oespRVtUBAIV88kRaCCv2hyoYnveNd-0OZFM8erO/s1600/2016-01-20+16.53.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczZy1Aik1fjn9plTpAu89O_w0DEV4sLWGJ5Rkw7kJepYvMvEwAwL3vKyRdwfEbi7FYVZOFLsnQtjcBJ7nCR4uduPpplozTwR2D4Y9oespRVtUBAIV88kRaCCv2hyoYnveNd-0OZFM8erO/s320/2016-01-20+16.53.26.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3com0RnraT7KWYaoB6EbreCzawrbcyGZKK16GYp0eFb0tBfK2V-R5raLEwFGn2KelZV2Rs66INemcE-WY_F4I8EeSG0y-C05mQCtj1fH2f0Chf0t9JvpLaMSP1g_5DNY49MCgCgHjAlTe/s1600/2016-01-20+16.53.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3com0RnraT7KWYaoB6EbreCzawrbcyGZKK16GYp0eFb0tBfK2V-R5raLEwFGn2KelZV2Rs66INemcE-WY_F4I8EeSG0y-C05mQCtj1fH2f0Chf0t9JvpLaMSP1g_5DNY49MCgCgHjAlTe/s320/2016-01-20+16.53.09.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAU5tYOFWDA5PQpsTvF-EAbxqoJNu61lDGbMxRz1B2yKiri2_dk3oU8Cz0dNTxz-Joc6fE4-g-wz3ZvUz7WXBFWaU6wqndwwOs83EdCnjLuCzUPajdKadjfIus_0HJAHr0Tso6k69q11i/s1600/2016-01-20+16.53.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAU5tYOFWDA5PQpsTvF-EAbxqoJNu61lDGbMxRz1B2yKiri2_dk3oU8Cz0dNTxz-Joc6fE4-g-wz3ZvUz7WXBFWaU6wqndwwOs83EdCnjLuCzUPajdKadjfIus_0HJAHr0Tso6k69q11i/s320/2016-01-20+16.53.04.jpg" width="212" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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Heading back home, with the sun setting just after 5:45 this time of the year, the new Dunnellon Trail Bridge crosses the Withlacoochee, affording scenes like those below.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSwtDC5a7yU6Jng7NYOyj4LaWJacq7RLVbK3EzUYqQ8wWkR_YwRcsXhGCxluoMOYtyIsgs-xVikqsNlasNGZsEEjrWmeqfjpuZXYv995yoMvoK3OJNT2-saAsxUM8Xz-9DIIZMmrCqfW5/s1600/2016-01-20+17.37.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSwtDC5a7yU6Jng7NYOyj4LaWJacq7RLVbK3EzUYqQ8wWkR_YwRcsXhGCxluoMOYtyIsgs-xVikqsNlasNGZsEEjrWmeqfjpuZXYv995yoMvoK3OJNT2-saAsxUM8Xz-9DIIZMmrCqfW5/s320/2016-01-20+17.37.18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next time, the Paynes Prairie Preserve, near Gainesville. Expect 'gators!<br />
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Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-60238348289748692332016-04-11T09:49:00.000-07:002016-04-13T09:46:50.124-07:00A Beach, a Trail, Nature Rehab and a Citrus County Almanac<div abp="14">
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Here it is, mid-April. Upon returning to Canada and Arnprior at end of March, we made our way to Toronto for a family event. All of this in the context of a lovely temperate spring/summer in Dunnellon, Florida, returning to much colder than average conditions in central and eastern Canada. Wind, snow and temperatures hovering in the -15C (5F) range last night. Oh boy, springtime in Canada.</div>
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Our route home took us through the south and central Appalachians, where the Appalachian Spring (Aaron Copeland's music playing in the appropriate center in my brain) provided mile after mile of eye candy; first in South Carolina, where Dogwoods and Redbuds covered the mountains, then into Virginia, where Cherries replaced the Dogwoods</div>
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Having been way too busy and having so much fun kayaking and hiking through central west Florida, I now have the pleasant task of returning there and warming from memories.</div>
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Back on February 3, 2016, I went to Crystal River and followed the Fort Island Trail to Fort Island Beach on the Gulf of Mexico. This Citrus County Park does a great job of mixing nature and recreational use. The Beach and natural Gulf sand provide a great respite for bathers and we bird watchers alike! The warmth of the day encouraged me to don my sassy bathing suit.</div>
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This Black Skimmer joined Laughing Gulls in winter plumage on the beach.</div>
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Here you get an idea of the numbers of birds, many species, enjoying the beach along with a few humans.</div>
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Dunlin enjoying the sun, and below a Dunlin and a Piping Plover pose for me. Cute, huh?( I stop saying "eh" as soon as I cross into the USA, and I avoid using any word with an "ou" construct, such as doubt and about.)</div>
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Out on the rocks well-placed to protect the beach from the effects of waves and currents, an Oyster Catcher gives me the eye.</div>
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Miles Saunders, Media Relations/Marketing Specialist for Citrus County was also taking bird photos to aid in encouraging bird watchers and nature lovers to visit this lovely Florida county. This marsh, the rocks and much more, were planned and designed by the County to encourage all of those birds and other wildlife. There is a large area with a boardwalk and fishing pier which permitted me to see a lot of Gulf fish species and the odd Dolphin. One of the more curious fish one may see in the shallows is a Batfish.</div>
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Thanks for taking this photo, of a most weird Snowbird, Miles!</div>
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Don't you just LOVE this pose by this Ruddy Turnstone. I seem to find these birds all over. And the ubiquitous parking lot coastal bird, the Boat-tailed Grackle noisily surveys the territory (below).</div>
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The extended El Nino summer (until end of December) supposedly caused birds that normally stay further south to venture into central Florida, including many Wood Storks (above). The Brown Pelicans always pose in their most distinguished manner. This one (below) is in another park along the Fort Island Trail.</div>
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I then went to check out another special spot,the Cross Florida Greenway's Withlacoochie Bay Trail, close to Inglis, Florida. The Withlacoochie Bypass (canal) had many Red-breasted Mergansers (below 2 photos).</div>
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I noticed this Otter's noisy crunches as it fed. I chattered at it and this was the response...a curious look at me before diving for more food (two photos below). </div>
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More Nature Coast coming soon! Enjoy Spring 2016.</div>
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Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-54251943505900113272016-02-06T19:24:00.001-08:002016-02-06T19:24:10.671-08:00Way Down Upon the Suwannee....The Spy who Loved Birdwatching<div abp="602" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Between January 29-31, 2016, I kayaked the Withlacoochee and Rainbow Rivers without falling out of the Kayak. The previously immersed Canon was put back into service. I do not know if the rice bag drying process can bring a human back to life, as one wag suggested. I expect it can be used to dry out a wet person dead or alive, though.</div>
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The rivers along the central west Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida do create the natural world I have been exploring. To the south is the short Crystal River, which was once similar to the Rainbow. The Crystal River is much more "developed" and has lost most of its natural splendour. People expect to see Manatees there, and not much else. The Rainbow drains into the Withlacoochee. It widens into Lake Rousseau before emptying via canal and natural river channel into the Gulf. A dam was built to maintain Lake Rousseau. The dam is both probably ineffective for its original purpose, and it is a barrier to the Manatees using the upper Withlacoochee and the Rainbow.</div>
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The next major river to the north is the Waccasassa, which I have yet to explore. North of that is Cedar Keys, a series of islands which create a natural world reminiscent of the southern keys. Another blog is intended to cover these two natural sites.</div>
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Going further north is the Suwannee River which drains the Okefenokee Swamp (which is really a bog!) at the Florida-Georgia boundary. By the way, Stephen Foster wrote a song about this river called "Old Folks at Home". Foster was a Pennsylvanian who also lived in Ohio and worked in New York City. He only visited the south once in his brief life, and never the southeast. Therefore he didn't know anything about the Suwannee. His original lyrics were about the Pee Dee in South Carolina. Suwannee (he spelled it "Swanee") sounded better! </div>
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So that is why most of you recognize the Suwannee name and none of these other glorious rivers. I expect to visit the Suwannee soon. </div>
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All these names are probably aboriginal. Since the local First Nations have all disappeared, the name origins cannot be confirmed. There are various hypotheses about each of their origins.</div>
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The kayak is a quiet unobtrusive means of approaching life on and around the rivers. The 3 basking turtles above and the larger turtle below are the same species: the largest of the Cooters, the Suwannee Cooter, <em abp="621">Pseudomys concinna suwanniensis. </em>This is a rare turtle limited to the river basins mentioned above, and some smaller rivers in the centre and northern Gulf coast of Florida and Georgia. Among the visible field marks, all four have light blue irises, black on the upper hind feet, and you can see the backward, light yellow"C" on the scales of the carapace of the turtle below. Compare with <em abp="622">Pseudomys nelsoni</em>, the Florida Red-bellied Cooter, also found in this region. I saw another two very large Suwannee Cooters basking with an Alligator on a log in the Withlacoochee. As I raised my camera to take the award-winning photo, I heard three large splashes. Oh well, next time. Suwannee Cooters grow to 17", and the two with the Alligator were close to that size.</div>
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Above, once again, is the Common Moorhen, or, I should correct that to Common Gallinule, <em abp="736">Gallinula galeata</em>. This common large member of the Rail family is also the most widely distributed member of that family. It is found in marshy areas up to the Gulf of St. Lawrence in the summer, and through the US Southeast, the Caribbean, the US Southwest, Mexico, Central America, a large portion of central South America, Europe, and Africa and in Asia right to the Pacific Ocean. <span abp="737"></span></div>
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Isn't he pretty? The Little Blue Heron, <em abp="738">Egretta caerulea</em>, like most of the wading birds, is a creature of habit. This has permitted me to find and get closer to this and other birds as they seem to be more likely to ignore my presence after repeated encounters. </div>
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In the foreground on the left is one of the giant leaves of the Yellow Pond Lily or Spatterdock, <em abp="3">Nuphar lutea</em>, There are large mattes of these plants in both rivers. The giant yellow flowers are coming into bloom. I will feature a few in the near future. In the left background is the base of a trunk of a Bald Cypress, <em abp="4">Taxodium distichum</em>, which forms dense stands beside the rivers, and some grow in the Rainbow River. Like our Tamarack, the Bald Cypress is a deciduous conifer. It has the unique feature of growing "knees", which are actually pneumatophores: knobs growing from the roots that aerate the roots, and that may help anchor the tree. There are some Bald Cypress trees here with 5 foot diameters and tower well over 100 feet.</div>
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More familiarization and habituation permitted me the photo above and the photos below. The photo above and the first three photos below are of a Red-shouldered Hawk (let's call him Red) that is nesting on the grounds of the Rainbow River Club. On our first dozen or so encounters, he flew off before I could snap a photo. Not this time! He graciously posed. The last photo below is of a neighbouring nesting Red-shouldered Hawk to the east. There is another nest to the west. Every day in the last few weeks, I could hear all three males vociferously claiming their territories, as they are quite close. One day, the hawk above swooped down on the western male, as he came too close to Red's territory. Loud screeches resulted, as the intruder skulked off. I saw the western male yesterday, but he didn't allow me to take a photo before skedaddling. These Red-shouldered Hawks are all examples of the lighter coloured "Florida race".</div>
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Have you ever walked by some dense shrubs and heard what sounds like a cat "yowling"? If you have, you heard this common, yet rarely seen member of the Mockingbird family, the Gray Catbird. What a handsome fellow. Like his Mockingbird cousin, he can copycat! So before using a call to ID a bird in a thicket, listen for the cat-like main call of this bird. Yes, those are rust-red feathers at the base of the black tail.</div>
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This Great Blue Heron, <em>Ardea Herodias</em>, in the riverside marsh, was a perfect specimen in great lighting with a contrasting background. I couldn't help myself. Nice birdie! </div>
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The Spy Who Bonded with Me</h3>
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My interest in spies and intelligence services was fed recently by
Jan's birthday gift, the excellent story of the friendship of
Nicholas Elliott and Kim Philby, the notorious British double agent.
There is a reference in the book to one of the top spies in WW2 era
Britain being a birdwatcher. This prompted me to do some more
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of the early heads of MI5, Maxwell Knight was an avid birdwatcher
who got a job after the war as a natural historian with the BBC. He
hired an illustrator named David Cornwell to illustrate one of his
bird books. This led Cornwell to be hired by MI5 for about 10
years. He gave the spying up when his books, sold under his pen
name John le Carre, became bestsellers. Cornwell became good
friends with Nicholas Elliott, whence many ideas for his books!
Elliott was also close friends with a British Naval intelligence
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Mr.Fleming also took up writing after his World War 2 spy service. A weekend birdwatcher at his home in Jamaica, he had written his first spy novel, and needed a name for his main character. On his table was a copy of "The Birds of the West Indies" by.....wait for it......James Bond. It is too bad I didn't have this copy of the iconic book "You Only Live Twice" given as a gift to Bond by Ian Fleming in 1964:</div>
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<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3541014/Ian-Fleming-book-with-message-to-the-real-James-Bond-auctioned-for-50000.html">http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3541014/Ian-Fleming-book-with-message-to-the-real-James-Bond-auctioned-for-50000.html</a></div>
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This may be why, in Britain, spies are
known as "birdwatchers". Read it for yourself here:</div>
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</a><a abp="8" class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/species-seekers-and-spies/?_r=0">http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/20/species-seekers-and-spies/?_r=0</a></div>
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Late in 2013, the PM of the UK named a new Director-General of MI5,
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I learned back in the early 1980's about people in high pressure
jobs being birdwatchers. Two of the people I met birdwatching at
the Loxahatchee Wildlife Refuge, who helped me to see my first
Everglades Kite, were a rocket scientist from NASA and a top
coronary surgeon from Washington DC.</div>
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Tune in next time for more birds, a plant or two, the Gulf of Mexico and a gift of oranges at the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve.</div>
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Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2640087453239929295.post-6568553187073912652016-01-24T22:45:00.001-08:002016-02-05T16:26:17.865-08:00Walking the Trails of Blue Run<div abp="11">
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I have always wanted to walk a run or run a walk. I have now done both. I feel it is similar to driving in a parkway, or parking in a driveway. </div>
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I went for a 4 hours kayak trip up the Rainbow River on Saturday, January 16th. As it was the weekend, and it was 25C and sunny, the river was quite busy. My departure was delayed somewhat as I managed to mismanage getting into the kayak and had an unexpected dip in the 22C river. Although warm, it is wet, and I was not in a bathing suit. On top of that, my digital zoom camera absorbed water (not a good thing for these digital electronic devices) and has yet to dry out. Therefore, no long-distance bird/animal photos for the foreseeable future.</div>
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I did provide entertainment to staff member John, who regretted not having his video capture turned on for his cell phone. I imagine it looked like one of those America's Funniest(!) Home Videos. And what a good ambassador for Canada's kayaking supremacy!</div>
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For this and weather reasons, my 2.5 and 4 hour walks in the last few days have focused on botany and mycology. Though there were some very interesting bird shots before Saturday!</div>
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The Rainbow River Club is on 55 acres of bottomland, for the most part, wedged between the Withlacoochie and Rainbow Rivers. In turn, it is next to a very large Florida State Greenway and Dunnellon's Blue Run Park, which features 3 very well planned and intelligently constructed nature trails.</div>
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Several of my walks have started with a ramble around the large pond on the Rainbow Rivers Club property. This area is a Cypress swamp, which has "winter-dried" sufficiently for non-rubber boot walking. One of the residents, above, a male Anhinga (<em abp="5436"><u abp="5437">Anhinga anhinga</u></em>), had just emerged from a fishing trip and was drying its wings. A loud "kakakakkaka" told me there was a feeding Pileated Woodpecker (<u abp="5438"><em abp="5439">Dryocopus</em></u> pileatus). The obscured red cheek stripe identifies this as a male. </div>
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<a abp="5195" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKQFFraZ9bj-2SFhRVokCEIECq-0lnmp-1Qo13DW3sigQ-TFCkLd73FpxSczf0OsbGV-CqFVjp4_NyfyjKd-KifDk1bbHJKGXZ0EwIUgb7nV-vbWvYUoDVFBwLf_hzGJJV64mkSy6250n/s1600/IMG_5174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5196" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKQFFraZ9bj-2SFhRVokCEIECq-0lnmp-1Qo13DW3sigQ-TFCkLd73FpxSczf0OsbGV-CqFVjp4_NyfyjKd-KifDk1bbHJKGXZ0EwIUgb7nV-vbWvYUoDVFBwLf_hzGJJV64mkSy6250n/s320/IMG_5174.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I got back in the path down to Blue Run Park. I had seen a few of these trees (pictured above and two photos below, the last to show the leaves). This one was the largest, though not as large as the ones in coastal South Carolina. This is the southern subspecies of the Eastern Red Cedar, which is actually a Juniper!(!!).</div>
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<span abp="5440" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span abp="5441" class="UFICommentBody"><span abp="5442">Mature southern red cedar in forests here are much taller than the eastern, and when mature, like htis one, have droopy branches. Here is a good paper on the subspecies: </span><a abp="5443" dir="ltr" href="http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/.../Gar.../Juniperus_virginiana2.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://lee.ifas.ufl.edu/.../Gar.../Juniperus_virginiana2.pdf</a></span></span></div>
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<span abp="5464" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span abp="5465" class="UFICommentBody">To make things even more confusing, some biologists classify this plant as a separate species (silicicola). The US Department of Agriculture, and most others, classify this tree as a subspecies (Var. silicicola). It does look different. Aside from growing a lot bigger than Junipers in our region, the leaves are lighter green, and are fuller, possibly because they are not continually ravaged by cold. </span></span></div>
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<a abp="5207" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wey2VgbgPnP2iC-jXjoa_jTeMIP2YSPcnsXJUe60y0uqsq1PsbPf8ZV-m24S2ooI3nL1bRSH2o-vHfLAPAiIYDysrcTUCQR9apn5rfoZU0Y0_IWnh0ZzmTzj-gXFM_9KSn99Kh0FHOaE/s1600/IMG_5183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5208" border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wey2VgbgPnP2iC-jXjoa_jTeMIP2YSPcnsXJUe60y0uqsq1PsbPf8ZV-m24S2ooI3nL1bRSH2o-vHfLAPAiIYDysrcTUCQR9apn5rfoZU0Y0_IWnh0ZzmTzj-gXFM_9KSn99Kh0FHOaE/s320/IMG_5183.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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As I got down to the Rainbow River, some of the usual residents were going about their day. The Pied-billed Grebe(<u abp="1648"><em abp="1649">Podilymbus podiceps</em></u>) above and the Great Blue Heron (<em abp="1650"><u abp="1651">Ardea Herodias)</u></em> below, in the marsh.</div>
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<a abp="5211" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfB_gC4kRvGfScB1Gk2YqPyYeO7c7KgO128-Lxh4yw689xppliCOW7yq8CCCOjnaKF2e_lM0BCePDFKCxbPWwvhkRQ2S1M7zWd4eJ5UAui1Nc2upWtL2F4_q3Hqv_pBLW171sOYFxAS0x/s1600/IMG_5186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5212" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfB_gC4kRvGfScB1Gk2YqPyYeO7c7KgO128-Lxh4yw689xppliCOW7yq8CCCOjnaKF2e_lM0BCePDFKCxbPWwvhkRQ2S1M7zWd4eJ5UAui1Nc2upWtL2F4_q3Hqv_pBLW171sOYFxAS0x/s320/IMG_5186.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then a VERY loud screaming cry came from another part of the marsh, from a bird only heard in one state, Florida. It is unmistakable, large and exotic. It reaches the northern part of its range in Florida. Indeed it lives in and its cry seems to better fit the Amazon.</div>
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It is a Limpkin (<u abp="1668"><em abp="1669">Aramus guarauna), </em></u>pictured below preening, immediately after its screams scared every other living thing.</div>
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Other birds were feeding in and around the Rainbow River: A Snowy Egret (<u abp="1681"><em abp="1682">Egretta thula</em></u>) below.</div>
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An American Coot, <u abp="1705"><em abp="1706">Fulica Americana</em></u> , is pictured above, and Great Egret, <em abp="1707"><u abp="1708">Ardea alba</u></em> , hunts for fish, frogs and other marsh critters.</div>
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What a constant thrill to see this stunning bird, White Ibis (<em abp="1719"><u abp="1720">Eudocimus albus</u></em> ), in its natural habitat rather than on lawns or garbage dumps! This one looks kind of miffed and surprised at my interruption.</div>
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Fragile Forktail Damselfly, (<em abp="1726">Ischnura posita</em> ), at least I believe so. It is a bit darker than the ones I have seen. They are quite common in our area too, but you won't find them there this time of the year!! Yes, the Forktail landed on the paddleboat. </div>
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<a abp="5243" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HCsYvcgcdC9zeYt6npxS4sp9CX_k4g-wUcCmcdvksrSdOWl0n1wc_8__NWBfwCi4cxPBByZdyjAGXaSYZq3ipgKj60YbHDMMENp3r0KM3rPMUXUUQK_tei8HgOoEtsE0YCJqZkUD8Gof/s1600/2016-01-09+14.44.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5244" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HCsYvcgcdC9zeYt6npxS4sp9CX_k4g-wUcCmcdvksrSdOWl0n1wc_8__NWBfwCi4cxPBByZdyjAGXaSYZq3ipgKj60YbHDMMENp3r0KM3rPMUXUUQK_tei8HgOoEtsE0YCJqZkUD8Gof/s320/2016-01-09+14.44.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A Double-crested Cormorant, <span abp="1732" class="_Xbe kno-fv" sb_id="ms__id877"><u abp="1733"><em abp="1734">Phalacrocorax auritus</em></u> </span>surveys the scene, while a Great Egret, just to be different, looks the other way.</div>
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<a abp="5247" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwjs0c2q94ulJafT7GKi9zQjRBOWv32fT-1I1mbEYXm4_g5ERJBvyaGnFiAgwl2LodU9axkAZ4E-9Wdrun3LJzUdMEp5E2O4PN8ICqPYsZX_52oEkzzyt5ljSSwcDSIozwjAegEhdXtN6/s1600/2016-01-10+16.18.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5248" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwjs0c2q94ulJafT7GKi9zQjRBOWv32fT-1I1mbEYXm4_g5ERJBvyaGnFiAgwl2LodU9axkAZ4E-9Wdrun3LJzUdMEp5E2O4PN8ICqPYsZX_52oEkzzyt5ljSSwcDSIozwjAegEhdXtN6/s320/2016-01-10+16.18.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I drove out to Crystal River and then, via Yankeetown, to the Gulf Coast and greeted by some expect seaside birds, like the Brown Pelican, (<span abp="1740" class="_Xbe kno-fv" sb_id="ms__id1542"><u abp="1741"><em abp="1742">Pelecanus occidentalis</em></u>). Yankeetown is a shrimp boat port. This one had just entered the Gulf of Mexico (about 4 PM) to catch those incredibly delicious Gulf shrimp. While in this part of Florida, I easily resist the farm-raised imports in favour of fresh caught Gulf shrimp.</span></div>
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<a abp="5251" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcGghLuJMPNVVa4IYuzESgOxt2CfjZYm9HqpJQFaHNkRQQqK3ZxoFL1ZTgqGa4T6dBNbt8PhIJLbk6ePwjtdO5ftT0_OutDahrmBv4vkqY-kNNQFk6sb9AFkiHWqHC3_L8UFTT_4fCLWQ/s1600/2016-01-10+16.18.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5252" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcGghLuJMPNVVa4IYuzESgOxt2CfjZYm9HqpJQFaHNkRQQqK3ZxoFL1ZTgqGa4T6dBNbt8PhIJLbk6ePwjtdO5ftT0_OutDahrmBv4vkqY-kNNQFk6sb9AFkiHWqHC3_L8UFTT_4fCLWQ/s320/2016-01-10+16.18.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5255" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz-xngU7Vso2M9UL6VQRZZ4IJXAVozxDgMh5B3_lSNgZbjaBq__pqMEfMRvH4Z3BtMB2-EnDrins3Ciq8i9jeD1Habvi1fHkRhJAfScGNix2e-NwxVXUPXovfq7ftLLqQCCc_oVWK7-K_/s1600/2016-01-10+16.18.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5256" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrz-xngU7Vso2M9UL6VQRZZ4IJXAVozxDgMh5B3_lSNgZbjaBq__pqMEfMRvH4Z3BtMB2-EnDrins3Ciq8i9jeD1Habvi1fHkRhJAfScGNix2e-NwxVXUPXovfq7ftLLqQCCc_oVWK7-K_/s320/2016-01-10+16.18.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some familiar friends appear on the coast. We last saw these birds in Myrtle Beach in March 2015. Above is a Laughing Gull, (<span abp="1753" class="_Xbe kno-fv"><em abp="1754"><u abp="1755">Leucophaeus atricilla</u></em>) </span>and below is a Willet (<span abp="1756" class="_Xbe kno-fv" sb_id="ms__id2902"><em abp="1757"><u abp="1758">Tringa semipalmata</u></em>)</span>.</div>
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<a abp="5259" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNrYQJAnFTlgZYxf-pTn1CqFz_ibQJHVjr0vsBD0I4GuiJcBPE8yo_hwxQVwQ6STJA1aDmStFVmvVFX2c4cFcO-2q5o2O0wwTXHBn-0ww-mhpP4sC-2Zck7GM1qVGHHecIaMW9WP0mBSF/s1600/2016-01-10+16.19.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5260" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNrYQJAnFTlgZYxf-pTn1CqFz_ibQJHVjr0vsBD0I4GuiJcBPE8yo_hwxQVwQ6STJA1aDmStFVmvVFX2c4cFcO-2q5o2O0wwTXHBn-0ww-mhpP4sC-2Zck7GM1qVGHHecIaMW9WP0mBSF/s320/2016-01-10+16.19.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5263" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxqjsszPZGAbME4pbKMNCh-HxnvwG5dooAGgE3L3jYsI3fxTgk5QkacEQPOTpO818geHNPR_zsVf5og6WVq7Ew1feyhEYAoJGUNjcUFk-VKNplpVUy97Gegpw6uLV0VO-hgp1dtuyY-UJ/s1600/2016-01-11+14.36.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5264" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxqjsszPZGAbME4pbKMNCh-HxnvwG5dooAGgE3L3jYsI3fxTgk5QkacEQPOTpO818geHNPR_zsVf5og6WVq7Ew1feyhEYAoJGUNjcUFk-VKNplpVUy97Gegpw6uLV0VO-hgp1dtuyY-UJ/s320/2016-01-11+14.36.49.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next day, January 11, I drove north into Levy County to the Goethe State Forest in search of a very rare Florida resident, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, <span abp="1769" class="_Xbe kno-fv" sb_id="ms__id3514"><u abp="1770"><em abp="1771">Leuconotopicus borealis</em></u></span> (see above). The State of Florida and attempting to expand the range of this rare species by placing birds and artificially enhanced habitat in likely places like Goethe State Forest. As I began the search, I saw this very large shed snakeskin on the ground. This also enhanced my vigilance as I walked along the trails.</div>
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<a abp="1774" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7hi-GRTMDLQnG468md7tG_-HgOtBAjd5Qkw6h1MfIyiDfO3P5NMJEqvxK4JHfZV_vGFc6MEIk7LGUwJrANvJaMQlxS-7vg_jX3Jde_RzrczmnPokcC9Ud_VFV5gxgPr5ZS1eBm9n1KE/s1600/2016-01-11+14.38.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img abp="1775" border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7hi-GRTMDLQnG468md7tG_-HgOtBAjd5Qkw6h1MfIyiDfO3P5NMJEqvxK4JHfZV_vGFc6MEIk7LGUwJrANvJaMQlxS-7vg_jX3Jde_RzrczmnPokcC9Ud_VFV5gxgPr5ZS1eBm9n1KE/s320/2016-01-11+14.38.58.jpg" style="left: 498px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 7879px;" width="96" /></a><a abp="5267" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7hi-GRTMDLQnG468md7tG_-HgOtBAjd5Qkw6h1MfIyiDfO3P5NMJEqvxK4JHfZV_vGFc6MEIk7LGUwJrANvJaMQlxS-7vg_jX3Jde_RzrczmnPokcC9Ud_VFV5gxgPr5ZS1eBm9n1KE/s1600/2016-01-11+14.38.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5268" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUT7hi-GRTMDLQnG468md7tG_-HgOtBAjd5Qkw6h1MfIyiDfO3P5NMJEqvxK4JHfZV_vGFc6MEIk7LGUwJrANvJaMQlxS-7vg_jX3Jde_RzrczmnPokcC9Ud_VFV5gxgPr5ZS1eBm9n1KE/s320/2016-01-11+14.38.58.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5271" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLlUF-7-pKO0WdfUntEFdFR0Yh0Nn_yCMoNbYYXe7eG_yWdEfe-wRoMBCSdkx_GrWTxSJGrFMybShGc5jSNZta76qokMXaeqiWLOayArYIPRysXXjNpX9qhMWIxF19s50xbw0_NQ5fU2-/s1600/2016-01-11+14.40.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5272" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLlUF-7-pKO0WdfUntEFdFR0Yh0Nn_yCMoNbYYXe7eG_yWdEfe-wRoMBCSdkx_GrWTxSJGrFMybShGc5jSNZta76qokMXaeqiWLOayArYIPRysXXjNpX9qhMWIxF19s50xbw0_NQ5fU2-/s320/2016-01-11+14.40.08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The ribbon and paint on the pine indicate Red-cockaded Woodpecker nesting areas. I was disappointed in my search. Only a Brown-headed Nuthatch gave me some hope. I will return at a later date.</div>
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<a abp="5275" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3pg28qGeATaslQZiLvDTexU0i45Zn04FlVNpkcqro85cqyRpZA8zlXq11Xw_tQkOd7Phc43USW0t2N1FAOpkDbFXIMzCClfgU_WZ6HJzXKFmXRLqGQf243TMnCcISLUnJaX9oZnhwjeb/s1600/2016-01-11+14.52.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5276" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3pg28qGeATaslQZiLvDTexU0i45Zn04FlVNpkcqro85cqyRpZA8zlXq11Xw_tQkOd7Phc43USW0t2N1FAOpkDbFXIMzCClfgU_WZ6HJzXKFmXRLqGQf243TMnCcISLUnJaX9oZnhwjeb/s320/2016-01-11+14.52.33.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In honour of my new-found interest in mushrooms, I found this gilled mushroom freshly emerged amongst the fallen pine needles. Since I did not collect the specimen, I won't hazard an identification.</div>
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<a abp="5279" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQIKSn7KSzDa66wYRRCJIoeEwq14HZQldrzZ-4gT0jgx9QMGZA0i1nzuK23mzUbWkY0m2cCBG0O8b66GT_iwsq0lphzDyW0pU8u5CMeKf_qDxK_0uEGaN3N2mbinhTfHhrAp2Iwr9S8mo/s1600/2016-01-11+14.53.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5280" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQIKSn7KSzDa66wYRRCJIoeEwq14HZQldrzZ-4gT0jgx9QMGZA0i1nzuK23mzUbWkY0m2cCBG0O8b66GT_iwsq0lphzDyW0pU8u5CMeKf_qDxK_0uEGaN3N2mbinhTfHhrAp2Iwr9S8mo/s320/2016-01-11+14.53.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next few days, being cool, I hiked the trails at Blue Run Park (see the intro above). Nature trails are marked and have excellent interpretive signs, which help to reduce your blogger's ID work! </div>
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<a abp="5283" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoqvJn4HryUXCaFUaw_iLC5NJrmszhZsMVye4K4DZm9TQlVOA-t_IPoV8Xfoljd_kl-7Af17W5tH52Op_wmcUXj7uLehF6swyTK6beKQyUcGN27mD7_yTnYrRENj6vQwRgAKZ0teH1vQR/s1600/2016-01-18+16.36.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5284" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoqvJn4HryUXCaFUaw_iLC5NJrmszhZsMVye4K4DZm9TQlVOA-t_IPoV8Xfoljd_kl-7Af17W5tH52Op_wmcUXj7uLehF6swyTK6beKQyUcGN27mD7_yTnYrRENj6vQwRgAKZ0teH1vQR/s320/2016-01-18+16.36.48.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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The sign above goes with the shrub below.</div>
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<a abp="5291" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFP-eJ5qTjKPLyVOCEQQKpicVucNbWlD44DLPlEjlRFglkSzUU4N1ZON8g_wOZhMEtyRegHiSAK_FZf7q8GNaaBWg04cCReacwn7aGABmq4gDz976l5MJg-pqbWvrzP76xHKO_hVMgK0D/s1600/2016-01-18+16.37.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5292" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXFP-eJ5qTjKPLyVOCEQQKpicVucNbWlD44DLPlEjlRFglkSzUU4N1ZON8g_wOZhMEtyRegHiSAK_FZf7q8GNaaBWg04cCReacwn7aGABmq4gDz976l5MJg-pqbWvrzP76xHKO_hVMgK0D/s320/2016-01-18+16.37.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Below are two plants of interest. Widespread in Florida the four-petaled white flower below is Innocence, or Roundleaf Bluet, <em abp="2547"><u abp="2548">Houstonia</u></em> procumbens, found only in the southeast USA.</div>
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<a abp="5295" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKWt0pw3h5XGgyD7Y0HTibAjuKBM6IKPxj6St-ttbugSn5y4fA88uAO-RLvflJZYSeBWV21LgCYuhGNq6SM4leCmlu5V4KwUQG5ramalAlPHrqdb7_ank1086Ak-fKN9kYnedOAyEivPC/s1600/2016-01-18+16.41.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5296" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKWt0pw3h5XGgyD7Y0HTibAjuKBM6IKPxj6St-ttbugSn5y4fA88uAO-RLvflJZYSeBWV21LgCYuhGNq6SM4leCmlu5V4KwUQG5ramalAlPHrqdb7_ank1086Ak-fKN9kYnedOAyEivPC/s320/2016-01-18+16.41.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It seems everywhere I have been in the south and east, where it is sandy and dry, I have found Prickly Pear. The genus, Opuntia, has dozens of North American species, including over a dozen in Florida.</div>
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<a abp="5299" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XyUCpFccAjcCXRiQTuTY_mYfkDjWIZxiG08Zwqk7XH4yf7nWnpX-yg-gjWcMxc2NP_9pUKDZ-KGqSeYuF62vh23iUfo2LKvDamhQm-_b-3mE2GDHepIJM6T1b3JdH0GpuokH1zZH2qnO/s1600/2016-01-18+16.42.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5300" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6XyUCpFccAjcCXRiQTuTY_mYfkDjWIZxiG08Zwqk7XH4yf7nWnpX-yg-gjWcMxc2NP_9pUKDZ-KGqSeYuF62vh23iUfo2LKvDamhQm-_b-3mE2GDHepIJM6T1b3JdH0GpuokH1zZH2qnO/s320/2016-01-18+16.42.40.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5303" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl7GyJLJuZiNGAavJtAv0Y1qVTtOax9nOdSge0jWSQnRChh4X9GsSXhVmm2IU5-fATtsRnLi0MXIzo19zX59yJ8mQJamjGooLiuQiiw_jT3AXS93BaKHJRzSfu7ZQDFd30ptjfrtoH4BX/s1600/2016-01-18+16.43.00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5304" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdl7GyJLJuZiNGAavJtAv0Y1qVTtOax9nOdSge0jWSQnRChh4X9GsSXhVmm2IU5-fATtsRnLi0MXIzo19zX59yJ8mQJamjGooLiuQiiw_jT3AXS93BaKHJRzSfu7ZQDFd30ptjfrtoH4BX/s320/2016-01-18+16.43.00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Above, one of the perennially flowering most common flowers in Florida, Bidens, <em abp="2567"><u abp="2568">Bidens alba</u></em>. Below, the state flower of South Carolina growing, and flowering, in January in Florida, Yellow Jessamine, <span abp="2569" class="irc_pt" dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;"><em abp="2570"><u abp="2571">Gelsemium sempervirens</u></em> .</span></div>
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<a abp="5307" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2V8k8EIIbw8w7uRX6cHua3gf0bVl2VMhnLa1f3wvsQfIBHCbjWq2ce9YjMCSH-HXq6u2PD1MHPblX_EzBHQ5AeP6Hrbim60G7ixkFnbh9bqanrKtxcfk3iVRSpVvbZYq3d0w3e4qykX3/s1600/2016-01-18+16.43.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5308" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix2V8k8EIIbw8w7uRX6cHua3gf0bVl2VMhnLa1f3wvsQfIBHCbjWq2ce9YjMCSH-HXq6u2PD1MHPblX_EzBHQ5AeP6Hrbim60G7ixkFnbh9bqanrKtxcfk3iVRSpVvbZYq3d0w3e4qykX3/s320/2016-01-18+16.43.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Briers, genus Smilax, grow all through the southeast. There are 12 species of Smilax in Florida. Only a few are common, like the one pictured below, which along with several related species, grow as prickly vines. The University of Florida tells us that "<em abp="2578">Smilax</em> species are important because they can provide shelter and food for wildlife and have provided humans with medicine, food, and dyes." This species, easily identified by its variegated, ovate, 3-lobed leaves is <em abp="2579"><u abp="2580">Smilax bona-nox</u></em>, Saw Greenbrier.</div>
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<a abp="5311" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO09h5QPUMoj_9p58yf5vBqVaSzqjntt-7yrWk-17rHZT2neVQnxbLYrvhbHuLxcHWGee_nUMnhOkIXlU-jlGxQV67ZpTub63tt_89-oUlQTnpRQYsAl82TtnSVCdo8ph0-KN6FSr81Bz/s1600/2016-01-18+16.44.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5312" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXO09h5QPUMoj_9p58yf5vBqVaSzqjntt-7yrWk-17rHZT2neVQnxbLYrvhbHuLxcHWGee_nUMnhOkIXlU-jlGxQV67ZpTub63tt_89-oUlQTnpRQYsAl82TtnSVCdo8ph0-KN6FSr81Bz/s320/2016-01-18+16.44.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5315" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlRoyd2gvPtpfytzfNZOgf8c0LWv0f96N6aMz2jK2RBPA1BqHkdNG71yjouSSM2UGol0-BJ_imoraENridRuxYLOrVCJoXJfdx0eJkScSdJszZ3J4EGTKEG0CvizFuf_d6G_S9yOsj6c9/s1600/2016-01-18+16.46.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5316" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzlRoyd2gvPtpfytzfNZOgf8c0LWv0f96N6aMz2jK2RBPA1BqHkdNG71yjouSSM2UGol0-BJ_imoraENridRuxYLOrVCJoXJfdx0eJkScSdJszZ3J4EGTKEG0CvizFuf_d6G_S9yOsj6c9/s320/2016-01-18+16.46.45.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Oaks are the dominant deciduous trees of the Florida Nature Coast. Therefore, with the help of the Blue Run Park interpretive signs, following is a short primer of some local important oaks. Interspersed are some photos and words about other species found in Blue Run Park. The above interpretive sign describes the tree in the two photos below.</div>
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<a abp="5319" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjIxotUo3QeyBrgHCUUxvgAoY_zM24ZZUf7PpNnSaiofD5pXuB49LrIyvLvDFn2xaHB-C8DOQYw4zcBYTQTrxpaRVIann5SiEW6ePNHPWCgmfTrvCu6zC_uW1KosAH2d0f57M2W7ECWNv/s1600/2016-01-18+16.46.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5320" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjIxotUo3QeyBrgHCUUxvgAoY_zM24ZZUf7PpNnSaiofD5pXuB49LrIyvLvDFn2xaHB-C8DOQYw4zcBYTQTrxpaRVIann5SiEW6ePNHPWCgmfTrvCu6zC_uW1KosAH2d0f57M2W7ECWNv/s320/2016-01-18+16.46.54.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5323" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPupDGC2U-dKJFo8HrMWpIFY45sYhWcVECs26aG0n8G_wqJnZrYG_xK5zTkP6qwcu6r5E5NLMBvDreCz_KEpIn3z9_4mIc1mJHcPu9KjToOdek2X8kWZ2yFUjQ8aFvBvEEbzIgCsMpNpF/s1600/2016-01-18+16.47.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5324" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPupDGC2U-dKJFo8HrMWpIFY45sYhWcVECs26aG0n8G_wqJnZrYG_xK5zTkP6qwcu6r5E5NLMBvDreCz_KEpIn3z9_4mIc1mJHcPu9KjToOdek2X8kWZ2yFUjQ8aFvBvEEbzIgCsMpNpF/s320/2016-01-18+16.47.04.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5327" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXotUdq9ahx-5eUHx8gXJuX5-vvlrwcI0thgDKIx8PqeQSotcvJ7k_k3ZXRE-vZ9WDhRecwc5WOoNwdzXSt2ZAKIJW1ml88bdvuXdAHbK0_O9nvg2rTO9JS8uEBpz7AGPbNE8kY6E2h1n/s1600/2016-01-18+16.48.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5328" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXotUdq9ahx-5eUHx8gXJuX5-vvlrwcI0thgDKIx8PqeQSotcvJ7k_k3ZXRE-vZ9WDhRecwc5WOoNwdzXSt2ZAKIJW1ml88bdvuXdAHbK0_O9nvg2rTO9JS8uEBpz7AGPbNE8kY6E2h1n/s320/2016-01-18+16.48.04.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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The two photos below show the Turkey Oak described above. It is a small tree.</div>
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<a abp="5331" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQiePXL3f1umlSirAQnNN5S-uHPhqMAbgMjU-lY1m9Y5ZaVXmHNpteUubthuSdyHJR0gOa6llgAC3H0OJhEMt7ZcStEx6OznYHdf0Sijk0fYDit3lGxJg6nmq_0vbanG-iVkWs0VbpZ-J/s1600/2016-01-18+16.49.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5332" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQiePXL3f1umlSirAQnNN5S-uHPhqMAbgMjU-lY1m9Y5ZaVXmHNpteUubthuSdyHJR0gOa6llgAC3H0OJhEMt7ZcStEx6OznYHdf0Sijk0fYDit3lGxJg6nmq_0vbanG-iVkWs0VbpZ-J/s320/2016-01-18+16.49.09.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5335" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMxbE7SOqSDTvEbk-u9V1gxayv9MG4dCkTg2g59w4Dal01JncxIw6X7I_kmcmx0dwW4-Sue48P4ukCoZgSfV23PVJHsPAN5yxOXvOyM5vyIuySHFgeVPtHN0yCsObuwKc63esSfggeCdN/s1600/2016-01-18+16.49.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5336" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaMxbE7SOqSDTvEbk-u9V1gxayv9MG4dCkTg2g59w4Dal01JncxIw6X7I_kmcmx0dwW4-Sue48P4ukCoZgSfV23PVJHsPAN5yxOXvOyM5vyIuySHFgeVPtHN0yCsObuwKc63esSfggeCdN/s320/2016-01-18+16.49.33.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5339" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGwZ0MblzuEXQ7UZt8Gqjv3c8YRMpcx8GoF4hYdf_RPADb7ziY8We436MXxx6-34p9HO8O2_T6eN2xrDtuGvCB15oPJVN6zN-sRrJ87GIehZl0n3qkgwnGASPz1IGpC1-ZuFVudCp6QRT/s1600/2016-01-18+16.50.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5340" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVGwZ0MblzuEXQ7UZt8Gqjv3c8YRMpcx8GoF4hYdf_RPADb7ziY8We436MXxx6-34p9HO8O2_T6eN2xrDtuGvCB15oPJVN6zN-sRrJ87GIehZl0n3qkgwnGASPz1IGpC1-ZuFVudCp6QRT/s320/2016-01-18+16.50.01.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Above, the dominant Florida Slash Pine. Below, the bark of the Slash Pine features rectangular tiles, often exceeding 6 inches or 10 cms. on the long sides, which are usually vertical.</div>
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<a abp="6436" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDAmVxrPXWCMcaH_xEG836AcVP_b0ewXudBTeXp95APbxgBft7i8bG6-kzpjOPgXLxZ8WlERtQ4XHXXfpJ5YWwM0PhsjAKw6lmCKWdNVhFLynghrNgBSDl4QkwhZRH868bkA6p7Bkgerk/s1600/2016-01-19+15.18.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="6437" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivDAmVxrPXWCMcaH_xEG836AcVP_b0ewXudBTeXp95APbxgBft7i8bG6-kzpjOPgXLxZ8WlERtQ4XHXXfpJ5YWwM0PhsjAKw6lmCKWdNVhFLynghrNgBSDl4QkwhZRH868bkA6p7Bkgerk/s320/2016-01-19+15.18.05.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Below, the two photos below show what appears to be very large Turkey Tails (bracket fungus). This fungus has pores underneath, not gills.</div>
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<a abp="5343" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGVhoSBkPOglCFUKN17eZWciZkqh2xaUARn5JCPwfNXt1oqrAgEyfZtpku3htpyaNYUtecX2JMdtesQr8UdrGTjVvCStCzlzaaOPieXOXTDdqmUe6iKe1PxWvWag6n7Tb05fgy28hhHu8/s1600/2016-01-18+16.50.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5344" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGVhoSBkPOglCFUKN17eZWciZkqh2xaUARn5JCPwfNXt1oqrAgEyfZtpku3htpyaNYUtecX2JMdtesQr8UdrGTjVvCStCzlzaaOPieXOXTDdqmUe6iKe1PxWvWag6n7Tb05fgy28hhHu8/s320/2016-01-18+16.50.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5347" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGJbnK4kQ5l2L8F0HM298-2L0YBDslI1w4exLQ0CvwHwfSSVSd12MD7HnkXCczRuL9wi1S85kQL2IAP26xXyw8yxFslkV6VDYVgrLUizenAnBn11_YtZNbwTVWxeVIeka381-IiN5bV-r/s1600/2016-01-18+16.51.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5348" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikGJbnK4kQ5l2L8F0HM298-2L0YBDslI1w4exLQ0CvwHwfSSVSd12MD7HnkXCczRuL9wi1S85kQL2IAP26xXyw8yxFslkV6VDYVgrLUizenAnBn11_YtZNbwTVWxeVIeka381-IiN5bV-r/s320/2016-01-18+16.51.41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5351" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbctZAf5Xw-ABGZXlW8lINmtJfeXQhzbjykXS1GaVXIDv-U_rt_LoJ5wD2ZX4yFGpPqfhqXv3WWHI8I-liRG_5iJSbRSeOnwW7xeW-Bc8QeOps3Ew9WWIQktzH7y3Yey1E36CZNKo7CmAr/s1600/2016-01-18+16.53.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5352" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbctZAf5Xw-ABGZXlW8lINmtJfeXQhzbjykXS1GaVXIDv-U_rt_LoJ5wD2ZX4yFGpPqfhqXv3WWHI8I-liRG_5iJSbRSeOnwW7xeW-Bc8QeOps3Ew9WWIQktzH7y3Yey1E36CZNKo7CmAr/s320/2016-01-18+16.53.53.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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One of the very large dominant oaks, Laurel Oak in two photos below. Amongst some Laurel Oak leaves on the ground was another newly emerged mushroom. (3rd photo below)</div>
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<a abp="5355" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJidfWkQRpiY-3PNnTtvAVHv-uBv4ymWpNOrXb5KUWXuBkf01XhVQu_-PX5W63iytOjfRRgxSYxPTzZzFqW1gvGGSz1JIjmNAVOj15irainPRUZqsDflfAGfXOiebRR9q6qmW5QcBSmu5/s1600/2016-01-18+16.54.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5356" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJidfWkQRpiY-3PNnTtvAVHv-uBv4ymWpNOrXb5KUWXuBkf01XhVQu_-PX5W63iytOjfRRgxSYxPTzZzFqW1gvGGSz1JIjmNAVOj15irainPRUZqsDflfAGfXOiebRR9q6qmW5QcBSmu5/s320/2016-01-18+16.54.05.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5359" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsaQ7Ve4Fwlq_JS9NUE5X5JGaY3tLhdAxL5LOFut9CV1wNfudqd2fajXwd021jh8b8U7_6hyJibj6dEjugdMhXkHYPsZq8sDBL9JuGSr7DC5aopGGFE8UlcD9eOCcpO6i7Y_2BKoCP7Ub/s1600/2016-01-18+16.54.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5360" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlsaQ7Ve4Fwlq_JS9NUE5X5JGaY3tLhdAxL5LOFut9CV1wNfudqd2fajXwd021jh8b8U7_6hyJibj6dEjugdMhXkHYPsZq8sDBL9JuGSr7DC5aopGGFE8UlcD9eOCcpO6i7Y_2BKoCP7Ub/s320/2016-01-18+16.54.51.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5363" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3kIsY9MlmFS7MFGMWJt5tBk-4WjntFg7t_JGpw9kETgGFx9i3qi-Td1fbl5Du9vlqHCCZOmPL7e8TGEYTOJLlEB-uYOIX8ufFGwPFNTFT1xGp8tJ8BPf2J733tI51F7-6FNNkexvok1G/s1600/2016-01-18+16.55.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5364" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji3kIsY9MlmFS7MFGMWJt5tBk-4WjntFg7t_JGpw9kETgGFx9i3qi-Td1fbl5Du9vlqHCCZOmPL7e8TGEYTOJLlEB-uYOIX8ufFGwPFNTFT1xGp8tJ8BPf2J733tI51F7-6FNNkexvok1G/s320/2016-01-18+16.55.20.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5367" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJEns87NP8VJs91gr1AQmfjN31PMAgu8VXa9ifTPC985pGBNrYOEa8Y-sv8oB7otZ7IMFDXZLCdhvpfRcsPCT780yPAHyr-59S3syKOsghtcwr-NQMJvQBu7cAKQcgX0Ch7vF6OtNvNM_/s1600/2016-01-18+16.55.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5368" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJEns87NP8VJs91gr1AQmfjN31PMAgu8VXa9ifTPC985pGBNrYOEa8Y-sv8oB7otZ7IMFDXZLCdhvpfRcsPCT780yPAHyr-59S3syKOsghtcwr-NQMJvQBu7cAKQcgX0Ch7vF6OtNvNM_/s320/2016-01-18+16.55.56.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5371" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZuehAShyphenhyphenW_YMox3qq2TYpP0GcTP6XK601ujzltIL7I-J8joYajx5ZEuk4veuA73b6i9mSEDUAN6d1xuKa-ckx3JSqg8V5IjnMv2_YXm3xWE5OCliDUN-Ne-xxr1dAwRGPcE6RcG6E9CR/s1600/2016-01-18+17.01.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5372" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZuehAShyphenhyphenW_YMox3qq2TYpP0GcTP6XK601ujzltIL7I-J8joYajx5ZEuk4veuA73b6i9mSEDUAN6d1xuKa-ckx3JSqg8V5IjnMv2_YXm3xWE5OCliDUN-Ne-xxr1dAwRGPcE6RcG6E9CR/s320/2016-01-18+17.01.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bur Marigold <em abp="2683">(<u abp="2684">Bidens laevis)</u></em> a common marsh plant is seen above. Its cousin, Bidens, shown above, occupies dry land, while this plant spreads through marshes and other wet areas. When I first spotted the flowers, I was reminded of our Marsh Marigolds, which is also gold, but otherwise is very different looking and a northern resident.</div>
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<a abp="5375" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrOPs5OZnSdCCMmM0mu9__lHps1BCgFrBWbxO8ZZ1Qff1HBu1ABNyDM1Ex9CHTMGI4WoQpqvc-FZRiNYefM9SnZJ69Cotv3iuuV_tuXSY0cFacL0QNjL0GyDzuXlmEs1MbxnPButygXrp/s1600/2016-01-18+17.09.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5376" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFrOPs5OZnSdCCMmM0mu9__lHps1BCgFrBWbxO8ZZ1Qff1HBu1ABNyDM1Ex9CHTMGI4WoQpqvc-FZRiNYefM9SnZJ69Cotv3iuuV_tuXSY0cFacL0QNjL0GyDzuXlmEs1MbxnPButygXrp/s320/2016-01-18+17.09.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Breaking from the oaks, I had to photograph the unique leaves of the Sweet Gum, some gold, some still green. The trunk is shown below.</div>
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<a abp="5379" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6z68oRM9KpcSuDdfBWB3uLnFL-bAtUNRS1XmrubCEenHUtNTHCEe-IN9h-0nhXoRZIUe9QQEH4prXyeM_VtHWnn4z1_QCaT1x3fJSCc4vlxQI3eUy6gUSKqKF2WFjsssnerCcX3lDuoBP/s1600/2016-01-18+17.09.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5380" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6z68oRM9KpcSuDdfBWB3uLnFL-bAtUNRS1XmrubCEenHUtNTHCEe-IN9h-0nhXoRZIUe9QQEH4prXyeM_VtHWnn4z1_QCaT1x3fJSCc4vlxQI3eUy6gUSKqKF2WFjsssnerCcX3lDuoBP/s320/2016-01-18+17.09.54.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5383" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIoy-xrRJjsHgycIrCKjnM1kU5eHA3et7Zjtpb6ML7DgpGjQWMDEo0MdS_l-LDb6arFEbK1cGx17nKrlbG0gXuAgT3hyphenhyphen65rQR6PBD3b0PoCDAwKeWApmhA8vUclgvZ2Daw-RSmvcpo06M/s1600/2016-01-18+17.15.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5384" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirIoy-xrRJjsHgycIrCKjnM1kU5eHA3et7Zjtpb6ML7DgpGjQWMDEo0MdS_l-LDb6arFEbK1cGx17nKrlbG0gXuAgT3hyphenhyphen65rQR6PBD3b0PoCDAwKeWApmhA8vUclgvZ2Daw-RSmvcpo06M/s320/2016-01-18+17.15.59.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Although the photos below are probably a Mockernut Hickory, the Florida State Botanist was uncertain enough not to name it on the interpretive sign, since, in this area, hickories often hybridize.</div>
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<a abp="5387" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLslsDUY6lH6pmX9vmjKYCQz819sKweWfNt0J9msfcAT6gJElPFvmqtxh5WioX97ZFWoENd4hduIEbz3vAs7oJs_L7OQxxnzlWqzaqTsKC2lMEu8JIBYe7rRcvs_iAB4iVIvoEYHSDWfX/s1600/2016-01-18+17.18.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5388" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLslsDUY6lH6pmX9vmjKYCQz819sKweWfNt0J9msfcAT6gJElPFvmqtxh5WioX97ZFWoENd4hduIEbz3vAs7oJs_L7OQxxnzlWqzaqTsKC2lMEu8JIBYe7rRcvs_iAB4iVIvoEYHSDWfX/s320/2016-01-18+17.18.24.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5391" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsQR_Cpy7oFLua0MH1TV_KTpXnWj_aeHAJd_7osk7k9pxSH4DgU4HHowHw8s4y-78OqQtWF8R7wiqsom_k3-XhXVMzjxhF-P6YOhMzS2prfxfuuDIESqhE132kEPTjaS2oljiTCqSBDHl/s1600/2016-01-18+17.18.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5392" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsQR_Cpy7oFLua0MH1TV_KTpXnWj_aeHAJd_7osk7k9pxSH4DgU4HHowHw8s4y-78OqQtWF8R7wiqsom_k3-XhXVMzjxhF-P6YOhMzS2prfxfuuDIESqhE132kEPTjaS2oljiTCqSBDHl/s320/2016-01-18+17.18.38.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a abp="5395" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8odhpDZRVZ2DBLuj71RSZeaLfIy2FCXpBD-B6xUJ92HlMt7OzJ4n4j9HORokkhckLstWFUMwG3hA_4mvLCDjgU2UJt95rWQTWYJEfpCozF-lBKt6P_PszZa6mTe-Ms7w_Kj1C8q4EK_p/s1600/2016-01-18+17.19.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5396" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf8odhpDZRVZ2DBLuj71RSZeaLfIy2FCXpBD-B6xUJ92HlMt7OzJ4n4j9HORokkhckLstWFUMwG3hA_4mvLCDjgU2UJt95rWQTWYJEfpCozF-lBKt6P_PszZa6mTe-Ms7w_Kj1C8q4EK_p/s320/2016-01-18+17.19.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was wondering if citrus would be found growing wild in the woods in this area, since I found many on the East coast of Florida. Sure enough, I have found many trees, including Seville, Clementines and the ubiquitous Grapefruit. Spit out a citrus seed in a Florida forest and a few years later, a tree results.</div>
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<a abp="5399" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyvwf27oemJ4ebjCOJjgfWppfSa7rNIoiPlzFQIsOhMsJIRBp_bVrvR1mPguXcQD8_SX8eyBjacvyItECI0ameqdbwAB2mb9MWILhbi-qZ7khDqHNG4vYeGBMkn1nRyAa6AD7RWDiXm63/s1600/2016-01-18+17.20.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5400" border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxyvwf27oemJ4ebjCOJjgfWppfSa7rNIoiPlzFQIsOhMsJIRBp_bVrvR1mPguXcQD8_SX8eyBjacvyItECI0ameqdbwAB2mb9MWILhbi-qZ7khDqHNG4vYeGBMkn1nRyAa6AD7RWDiXm63/s320/2016-01-18+17.20.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Though not as large, and fewer in number than in South Carolina, there are some Southern Magnolias scattered in the local forests. (photo below)</div>
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<a abp="5403" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4BvtpJFRC6anQqC-PKW2xWyOylijg7zRwDLEghbNB99acLgLuNWZUG51C2MDYdvTt24YavfYZrb6hYzMvVZqDHOmS2mvEO_BnMUS4CwdcpYoiv6c7w5EDKwkDhfzNRUVvyZBFWWiYVxD/s1600/2016-01-18+17.28.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img abp="5404" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL4BvtpJFRC6anQqC-PKW2xWyOylijg7zRwDLEghbNB99acLgLuNWZUG51C2MDYdvTt24YavfYZrb6hYzMvVZqDHOmS2mvEO_BnMUS4CwdcpYoiv6c7w5EDKwkDhfzNRUVvyZBFWWiYVxD/s320/2016-01-18+17.28.21.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Much more to come. Stay tuned.</div>
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Arthur Goldsmithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04338775240070395448noreply@blogger.com0