Field Notes

Monthly Weather Review
Monthly Rainfall Total: 5.62 inches
Highest Temperature: 92.⁰F
Lowest Temperature: 55^oF
Average Wind Speed: 6.1 mph

5/2/24

• Juvenile Eastern Eyed Click Beetle observed in Fireworks.
• Small’s Ragwort (P. anonyma) is the dominant flowering plant in Firework and Steele Prairies.

5/6/24

• Common Milkweed (A. syriaca) flower buds observed in Firework and Steele Prairies.
• Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) open flowers observed in Firework Prairies, Dry Pond Prairie, and Steele Prairie.
• Mourning Dove observed nesting in Fireworks storage shed.
• Green Heron observed at Dry Pond.

5/9/24

• Coreopsis (C. lanceolata) flowering along Halfmoon Trail and throughout Halfmoon Prairies. Few found flowering throughout Fireworks and Steele Prairies.
• Two Monarch Butterflies observed visiting Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) flowering in Fireworks West and Redbanks.

5/13/24

• Double Crested Cormorant observed at Turtle Pond
• Barn Swallows observed nesting in Kubota shed.
• Common Yarrow (A. millefolium) flowering in Firework, Dry Pond, and Halfmoon Prairies.
• Leaves and stems of Roundleaf Thoroughwort (E. rotundifolium) observed in Redbanks Prairie.
• Eastern Beardtongue (P. laevigatus) flowering throughout Firework, Steele, and Francis Prairies.

5/15/24

• Open flowers of Common Milkweed (P. syriaca) observed in Firework and Steele Prairies.
• Open flowers of Wild Quinine (P. intergrifolium) observed in Firework and Steele Prairies.
• Milkweed Bugs observed on Common Milkweed (A. syriaca) in Redbanks Prairie.
• Flower heads of Rattlesnake Master (E. yuccifolium) emerging in Firework, Steele, and Block House Prairies.
• Some Small’s Ragwort (P. anonyma) remains in flower, mostly in seed or dead, no longer dominant in Firework and Steele Prairies.

5/17/24

• Bachelor’s Button (C. cyanus) in flower in Far Gate South Prairie.
• Moth Mullein (V. blattaria) in flower in Far Gate South Prairie.
• Butterflyweed (A. tuberosa) flowering in Far Gate Prairies.
• Pokeweed (P. americana) berried observed along edges of Block House and Far Gate Prairies.
• Two Tiger Moth caterpillars observed on Yellow Crownbeard (A. occidentalis) leaves along edge of Block House Back Prairie.

5/21/24

• Wild Turkeys observed in Muddy Branch Prairie.
• Yellow Woodsorrel (O. delleni), Hairy Vetch (V. villosa), and Big Yellow Vetch (V. grandiflora) in flower and in seed in Muddy Branch Prairie.
• Several Ebony Jewelwing damselflies observed visiting sedge plants in Muddy Branch.

5/23/24

• Oxeye Daisy (L. vulgare) flowering along Roadsides and Halfmoon Trails
• Asiatic Dayflower (C. communis) flowering near Kayak Put-In
• Six Spotted Tiger Beetle and Red Admiral Butterfly observed at Kayak Put-In

5/28/24

• Barn Swallows in Kubota shed fledged.
• Deptford Pink (D. armeria) flowering along edge of Fireworks East and Indian Mound.
• First Goldfinch observed in Fireworks West Prairie.
• Leaves and stems of Roundleaf Thoroughwort (E. rotundifolium) observed in Halfmoon Prairies.
• Flower buds of Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa) observed in Prairie Five.

5/30/24

• Juvenile Box Turtle Observed in Halfmoon. Female.
• Sphinx Moth caterpillar observed in Indian Mound Prairie.
• Cutleaf Evening Primrose (O. laciniata) in flower in Indian Mound Prairie.

Author: Brianna Bergamini