Posted on August 16, 2018
Not that they aren’t seen earlier in the spring and summer but August does seem to be the time for butterflies. This year it’s been almost impossible to be out for any length of time without seeing a Monarch. In the late morning or afternoon small but beautiful Pearl Crescents make the shorter grass along the trail their playground. The beauty of some butterflies like the Giant Swallowtail is apparent to even a casual observer but others like the Buckeye reveal their beauty only after a closer look. Others like the hairstreaks are easy to miss altogether unless you know what to look for. The good news is that you don’t have to get up a the crack of dawn to see butterflies.
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So below is a celebration of butterflies that have been seen in the last few weeks. Much of the credit must go to my wife who tirelessly pursues these usually unpredictable creatures until she gets the shot she wants while I often content myself to photographing the more predictable wildflowers.
In late summer Bull Thistle is common in the prairie areas of Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park and seems to attract it’s share of Monarchs.
The Giant Swallowtail is Ohio’s largest butterfly and not one we see every day, Griggs Reservoir Park..
Hackberry Emperors are fairly common in Griggs reservoir Park and on a warm day enjoy hitching a ride on your arm to take advantage of your perspiration, (Donna).
Usually not seen in central Ohio until late summer or fall the medium size Buckeye is striking, Griggs Reservoir Park, (Donna).
Certainly not the most aesthetic setting, a Zebra Swallowtail lands in our canoe just as we finish a paddle on Paint Creek, (Donna).
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Where there are butterflies and moths there are caterpillars and no one is better at spotting them than my wife.
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We would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge some of the birds that continue to charm us as we walk through the woods of central Ohio.
A Ruby throated Hummingbird checks out the Bull Thistle at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, (Donna).
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So what was I doing while my wife was taking so many excellent photographs in central Ohio? Fishing in Michigan of course.
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If time spent in nature speaks to the essence of your being, your soul, you have riches greater than any material procession can offer. A wealth that grows in health, spirit, and the awareness of being part of the greater mystery. Thanks for stopping by.
Category: Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park, birding in central ohio, butterflies, Central Ohio Nature, Central Ohio Parks, Columbus, Griggs Reservoir Park, hiking in central ohio, Nature Photography, Scioto River, Wildflowers Tagged: Black Swallowtail, Brown-hooded Owlet, Buckeye, Canon 80D Tamrom 18-400, Cardinal Flower, Common Checkered Skipper, Cup Plant, Eastern Comma, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Eastern-tailed Blue, False Dragonhead, Fringed Loosestrife, Gray Hairstreak, Gray Headed Cone flowers, Great Blue Lobelia, Hackberry Emperor, Indigo Bunting, Ironweed, Lizard's Tail, Meadow Fritillary, Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar, Monarch Butterfly, New England Aster, Orange Dog, Orange Sulfur, Panasonic FZ200, Panasonic Lumix G7 Leica 100-400mm, Pearl Crescent, Peck's Skipper, Red-spotted Purple, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Silver Spotted Skipper, Summer Azure, Sycamore Tussock Caterpillar, Tall Bellflower, Tall Blue Lettuce, Trumpet Flower, Virginia Knotweed, Wingstem, Woodland Sunflower, Zabulon Skipper, Zebra Swallowtail
Posted on July 4, 2018
It promised to be another hot day, but with the sun just rising when we launched it was still pleasant, giving only a hint of the heat to come.
Alum Creek Reservoir at Cheshire Rd.
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Considering the forecast our goal was to be off the water by noon. The wind hardly rippled the water’s surface as quiet paddle strokes moved the canoe toward an area of Alum Creek Reservoir that we hadn’t explored in a while. Two days earlier during an early morning fishing trip I had surprised a Bald Eagle in a tall tree at waters edge. Now with my wife along to handle photography from the bow, I was hoping we would see, and perhaps photograph, some equally interesting things as we explored the coves along our route. For those new to this blog, we love to paddle and to eliminate the need to shuttle cars we usually paddle reservoirs, the more convoluted the better, to maximize time in the canoe.
No matter how one feels about damming up rivers to create reservoirs, in the case of Alum Creek Reservoir it did result a wonderful place to explore containing a rich variety of wildlife. Unlike the often cottage lined predictable shorelines of spring fed glacial lakes in northern states like Michigan, the many small ravines that followed slopes down to the creek resulting in an almost endless number of coves to explore with the coming of the reservoir. In addition, because the reservoir is surrounded by parkland there are virtually no buildings or homes along it’s shore.
Alum Creek Reservoir Paddling Route
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With rainfall this year about six inches above normal giving rise to higher water levels, the lush shoreline vegetation reached right down to waters edge and at times gave the feeling of paddling through a jungle.
Beautiful reflections as the reservoir narrows into a creek, (Donna).
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As nature photographers know, what one sees and what one has a chance to photograph are seldom the same. Particularly when in a canoe which has it’s own stability, speed, and mobility constraints. It turns out that at the very north end of our route we saw a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. The first one we’ve ever seen in Ohio. A little later a pair of very wary Great Horned Owls were seen. The surprised heron spotted us just as we rounded a tight bend in what had become a narrow snag infested creek. It flew before we could react. The outcome was similar for the owls. They were perched high in a tree canopy partially obscured by low lying brush and saw us coming despite our best efforts, moving a little further away each time we tried to get closer.
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But there are always other things to marvel at.
A male Eastern Amberwing perches right near the canoe as we wait quietly in a secluded cove, (Donna).
A Slaty Skimmer enjoys the morning sun, (Donna).
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As we paddled along the shore we were often overwhelmed by the aroma of wild roses.
Donna looks for the best composition.
Bingo!
I try my hand.
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Water loving Lazard’s Tail at waters edge, (Donna).
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Entering some coves small, noisy, and mostly invisible birds were everywhere.
Donna points to what turns out to be a White-breasted Nuthatch.
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Along one stretch of open rocky shore a group of sandpipers, always just a little ahead of us, hurried as we approached.
Spotted Sandpiper, (Donna).
Immature Spotted Sandpiper, (Donna).
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On this particular day the turtles were a little more cooperative than the birds.
Map Turtle, (Donna).
Eastern Spiny Softshell, (Donna).
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If you travel north to Michigan with it’s colder clearer lakes and streams you typically don’t see as many egrets and herons but in Ohio they are very common. I could be wrong but I’ve often thought it’s because the rough fish (catfish, suckers, carp, shad, etc.) that call Ohio’s often turbid waters home are just easier to catch.
A Great Egret gets ready to strike . . . .
and very quickly does!
To no avail.
It heads back to it’s perch . . .
to regain it’s composure and try again.
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Along the shore a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron seem to be getting along just fine, (Donna).
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Sometimes it’s luck, sometimes persistence, and yes it’s true knowledge and skill do come into play, but if you hike a trail or paddle a lake often enough you will see new and fascinating things.
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In the woods or by a meadow, stream, or lake on any given day, even if nothing new is seen, you will at least return having allowed yourself to be there for a time, in the still freshness of the early morning with the call of the Wood Thrush, or later to the sound of wind as it dances with leaves, breathing air with a hint of wild rose.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Category: Alum Creek Reservoir, birding in central ohio, canoeing in central ohio, Central Ohio Nature, Nature Photography, Ohio Nature Tagged: Canon 80D Tamrom 18-400, Eastern Amberwing, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Lizard's Tail, Map Turtle, Panasonic FZ200, Panasonic Lumix G7 Leica 100-400mm, Slaty Skimmer, Spiny Soft Shell Turtle, Spotted Sandpiper, Wild Rose
Posted on August 6, 2015
Photos often result from our time spent in nature but they are seldom the only reason we’re out there. Truth is, we just love being outdoors. Part of the fun is looking closely to see what each new day brings. Perhaps it’s a flower, butterfly, bird, or something else that appears unexpectedly.
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Below is a pictorial ramble through things seen in the last few weeks in central Ohio that amazed or enchanted.
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The summer flowers have really been coming through for us this year.
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While things are starting to dry out from an unusual amount of early summer rain, it continues to be a good year for fungi.
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It’s harder to find warblers now but other birds are filling in.
While kayak fishing on O’Shaughnessy Reservoir this immature Black-crowned Night Heron was spotted along the shore. A real treat!
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At first we thought it might be a beaver.
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Insects continue to satisfy our curiosity.
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. . . and it’s always nice to see turtles and snakes some of which were in unexpected locations due to recent high water.
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Sometimes it’s just the place.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Category: birding, birding in central ohio, butterflies, canoeing, canoeing in central ohio, Central Ohio Nature, Central Ohio Parks, Columbus, Lepidoptera, nature, Ohio Nature, outdoors, Paint Creek, Paint Creek State Park, photography Tagged: Black Swallowtail, Black-crowned Night Heron, Chicken Fungus, Cicada, Common Water Snake, Double-crested Cormorant, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Ebony Jewelwing, Garter Snake, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Halberd-leaved Rose-mallow, Killdeer, Lizard's Tail, Mallard Duck, Muskrat, Painted Turtle, Ruby Spot, Snapping Turtle, Solitary Sandpiper, Stream Bluet, Trumpet Flower
Posted on July 12, 2013
When asked about waterfalls around Griggs Reservoir most people mention Haden Run Falls, but after a rainy spell like we’ve had recently, there are several others that are beautiful to see. These waterfalls are found by exploring the small coves on the west side of the reservoir by canoe or kayak. To find them the reservoir level needs to be high as a result of recent heavy rains. The waterfalls were a real treat but we also saw numerous small turtles, a Spotted Sandpiper, and Prothonotary Warbler as we paddled the reservoir and entered the coves.
In an effort to control storm drainage flowing into the reservoir a number of rain gardens have been constructed on the east side of the reservoir and planted with various types of wildflowers. The gardens are delightful and provide a home for many types of interesting insects as Kingbirds and Robins perch in the nearby trees..
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Thanks for stopping by.
Category: canoeing in central ohio, Central Ohio Nature, flowers in central ohio, Griggs Reservoir, photography, waterfalls Tagged: canoeing, Cup Plant, Ebony Jewelwing, Griggs Reservoir, Kingbird, Lizard's Tail, Map Turtle, photography, Prothonotary Warbler, rain gardens, Robin, Snapping Turtle, Spotted Sandpiper, waterfalls, Widow Skimmer, Yellow Coneflower
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