Field Notes: August 18, 2013

Freshly planted Hardstem Bulrush

One week ago the last of this year's emergent planting was completed, about 4,000 pots went in.  Most are doing well, but now Canada geese are grazing some to almost nothing.

Sand bars, and sandy beaches are exposed, and they are attracting shore birds like spotted, and upland sandpipers, and killdeer.  Sandhill cranes are congregating on the north shore of the East Basin, and many of the nearby marshes and fields.

This year seems like a good year for leopard frogs.  The shorelines with taller vegetation are thickly populated with these amphibians.  I've seen a few rare Blanding's turtles crossing the roads.  We've had very little rain and most likely the marshes where they live are drying up and forcing them to look for wet areas.  In other reptile news I've been coming across a number of northern water snakes.

Blanding's Turtle crossing the road.

While planting and checking out the native vegetation I've been noticing many schools of tiny bluegills hiding nearby, ready to dart for cover.  I can't say whether they had a good hatch or not this year, but they are very nice to see hundreds to thousands of them every day I'm out.  I wish I had time to fish for their parents...