Summer Rains Flood Impoundments

If you haven't heard the paths around impoundments are flooded due to all the recent rain. Those that persevere have to wade through the water like this guy. (That's the Cross Dike trail in the background.)



All the rain has pushed the Soras and Virginia Rails to the areas of exposed ground and shallow water. You are able to get good looks at birds you often only hear. I don't have time to complete a proper post, but I suspect that those of you who aren't comfortable wading thru the water are curious about what is happening out there.

Very near the kiosk on the Cross-Dike Trail, between the edge of the first puddle and where you exit the woods, you were often able to see Sora. Normally these are reclusive birds, more often heard than seen. However due to all the flooding they were scavenging along side the trail. They were enjoying the plentiful supply of worms. Somehow people didn't phase them. They walked so close that all the photographers "big lenses" were useless. Point & shoot cameras were the better instrument. I even took a photo with my cell phone & posted it to Facebook.

Maybe the reason the are so hard to see is that they really are hiding in the trees. This is quite unusual, but high ground was rare.

If you wandered through the truly deep water by the foot bridge and the walked all the way to the river in water ranging from calf to ankle deep (except for a couple points of dry high ground) you earned views of another elusive bird at Great Meadows. Virginia Rails are a bit more plentiful, but but often glances are more furtive as the rails wander between the reeds. More often you'll hear their distinctive Three Stooges call - nyuck, nyuck, nyuck

Not only could you see adult Virginia Rails, but you also could see juveniles. The youngest were very much black, while for older juveniles you could just start to see some of the adult coloration starting to peek through.

This adult bathed in front of us and then spent a good 10 minutes preening. I know it's only preening but looking at a couple of the poses you would swear it was practicing yoga.

A good view all all the coloring
Check back in a few days, I've got a whole bunch of nest photographs that I have been saving up and am hoping to post soon.

Snakes, Why'd It Have to Be Snakes?

As fans of Raiders of the Lost Ark will remember, Indiana Jones was not fond of snakes. If you aren't fond of the creatures either, you might want to skip this post and come back next week.

For some reason, I am not generally as observant of the many water snakes that populate the impoundments and banks of the refuge. However, in the past week two different people shared interesting scenes of water snake life, that I thought you would enjoy.

First, along the banks of the Cross-dike Trail, there was a female water snake and 5 males in a mating ball. From my reading the females once pregnant are unable to reproduce again for a relatively long time. So when a female is ready males race for the opportunity. My understanding is that males are attracted by her pheromone trail. For the males the attraction is to be the first to breed and pass on their genetics to the next generation.

The female is the larger snake

A couple of days later, Alan alerted me to the fact that the carp were going crazy down by the outflow of the lower impoundment and "there's a snake trying to eat a fish". Though it was getting hot, that was something I had to get photos of.

Carp fighting to go up river, only to be stopped by the fence by the outflow. The receeding waters leave them stranded


The fish had been stranded by the spillway and the snake had dragged it ashore


At first you would say there is no way the snake could eat the fish. For over an hour the snake circled the fish trying varying approaches to swallow the fish


Finally it settled on the head first approach


It got the fish down as far as the gills. For some reason it backed off. Unfortunately, I had been watching this for 1 1/2 hours and had be going. I don't know how it ended, but I do know the fish wasn't there the next time I was by

If all that was a bit much for you, here are some pretty pictures of some of the flora that is blooming at the refuge.

I'm not usually a big fan of the geese and their goslings this time of year. They make it difficult to traverse the trails as you try to avoid them and their droppings. This one gosling did prompt a smile. It had stubbornly, sat down on the trail, while the rest of the family slowly headed up the path. As I slowly advanced, it had a change of heart and went running to catch up.

If you've been at the refuge on one of our recent hot days, you have probably seen a Great Blue Heron with extended inverted wings trying to cool itself. I saw this one up ahead on the path and slowly advanced. At one point it dropped it's beak and bowed its head. All I could think of was the minister holding open his arms and saying "Let us pray."

Next Lap of the Circle of Life

Spring is a great time of year.  Wherever you look there are the signs of new growth and new possibilities.  That is certainly true at the refuge.  If you look closely (and not so closely) you are bound to see nature begin the next lap in the circle of life.  Animals can be see conceiving, awaiting, giving birth to, and raising the next generation.

People like a nice home, in a quiet area; animals are similar.  Often they will find a well hid spot adjacent to our popular walking paths.  If you are not observant, you probably would walk right by without noticing.  Lord knows, I have.  Thanks to those of you who helped point out some of these locations.

Here are some images from the start of this year's lap.


Oriole's next along the Upper Impoundment near the river


Grackle sitting on a nest near the Boat Ramp


Yellow Warbler hiding right under our noses (if you are standing on the tower)


Of course you have to thread the needle to be able to see the nest


Downy Woodpeckers changing shifts just before the Cross Dike trail crosses the impoundments. (Exiting bird is taking out the trash)


Assuming this Song Sparrow is feeding someone, otherwise wouldn't it just eat them one at a time


Mother Mallard guides her chicks


Mother Wood Duck stretches while her young cluster nearby

Sometimes when the weather is gray and cloudy the water looses most of its color. It can be a challenge to take an interesting photo in those sort of conditions.

As I was taking this image, the scene was really speaking to me. With a couple of adjustments in Photoshop, I turned the water completely white. When printed on matte paper, it looks like a pen & ink drawing rather than a photo. Sometimes you can capture not only what you saw, but also what you were feeling at the time.