Signs of Fall

The weather is cooler in Athens and sunrise is later!

Cooler days, shorter days, leaves changing colors and falling, pumpkins, apples, flowers turning to seed are all signs of Fall or is it Autumn.  Fall is near or is it Autumn that is near.

Fall is the Americanized term for Autumn.  At one time there were only two seasons-summer and winter.  Fall/Autumn is a relatively new season.  Autumn first appeared in the 14th century meaning harvest. In the 17th century Fall was introduced in writing.  In the 18th century, Fall and Autumn became the acceptable terms for the season between summer and winter. https://www.livescience.com/34260-fall-autumn-season-names.html. 

When does Fall begin?  There are at least three beliefs about when Fall begins http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/does-autumn-start-2017-autumn-equinox/.
             Using the Meteorological Calendar Fall begins September 1.
             Using the Astronomical Calendar which is used by most of us, Fall begins September 22
             Using Phenology, Fall is fluid and is dictated by changes in the natural world such as the changing of tree colors and ripening of fall fruits.

A short walk capturing early signs of Fall yesterday!

Green Heron

The Green Heron is one of my favorite shorebirds.  I saw my first one a few years ago.  They seem to blend into their environment often looking a dark dusty blue-gray.  Up close or through a camera lens, they are a very colorful bright velvet-green bird with a brownish body.  They are quite beautiful.  

Green Herons are often seen standing motionless on the water’s edge of ponds, marshes, rivers, and lakes.  You can also find them in trees.  They have a unique call. Their call is a sharp kyowk! or skyow! 

Even though I have never seen a Green Heron use a tool, they are known as “one of the world’s few tool-using bird species.  They create fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, earthworms, twigs, feathers, and other objects, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish” (https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/lifehistory). 

Green Herons eat mainly small fish such as minnows, sunfish, catfish, pickerel, carp, perch, gobies, shad, silverside, eels, and goldfish. They also feed on insects, spiders, crustaceans, snails, amphibians, reptiles, and rodents.

Green Herons are still common, but their population suffered a gradual decline of over 1.5% per year from 1966 to 2014, resulting in a cumulative decline of 68%, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey.  They are apparently stable today. 

More about Green Herons at http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/green-heron

Enjoy the photos of the Green Heron!

Flower Garden End of Summer

The summer is nearing the end and my flowerbeds are filled with  flower seed heads and weeds but there is still some color. 

The hibiscus are still going strong and new buds are showing up everyday.

Other flowers that continue to add color include sunflowers, zinnias. coneflowers, asters, roses, sedum, anemones, and more.

Lotus Plants and Pods at the ODNR Fish Hatchery

Lotus Plants and Pods at the ODNR Fish Hatchery

During our trip to the Fish Hatchery, Anne and I were fascinated by the variety and diversity of the lotus seed pods so I took many photos of the lotus plants and pods.  

The lotus plant –flowers, seeds, young leaves, roots- are all edible. Lotus plants have a distinctive dried seed head that looks like a watering can spout.   Lotus seeds have nutritional and medicinal uses.  The seeds are edible and can be cooked or eaten raw.  The seeds are harvested in August and September and are dried in the sun by the growers. 

Photos of the lotus plant and seed pods.  Enjoy.

ODNR Fish Hatchery

Friday lunch with Anne.  We took a trip to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources  Fish Hatchery in Hebron OH (http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/portals/wildlife/pdfs/publications/fish%20management/pub090.pdf).  I heard from friends about the birds that visit and wanted to see for myself and take photos.  Friday was a cold, blustery day which we did not expect.  In spite of the weather, I was able to get a few good shots of the landscape and wildlife. We saw and I photographed eagles, mostly juvenile ones, a kingfisher, turkey buzzards, and a green heron.  The Fish Hatchery is a very nice setting so I will have to return on a bright, sunny day.   

Photos of the trip to the Fish Hatchery.  Enjoy. 

Video Block

Double-click here to add a video by URL or embed code. Learn more

Fallow Deer

Took another trip to Logan and a visit to Ruby’s Petting Zoo (https://www.facebook.com/rubyspettingzoo/) to take photos of the Fallow Deer.  

Fallow Deer are the sole survivors of the Megacerines, a diverse deer lineage abundant during the Ice Age (https://www.britannica.com/animal/fallow-deer#ref1022133).  

Fallow Deer are medium size with light brown coats and white spots. A subspecies are all white with dark eyes.   The males  weigh between 130 to 200 pounds and have  broad flattened antlers.  The females weigh between 60 to 90 pounds.  Both the males and females have powerful legs and are very fast runners.   Green grass is their favorite food.  For more information read http://www.deerworlds.com/fallow-deer/.

Lotus

Lotus or waterlily? For a couple of years I have seen tall aquatic flowers and called them waterlilies.  I was incorrect.  They are lotus.  Yes, very different plants.  The easiest way to tell the difference is that waterlilies float on the water surface  but lotus leaves and flowers grow above the water. For more information see https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/blogs/whats-difference-between-water-lilies-water-lotus.

On State Road 56,  there is a house with a pond and each year they have the most amazing lotus plants growing in their pond.  For two years I have taken photos of the flowers. 

Moonville Tunnel

My friend Anne and I took a short trip to Moonville Tunnel today and then lunch at Lake Hope Lodge.  We having a standing lunch date for Friday usually with a hike or a visit to an interesting place close to Athens. 

Moonville Tunnel is located near Zaleski OH.   It was a town that originated in the late 1880’s around the Marietta and Cincinnati Railroad which later became the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the mining industry.   At Moonville’s peak, there were 100 residents.  Read more at http://www.moonvilletunnel.net/Moonville_History.htm. 

Moonville Ghosts are said to be haunting the tunnel. According to the legend, the tunnel is haunted by several ghosts (http://www.hauntedhocking.com/Moonville_Tunnel_Brakeman.htm)  but the most notable is the story of the death of the brakeman.  The brakeman’s job was very dangerous and on one night a slightly drunk brakeman for the railway fell asleep and sometime during the night.  He was awakened by the sound of his train leaving the depot. He arose, stumbling on to the train track and falling beneath the wheels of the train. The brakeman never recovered from his injuries and the ghost of the man is said to be seen stumbling down tracks within the tunnel with a lantern in hand, still trying to catch the train before it leaves Moonville Station.  Read more at http://www.forgottenoh.com/moonville.html.

Some of the photos I took today.  The lighting was poor and there were times that my camera would not focus at all due to no obvious problems.  Were there ghosts today when Anne and I were visiting? 

Injured Heron on Hocking

Many of us in Athens are stressed because of the Blue Heron who has fishing line wrapped around his mouth. After reading several very similar posts online of Blue Herons that were injured by fishing line and other trash that we discard. We must continue to raise awareness of hazards associated with these practices.  They can be detrimental to the wildlife in our natural habitats. 

We want to do something to help the Heron but we should act with caution.  Several websites as well as experts indicated the danger of nonprofessionals attempting to rescue a Heron.  

A rescue: https://vimeo.com/82502275

The position held by most experts is to observe until the bird is unable to fly and even then approach the bird with caution and control the beak because it can pierce through the body.  Heron rescue: http://www.werc-ca.org/great-blue-heron.html

Also, as noted in http://theraptortrust.org/the-birds/injured/handling/  "Wading birds such as herons, egrets and bitterns are difficult to handle and can be very dangerous to rescue. Most are large (Great blue herons are four feet tall), long-legged, long-necked, birds with formidable beaks. They primarily eat fish, capturing them by stabbing and impaling them with their beaks. These birds are capable of inflicting a painful and serious wound. Be careful when handling them. The best way to capture any of these birds is with a long-handled, large fishing net. If a net is not available, use a blanket or coat and cover the entire bird before picking it up. If you must carry the bird in your arms, be sure to keep its beak away from your face. Place it in a box suitable for the bird’s size, and keep it warm, dark and quiet until you can get it to a rehabber".

Pygmy Goats

Friday lunch with my friend Anne at the Olde Dutch Restaurant in Logan OH and then a short walk to Ruby’s Petting Zoo (https://www.facebook.com/rubyspettingzoo/) to take photos of the Pygmy Goats.  We have visited the goats several times and I find them to be quite photogenic.

The Pygmy Goat originated from Africa and was imported to the United States in the 1950’s.   As the name indicates they are a miniature domesticated goat.  They can be used for milk and meat but most often they are pets or used for show.   Pygmy goats breed year-round and usually have litters of 1 to 3 kids who weigh 2 to 4 pounds. For more information read http://www.wideopenpets.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-pygmy-goat/ or contact the National Pygmy Goat Association (http://www.npga-pygmy.com).

The Pygmy Goat is very photogenic.  Enjoy the photos!

Osprey at the Grange Audubon

There is an Osprey nest at the Grange Audubon this summer. When I found out about the location of the nest, the Osprey eggs had hatched and there were three Osprey chicks.

The nest is on a light pole near the entrance of the park. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website: "The Osprey readily builds its nest on manmade structures, such as telephone poles, channel markers, duck blinds, and nest platforms designed especially for it. Such platforms have become an important tool in reestablishing Ospreys in areas where they had disappeared. In some areas nests are placed almost exclusively on artificial structures". 

In 1996, Ohio created a program to reintroduce 20 nesting pairs of Osprey by 2010, The goal was achieved in 2003.  For more information: http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov/species-and-habitats/species-guide-index/birds/osprey.   There is an Osprey nesting platform near White's Mill in Athens but there has never been a nesting pair there.

Additional information about the Osprey and their behavior can be found at : https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Osprey/id.

A few of my photos are below. 

Grange Audubon

On Monday, August 14 I visited the Grange Audubon in Columbus  with my son, Ross and my sister, Lealer.  

It was very hot! The sun was blazing down on us.  We persisted and hiked and I took photos.  

The Grange Audubon is the home of many wildflowers, birds, and other animals.  It is the home of a large osprey nest. I will post some of those photos in a later blog.

Check out the Grange Audubon website : http://grange.audubon.org

Photos of our walk through the Audubon are below.  Hope that you enjoy them.

Columbus Park of Roses

Yesterday, I was in Columbus at the Park of Roses with my son and my sister.   I was a bit surprised to see so many amazing roses in bloom.  According to the website,  "The plants in the Formal Rose Garden always put on a second peak bloom show in early September as the weather cool". Seems as if the second act has begun!  Check out more about the Park of Roses at http://www.parkofroses.org. 

I took many photos. A few are posted below.  Hope that you enjoy seeing them as much as I enjoyed visiting the Park of Roses.

Red Fox in the Backyard

A few years ago, I had a red fox who visited my yard several times a day. We got to know each other at a distance.  He would let me photograph him and wait down in the field until I put out  bird seed. He seemed to like eating seed. On one occasion, he caught a squirrel but when he saw me come out with bird seed, he left the squirrel in the field and came up for the seed and then returned to take the squirrel home.  He was a real beauty. He brought his mate on one occasion but she was very shy and did not come out of the tall grasses, 

More about the red fox at    http://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/r/red-fox/    

Check out my photos below.  Thanks!

Great Blue Heron

I was at Lake Logan again on Tuesday August 10 and saw a Great Blue Heron. Great Blue Herons  tend to be a mainstay at Lake Logan and  are found elsewhere in ponds, marshes, lakes, rivers.  They seem to be everywhere!  They are the  largest heron in North America.  More information can be found at https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Blue_Heron/id.

I enjoy taking photos of the Great Blue Heron.  They are very photogenic.  Enjoy the photos of  the Great Blue Heron.

Lake Logan

Today I went to Lake Logan State Park (http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/lakelogan) which is about 30 minutes from Athens.  It was very quiet with only a few people fishing and no other photographers.  It was also very cloudy and gloomy; not the best day to take photographs. When I first arrived,  there did not appear to be very much wildlife but I was able to capture a few shots of a green heron, wood ducks, a kingfisher, and mallards.  The hibiscus  and water lilies were in full bloom. 

Last summer, there were many more egrets, herons, and ducks visible.  This summer the animals are not in the water in large numbers and the water is very murky.  

Photos today at Lake Logan. Enjoy!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

The beautiful yellow large butterflies that we see in our yards are Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. They love gardens and mud puddles in the garden. You also find them in parks, forests, fields, and near streams. They are the first butterfly I see, usually in late spring. In my yard they enjoy verbena, cone flowers, and sweet pea probably because they seem to enjoy pink, purple and red flowers. I recently found out that their host plants are mostly trees and they have a lifespan of about two weeks.  Read more at: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Papilio-glaucus.

Bluejays and the Apple Trees

In case you are wondering why the apples from your apple tree are on the ground partially eaten, maybe birds are eating them. Birds including American Robin, Gray Catbird,  House Wren, Northern Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, House Finch and many more love fruit. The main culprit in my yard seems to be the Bluejay. 

Crows Everywhere

Each morning I wake up to the sound of crows cawing! Throughout the day everywhere I go, I see crows,  They are in the backyard, in fields and meadows, along the highway, in parking lots, and everywhere.   They spend a lot of time in my backyard and on my deck so I have many opportunities to photograph them.

We know that crows are very smart: http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2016/07/crows-continue-to-be-terrifyingly-intelligent.html.  I had the opportunity to watch them learn to eat from a suet feeder on my deck.  At first, they could not maintain balance to eat from the suet feeder  but after a few days they were pros and seemed to enjoy the suet.

Photos of crow in my backyard and on my deck.  Enjoy!

Painted Lady

Is there a Painted Lady hanging out in your flowers?  The Painted Lady and the American Lady are often confused so I hope that these are photos of the Painted Lady😄!! The major observable difference is that the American Lady has a white spot on the wing and the Painted Lady does not.  The Painted lady has 4 smaller eyespots and the American Lady has two large ones.   

More about the Painted Lady: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Vanessa-cardui

Enjoy the photos!