Field Notes

Monthly Weather Review:

Monthly Rainfall Total: 0.2 inches
Highest Temperature: 73.3^oF
Lowest Temperature: 31.4^oF
Highest Wind Speed: 4.6 mph

11/2/23

• First Frost
• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in seed throughout Fireworks, Francis, Steele, and Halfmoon Prairies.
• Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort (E. hyssopifolium) and Roundleaf Thoroughwort (E. rotundifolium) remain in seed throughout Fireworks, Steele, Halfmoon, and Dry Pond Prairies.
• Crown Beard and Wing Stem (Verbesina spp.) wilted from frost.
• Little Bluestem (A. scoparium), Split Beard Bluestem (S. ternarius), and Bushy Bluestem (A. glomeratus) releasing seeds in all prairies with the exception of Bushy Bluestem (A. glomeratus) in Block House, Far Gate, Prairie Three.
• Deciduous trees still have colored leaves remaining – orange, yellow, red, brown, light tan.
• Two Deer sighted in Prairie One (M and F), One Deer sighted in Prairie Two (M), One Deer sighted in Prairie Five (F).
• Sweat Bee sighted in Prairie Four.

11/3/23

• Foxtail (Setaria spp.) has turned brown and started falling over, done for the season.
• Ragweed (A. artemisiifolia) has lost all leaves, done for the season.
• Rosinweed (S. asteriscus) completely brown and brittle, done for the season.
• Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) has lost all leaves and become brittle, done for the season.
• Wild Quinine (P. intergrifolium) has lost all leaves and become brittle, done for the season.
• Eastern Baccharis (B. halimifolia) remains in flower, is dominant flowering plant in Fireworks and Steele Prairies.
• Late Boneset (E. serotinum) releasing seeds in Prairie Four, Prairie Two, and Prairie Seven.
• Camphorweed (H. subaxillaris) in seed, some remains in flower in Fireworks East and West Prairies.

11/7/23

• Persimmon berries are still present on trees at Otter Pond.
• Cope’s Gray Treefrog sighted on deciduous tree in Otter Woods.
• Male Deer sighted in Otter Woods.
• Two Turtles sighted basking on logs in Otter Pond.
• Red Bellied Woodpecker sighted in Otter Woods.
• Initial growth of Geranium species, Chickweed (S. media), Deadnettle (L. amplexicaule, L. purpureum), Sweet Gum (L. styraciflua), Pokeweed (P. americana), and Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.) all coming up in Turtle Pond Logging Decks.
• Lots of Coyote, Deer, and Bird activity in and around Turtle Pond Logging Decks.
• Coyote Tracks & Scat Sighted
• Deer Tracks & Scat Sighted
• Fresh Throw Up Sighted, Contents - Foam and Grass Pieces. (Likely from a Coyote with an upset stomach)
• Phoebes and Sparrows Sighted in understory shrubs.

11/10/23

• Indian Grass (S. nutans) turning brown.
• Chinese Bushclover (L. cuneata) turning yellow, dying out for season.
• Henbit Deadnettle (L. amplexicaule) found in flower along Fireworks East Prairie edge.
• Helped collect ten deer scat samples from Prairies Two and Three. Lots of deer activity in Halfmoon Prairies.

11/13/23

• Male deer sighted along edge of Halfmoon Trail, bedding down.
• Dogfennel (E. capillifolium) seeds present.
• Yellow Oxalis (O. dellini) sighted in flower along edge of Halfmoon trail, Fireworks edge, and in Fireworks Log Deck.

11/15/23

• Initial growth of Geranium species, Chickweed (S. media), Deadnettle (L. amplexicaule, L. purpureum), Sweet Gum (L. styraciflua), Pokeweed (P. americana), and Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.) all coming up in Fireworks Logging Deck along edges.
• Barred Owl Sighted in Fireworks Pine Stand.
• Marbled Salamander Sighted in Fireworks Pine Stand, New to Species List.
• Great Blue Heron sighted in Fireworks Pond.

11/18/23

• Initial growth of Chickweed (S. media), Deadnettle (L. amplexicaule, L. purpureum), Sweet Gum (L. styraciflua), Rosinweed (S. asteriscus), Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.), Dogfennel (E. capillifolium), and Hastate Leaf Dock (R. hastatus) all sighted in Muddy Branch, Fireworks West, and Fireworks East Prairies.
• Eastern Bluebird and Northern Mockingbird were sighted in Fireworks East Prairie.
• Deciduous Holly (I. decidua), Briar (Smilax spp.), Red Cedar (J. virginiana), and Rose (Rosa spp.) all collected in fruit.
• Christmas Fern (P. acrostichoides) found with sori along Muddy Branch.

11/20/23

• Hairy Woodpecker sighted in Halfmoon, eating insects.
• Wood Stork Pond level down, lots of deer tracks sighted in mud along edge. Several deer rubs in the wood line surrounding the pond.
• Two Turkeys were sighted walking through pine stand in Halfmoon by Wood Stork Pond.
• Sulphur Butterfly sighted on Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in Prairie Two.

11/27/23

• Chickweed (S. media) and Henbit Deadnettle (L. amplexicaule) found in flower in Fireworks Log Deck.
• Two Black Eyed Susans (R. hirta) were sighted still in flower in Prairie One.
• Fairly windy, seeds of Goldenrod (Solidago sp.), Bluestem Grasses, and Dogfennel (E. capillifolium) visibly releasing seeds, resembling a light snow.
• The majority of deciduous trees have lost their leaves. Oak trees, Red Maple, and some Sweet Gums still seen with colored leaves.
• Barn Owl was sighted flying over Francis Prairie, ~10 feet above ground.

11/28/21

• Second Frost
• Two female deer sighted in Steele Prairie.

Click image below for larger size.

Aerial views of 3 prairies showing November growth progression

Author: Brianna Bergamini