September

September

Wednesday 9/4/24

  • South Carolina Environmental Law Project came out to see the research station and hear about what we have done with local universities. We also expressed our concerns with them about certain environmental policies in surrounding areas not being practiced correctly.

Thursday 9/5/24

  • There was a Praying Mantis eating an ant at Jump Shed.
  • We also saw a Monarch Caterpillar on a Milkweed leaf.
Praying Mantis and Caterpillar

Friday 9/6/24

  • Black racer snake at Prairie 4.
  • Black rat snake at Otter Pond.
  • Turtle Pond had a bunch of pollen collected on top.
Black Racer

Wednesday 9/11/24

  • A black panel Beetle trap was set up at steel prairie.
  • An Eastern Box Turtle was seen quickly crossing the trail.
  • A Mourning Dove nest was found at one of the sheds, they hatchlings fledged the nest the next day.
Trap, Turtle, and Mourning Doves

Thursday 9/12/24

  • We checked and cleaned out Screech Owl boxes to prepare them for the next season.
  • A very small anole was found scurrying under the UTV.
Small Anole

Friday 9/13/24

  • Wingate University Intern’s Orientation Day
  • A Rough Green Snake was found hanging out on the hood of a Queens University professor’s car by the Learning Center after he joined us for Wingate University Intern’s Orientation.

Monday 9/16/24

  • A group of Eastern American Jack-o'-lantern mushrooms were found after some rain.
Mushrooms

Tuesday 9/17/24

  • Tropical storm hit, 4in of rain, Thompson Creek flooded

Thursday 9/19/24

  • While out on the UTV, a few different species were found. There was a small Cricket Frog and a snail taking advantage of the rainy landscape.
A frog in hand and a snail.

Friday 9/20/24

  • The interns had their first day in the field.
  • They got to collect and dissect owl pellets at our location sites.
  • They had a chance to fly the drone over Fireworks Prairie.
Interns flying a drone.

Monday 9/23/24

  • While out on the game camera route, many different plants species were out after experiencing so much rain. There were American Asters, Blue Mistflowers, and interesting (but nonnative) Red Spider Lilies.
A variety of flowers.

Tuesday 9/24/24

  • Paul Baker and Zee Ahmed from Clemson University Extension came to look for crepe myrtle bark scale. Good news for our crape myrtle - we have little to none.

Wednesday 9/25/24

  • A red fox was spotted laying in the rain at one of the horse paddocks. It ran away quickly after seeing us, but it was amazing how clear we were able to see it in the middle of the day.
Red Fox

Friday 9/27/24

  • Hurricane Helene hit - Thompson Creek did not flood as much as during 9/17 tropical storm
  • There were several trees down around muddy branch and dry pond
  • The interns did a zoom meeting
Fallen trees

Monday 9/30/24

  • While completing the game camera route post hurricane, we observed and noted where there were fallen trees. Thankfully CWF didn’t experience too much storm damage.
  • Another eastern box turtle was spotted this day. She hurried along when she heard the us coming on the UTV.
  • A beautiful tree has started to show its fall colors at Chimney Pond.
Then season of change.

More Field Notes