Central Ohio NatureAn Almost Perfect Disguise!
Posted on August 30, 2017
Caterpillars can be hard to believe. In recent weeks my wife’s “eagle eye” has spotted one that certainly seems to confirm this. Along with interesting caterpillars there have been other August insects and wildflowers to fascinate. Each season offers up it’s own treasures.
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As an aside, my old Canon manual focus glass has found new life mounted on a Sony A7 body so I’ve enjoyed trying to capture a “sense of place” with the old lenses as we explore some of our local haunts.
Griggs Reservoir, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
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During a recent walk we entered the world of caterpillars when my wife noticed this interesting specimen.
The Black Swallowtail caterpillar shows off it’s horns while the picture gets photo bombed by a pair of very small mating moths. The horns are usually not evident but a slight tap on the it’s head brings them out, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
The Black Swallowtail butterfly:
Male Black Swallowtail, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Female Black Swallowtail, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
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On another day as we walked along Griggs Reservoir, three almost identical “bird droppings” were spotted. Very suspicious!
Our suspicion was validated as we identified them as Giant Swallowtail caterpillars. (Donna).
A closer look, (Donna).
The Giant Swallowtail butterfly:
Giant Swallowtail, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
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The Monarch Butterfly caterpillars had a though act to follow after the “bird droppings”. However, this year it’s been exciting to see so many as well as the resultant butterflies. You know it’s a good year when you often hear, or say to your hiking companion, “There’s another Monarch!” Last year we saw very few.
Monarch Butterfly caterpillar, Griggs Reservoir Park.
The Monarch butterfly:
Monarch Butterfly, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
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The Big Darby has been running low but clear. A sign of late summer in Ohio.
The Big Darby, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
For Ohio the water was very clear in the Big Darby but it’s shallow depth and silt covered bottom didn’t show it off, Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
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During a lunch break along Alum Creek Reservoir last week, a number of wasps were more than happy to provide free entertainment!
Katydid Wasp, (Sphex nudus) with a stunned katydid nymph, Alum Creek State Park, (Donna).
The Katydid Wasp proceeds to drag it’s pray into a pre dug hole to serve as a food source for it’s larvae when they hatch, (Donna).
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Two days ago, as we made our way along one of our area metro park’s excellent trails, I mentioned to my wife that there appeared to be two humming birds around some thistle half way across the meadow. Before I realized what had happened she disappeared. The only way I could reel her in was with the zoom on my camera!
Going after the humming birds, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Success, (Donna).
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Along with caterpillars and butterflies there have been other interesting late August insects as well.
Mating Thread-waisted Wasps, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee with it’s fascinating blue eyes, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
When does a moth not look like a moth? When it’s an Ailanthus Webworm Moth! Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
A grasshopper hugs a coneflower, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Tachinid Fly, (Epalpus signifier), Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
The Common Spreadwing is the largest of the damselflies, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
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A quiet fishing spot along Griggs Reservoir.
Griggs Reservoir.
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Fungi hasn’t been that noticeable due to the lack of rain but recently two examples begged to be photographed.
Northern Tooth fungi, Griggs Reservoir Park.
A rather large polypore, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
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Wildflowers.
Cup Plant, Griggs Reservoir Park, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
Virginia Knot Weed, Griggs Reservoir Park.
Gracing the shore of Griggs Reservoir, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
Tall Bellflower, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Wingstem, Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
Great Blue Lobelia, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
Coneflower Prairie, Battelle Darby Greek Metro Park.
Ironweed, Griggs Reservoir Park.
False Dragonhead, Griggs Reservoir Park.
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A fascinating plant, Ground Cherry, discovered during a recent walk.
Ground Cherry, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
The flower, (Donna).
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As we look for butterflies, or are engaged in other pursuits, it’s hard not to notice the other things.
In relation to it’s size the very small Cricket Frog probably jumps the furthest of any of it’s species! Prairie Oaks Metro Park.
An immature Indigo Bunting eludes a good photo at the very top of a tree, Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park.
An over exuberant Blue Jay enjoys the water, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Black-crowned Night Heron photographed recently while fishing on Griggs Reservoir. Probably the closest I’ve ever gotten to one.
A “too cute” Red Squirrel along the shore of Griggs Reservoir. Exciting because we rarely see them in this area.
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In late August the sound of insects dominate the woods.
As if in protest, a Carolina Wrens does it’s best to break the silence of it’s kind.
In the now often cooler mornings, heavy with dew, spider webs are everywhere.
Walking, those suspended across the trail brush against one’s face.
By noon, as if to deny that summer is slowly coming to an end, butterflies and dragonflies take flight.
Bees, seemingly busier than ever, are everywhere on late summer wildflowers.
Leaves on some trees have already starting to change.
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Looking for birds, Griggs Reservoir Park, Sony A7 Canon FD 28mm.
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Thanks for stopping by.
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XXX
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Revisiting The Falls Of Griggs Reservoir
Posted on July 4, 2015
We thought before we did another post on Algonquin Provincial Park, we’d take a look around our neighborhood since returning from the north country, and see what’s going on.
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While we were gone and since our return there’s been a lot of rain in central Ohio. This has left the reservoirs high and muddy, conditions hardly conducive to canoeing. For a few days we contented ourselves exploring on “dry” land. Finally yesterday, deciding that a paddle was in order, off we went to explore Griggs Reservoir. My wife was thinking that the waterfalls might have benefited from all the rain, and since we last looked at them a couple of years ago, they might be worth checking out. I was a bit skeptical as conditions have to be just right for the waterfalls to show well.
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Water overflowing Griggs Reservoir Dam inundating the trees below.
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With rain then sun, early morning walks reveal a special beauty.
Sunlight filters through the trees.
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As the flowers and insects celebrate.
Goats Beard, (Donna)
Stream Bluet, (Donna)
Red Admiral, (Donna)
Ailanthus Webworm Moth with fliy
Hackberry Emperor Butterfly
Coneflower
Milkweed
Pearl Cresent
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The birds, not to be left out, were taking advantage of the insect bounty and whatever else was offered by the rains.
Eastern Phoebe
Babies, (Donna)
A Kingbird waits for it’s next meal.
A mother mallard with family cruise for edible tidbits washed into the reservoir.
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The primary purpose of our paddle was to see the waterfalls. We weren’t disappointed.
As close as our canoe could get to the first falls.
Yours truly exploring the second falls, (Donna)
The second falls.
The falls at Hayden Run, the largest along the reservoir.
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Our next post will return the Algonquin. Thanks for stopping by.
