Field Notes

• Small’s Ragwort (Packera anonyma) is the dominant flowering plant within prairies, first sighted 5/1/23.
• Baby Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) sighted running along Horse Paddock Trail, they are barely taller than the grass 5/1/23.
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is starting to flower in prairie one, 2 individuals sighted in flower 5/1/23.
• Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) flower buds are present in all planted prairies on Piedmont Preserve, sighted 5/1/23.
• Redwing Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) sighted at Fireworks Pond 5/1/23.
• First flower of Wild Quinine (Parthenium intergrifolium) sighted in within all Firework prairies, sighted 5/1/23.
• Striped Lynx Spider (Oxyopes salticus), Black and Green Soldier Fly (Psellidotus hieroglyphicus), and Large Bee Fly (Bombylius major) sighted in Fireworks East prairie, all three new to our master species list, sighted 5/1/23.
• First sighting of Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) - juvenile sighted inside Bluebird Box, new to our master species list, sighted 5/2/23.

• Common Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) starting to flower in prairie two, the most individuals in flower so far with over 25 sighted in flower 5/2/23.
• Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria) in flower, sighted in Indian Mound Prairie 5/23/23.
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) beginning to flower in prairie six, the most individuals in flower so far with over 25 sighted in flower 5/2/23.
• Dogbane (Apocynum cannabinum) has buds on it, sighted in prairie four 5/2/23.
• Common Milkweed (Aclepias syriaca) starting to flower, flowers sighted in Firework Prairies 5/3/23.
• Eastern Beardtongue (Penstemon laevigatus) in flower, sighted in Redbanks 5/3/23.
• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) flower buds sighted, Redbanks prairie 5/3/23.
• First False Dandelion (Pyrrhopappus carolinianus) sighted in flower, Steele Jax Prairie 5/3/23.

• Catchweed (Gallium aparine) in seed 5/3/23.
• Three Crows sighted chasing Red Shoulder Hawks over Francis Prairie 5/3/23.
• Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) heavy in Peninsula, sighted in flower 5/3/23.
• Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa) first flower sighted in Steele Jax Prairie 5/5/23.
• Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) in full flower, sighted in Steele Prairie 5/5/23.
• First Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense) sighted in flower in Indian Mound Prairie 5/5/23.
• Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) first flower sighted in Steele Prairie 5/5/23.
• Eastern Rat Snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) sighted in prairie four 5/5/23.
• Two Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) babies sighted in nest at Otter Pond 5/8/23.
• Five new insects added to S8 Master Species List: Babia quadriguttata, Isomira sericea, Mallota bautias. Pseudomethoca simillima, Phosphila miselioides 5/8/23.
• First Blue Cornflowers sighted in Fargate South Prairie 5/9/23.
• Initial growth of Roundleaf Thoroughwort (Eupatorium rotundifolium) sighted 5/10/23.
• First Dog Ticks (Dermacentor variabilis) of the season sighted in Firework Prairies, 5/10/23.
• Spittle Bug (Cercopoidea species) masses heavy in Pecan Mound Prairie, over thirty-five sighted 5/10/23.
• Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) very active – Thirteen calls heard in Fireworks East Prairie. Calling once about every 20 seconds 5/16/23.

• Large Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) found in woodland trail near Frances’ Prairie 5/16/23.
• Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata) is the dominant flowering plant in Prairies Five, Six, and Seven 5/16/23.
• First Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) sighted on Butterflyweed 5/17/23.
• First firefly (Lampyridae species) sighted in Prairie Five, sighted flying during the day with no florescence 5/17/23.
• First firefly (Lampyridae species) sighted glowing at night near Homestead 5/20/23.
• Small’s Ragwort (Packera anonyma) going into seed, sighted in Firework prairies 5/22/23.
• Helmet Skullcap (Scutellaria integrifolia) in flower, sighted in Halfmoon Floodplain 5/22/23.
• First Carolina Bristle-Mallow (Modiola caroliniana) flower sighted in Redbanks prairie 5/23/23.
• First Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) sighted in Steele Prairie 5/23/23.
• Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata) flower bud sighted in Fireworks prairie 5/23/23.
• Purple Top Vervain (Verbena bonariensis) in flower, sighted in Fireworks East prairie 5/23/23.
• Black Rat Snake sighted shaking tail mocking rattlesnake behavior in Fireworks West prairie 5/23/23.
• Moth Mullein (Verbascum blattaria) in flower in Far Gate South Prairie – One individual with yellow flowers and one individual with white flowers sighted 5/24/23.
• Great Blue Heron (Ardea Herodias) juveniles sighted in nest at Otter Pond, now have feathers and can stand up. Three individuals counted 5/26/23.
• First flower of False Daisy (Eclipta prostrata) sighted in prairie five 5/30/23.
• First flower of Prickly Fanpetals (Sida spinosa) sighted in prairie five 5/30/23.
• Male and Female Eastern Box Turtles sighted mating in prairie six 5/30/23.

Aerial views of 3 prairies showing May growth

Author: Brianna Bergamini