October

Crownbeard and Wingstem (Verbesina spp.) in the pines.

Monthly Weather Review:

10/3/23

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) and Indian Grass (S. nutans) are dominant plants in Francis Prairie.
Coyote, Bobcat, and Deer tracks sighted in Turtle Pond Logging Deck.
Seven Eastern Phoebes sighted in Turtle Pond Logging Deck.
The moon was still visible mid-sky at 11:06am.
Crownbeard and Wingstem (Verbesina spp.) are dominant flowering plants in Block House

American Holly (I. opaca) berries.

10/6/23

Roundleaf Thoroughwort (E. rotundifolium) releasing seeds in Firework Prairie, Block House Prairies, and Jax Dry Pond Prairies.
Hyssopleaf Thoroughwort (E. hyssopifolium) releasing seeds in Firework Prairie, Block House Prairies, and Jax Dry Pond Prairies.
Late Boneset (E. serotinum) releasing seeds in Fireworks Prairie.
Horseweed (E. canadensis) releasing seeds in Firework Prairies, Halfmoon Prairies, and Block House Prairies.
Horse Nettle (S. carolinense) fruits present in Halfmoon Prairies, Indian Mound Prairie, and Block House Prairies.
American Holly (I. opaca) berries present in Halfmoon, red in color.
Starry Rosinweed (S. astersicus) is done for the season in all prairies.
Wild Quinine (P. intergrifolium) is done for the season in all prairies.

Juvenile Green Treefrog on leaf in Dry Pond Prairie.

10/9/23

Five juvenile green treefrogs were sighted on Crownbeard (V. occidentalis) leaves along the edge of Block House and Dry Pond Prairies.
Blue Heliotrope (H. amplexicaule) remains in flower in Block House Prairies.
Red Shoulder Hawk sighted in Pine Tree within Block House North Prairie.
Three Yellow-Belly Sliders sighted in Turtle Pond.
Ironweed (V. noveboracensis) in flower along Otter Entrance and Metal Silo Prairies.
Black Eyed Susan (R. hirta) stems are brittle and brown, all seeds released. Done for the season in all prairies.

Dogfennel (E. capillifolium) flowering in Fireworks West Prairie.

10/13/23

Dogfennel (E. capillifolium) in flower in Halfmoon Prairies.
Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, and Splitbeard Bluestem (Andropogon spp.) starting to develop seed heads or already have seed heads in Halfmoon and Firework Prairies.
Two deer sighted in Prairie Four, one male and one female.
Black Rat Snake sighted curled up in Indian Grass (S. nutans) along the edge of Prairie Five.
Joe Pye Weed (E. purpureum) releasing seeds in Prairie 5 and Prairie 7.
Ragweed (A. artemisiifolia) found in flower and in seed in Firework Prairies.

10/16/23

Persimmon (D. virginiana) berries dropping in Redbanks Prairie, Steele Prairie, and Prairie One.
Eastern Baccharis (B. halimifolia) found with leaves only, with flower buds, and with flowers in Redbanks Prairie. Found with flower buds only in Fireworks East and West Prairies.
Atamasco Lily (Z. atamasca) seed pods present along edge of Steele Prairie.
Crownbeard and Wingstem (Verbesina spp.) dropping leaves and starting to die out for the season in Halfmoon and Far Side.
The first deer rub of the season was sighted in Block House South Prairie on a small cedar tree (~4-inch DBH).

Eastern Baccharis (B. halimifolia) in flower in Redbanks Prairie.

10/20/23

Bees sighted visiting Blue Mistflower (C. coelestinum) along roadside.
Large orange fungus found growing at base of Oak Tree in Halfmoon, possibly Chicken of the Woods (L. cincinnatus).
Duck species sighted along Thompson Creek, ~4 individuals.
Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Splitbeard Bluestem, and Bushy Bluestem (Andropogon spp.) are all releasing seeds in Fireworks, Halfmoon, and Dry Pond Prairies.

Coral Fungus on Forest Floor.

10/24/23

Coral Fungus (P. myceliosa) was sighted in Mixed Hardwood Forest near Love Shack.
Eastern Black Trumpet (C. fallax) fungus was sighted in Mixed Hardwood Forest near Love Shack.
British Soldier Lichen (C. cristatella) sighted on rotting branch in Halfmoon.

10/27/23

Harnessed Tiger Moth found by Otter Pond.
Eastern Baccharis (B. halimifolia) is the dominant flowering plant in Redbanks Prairie. Bees, Wasps, Grasshoppers, and Spider species all sighted on one individual.
Crownbeard and Wingstem (Verbesina spp.) starting to wilt and die for the season in pine stands and Block House Prairies.

American Kestrel on Sound Meter.

10/30/23

Three White-Tail Deer were sighted in Blue House Forest.
One Male Box Turtle sighted in forest trail near Indian Mound Prairie.
Initial growth of Geranium sp., Deadnettle (L. purpureum), Wood Sorrel (Oxalis spp.), and Wild Onion (Allium spp.) all sighted in trails along Muddy Branch.
Red Maple (A. rubrum) Trees in Muddy Branch will full red color sighted.
6 Meadowlark birds sighted in Fireworks Sculpture Grassland.
American Kestrel sighted on Sound Meter in Fireworks.