[mid-valley-nature:661] Jackson-Frazier field trip

[Lisa Millbank]

We had good time leading a nature walk at Jackson-Frazier Wetland. It was the last hurrah for Natural Areas Celebration Week.

 

Most amazingly, everyone got a good look at a VIRGINIA RAIL. We used a recording to get it to call, then we saw little ripples from under the flooded shrubs. For the next 10 minutes it dashed out a few times out into the open, then scurried back under cover (unfortunately the picture is a little blurry). We got good looks at a couple of male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS. The GREEN HERON who perched in an ash tree was a crowd-pleaser.

 

It was helpful to have a couple of Cheldelin Middle School students along. They updated us on some of the plantings of native plants (Nelson's Checkermallow and Bradshaw's Lomatium) they've been conducting over the last three years. Good job kids! Al Kitzman from Benton County Parks explained some history and enhancement of the area's natural features. Thanks Al!  Molly Monroe and Jared Jebousek helped with the field trip as well, and the whole celebration week would not have happened without Molly's organization and leadership.

 

Other notable birds:
Sora

American Bittern
Anna's Hummingbird
Bushtit nest
Marsh Wren
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Brown-headed Cowbird
Black-headed Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeak
Purple Finch

 

We looked at many wetland plants. We won't list them all here, but Straightbeak Buttercup (Ranunculus orthorhynchus) was blooming and common in the wetland. Small Camas (Camassia quamash) was in full bloom. In the not-so-wet meadows on the south side there were Bare-stemmed Lomatium (Lomatium nudicaule) and Bradshaw's Lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii) blooming.

 

Lisa caught a Northwestern Garter Snake (Thamnophis ordinoides) and everyone got to look at, touch and smell it (yuck!). Later we got a good look at Red-spotted Garter Snake (a.k.a. Common Garter Snake -- Thamnophis sirtalis). A few damselflies and dragonflies were out but we didn't get any good looks.  Many fuzzy Ranchman's Tiger Moth (Platyprepia virginalis) caterpillars were out and about. 

 

Don Boucher & Lisa Millbank

www.neighborhood-naturalist.com

 

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Mid-Valley Nature" group.
To post to this group, send email to mid-vall...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to mid-valley-nat...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/mid-valley-nature?hl=en.