July
Monthly Weather Review
Rainfall Total – 8.33 in
Highest Temperature - 104°F
Lowest Temperature - 63° F
Average Wind Speed – 5.0 mph
Friday July 3rd
- A Common Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) was seen making its way along one of the woodland trails. Box turtles are often encountered on the move during the warm, humid summer months.
Monday July 6th
- A large Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) was observed heading away from Talton Branch. These large freshwater turtles may travel over land when moving between aquatic habitats.
Friday July 10th
- A Turkey Vulture (Carthartes aura) was seen perched on the post holding one of the game cameras.
- While conducting weekly bird box checks, the resident Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was seen resting inside the metal silo.
Monday July 13th
- CWF staff spotted a Wild Potato Vine (Ipomoea pandurata) growing on the property. Its large white, funnel-shaped flowers make this native vine stand out among surrounding vegetation.
Tuesday July 14th
- CWF staff were conducting vegetation surveys when a pop-up rain shower passed through, a common occurrence during hot and humid summer afternoons.
- Staff stopped to appreciate the beauty of Fireworks Pond, proving that even an overcast day can offer a great view across the property
- A Shelf fungus was observed growing on a fallen tree, where fungi play an important role in breaking down dead wood and returning nutrients to the soil.
- A bright orange fungus called Crowded Parchment (Stereum complicatum) was found growing on another fallen tree farther down the trail, adding an unexpected splash of color to the forest.
- Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) was found growing in one of the meadows on the property. Its purple flowers provide an important summer nectar source for many pollinators.
Wednesday July 15th
- Another Common Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) was spotted along one of the trails, continuing a busy summer of turtle sightings across the property.
- A Barn Owl (Tyto alba) was seen inside one of the old silos on the property. The owl watched CWF staff just as closely as staff watched it.
Thursday July 16th
- While sampling ponds, staff noticed an unusual reddish film covering portions of the water's surface. Changes like this are always interesting to document during routine water quality monitoring.
- The c (Hirundo rustica) that nested above the staff office door successfully fledged, marking the end of another nesting attempt right outside the office.
- Another Common Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina) was spotted directly in front of one of the Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) nest boxes
Monday July 20th
- While collecting water samples from Thompson Creek, staff encountered a fallen tree blocking one of the sampling sites. The obstruction made reaching the usual sampling location especially difficult that day.
- A male and female Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) were observed carrying food to their young hatchlings, giving staff a glimpse of the constant work involved in raising a brood.
Wednesday July 22nd
- Trumpet Creeper (Campsis radicans) was seen growing across the side of one of the old concrete silos, its bright flowers adding color to the structure during the middle of summer.
- An Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) was spotted along the edge of a grassland, where dense vegetation provides both food and nearby cover.
Tuesday July 28th
- A Cope’s Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes chrysoscelis) was found resting on top of a game camera while staff attempted to change the SD card. The tiny visitor was safely moved to the ground before camera maintenance continued.
Wednesday July 29th
- Staff discovered a patch of Maryland Meadowbeauty (Rhexia mariana) growing in an old hayfield. This native wildflower is found in moist, open habitats throughout our region and produces distinctive pink-purple summer blooms.
Thursday July 30th
- Staff noticed an unusual pattern on the bark of a hackberry (Celtis spp.). Hackberry bark naturally develops distinctive corky ridges and warty patterns, sometimes giving the trunk an unusual appearance.
