PATUXENT RESEARCH REFUGE (2015-5-7 to 5-10) WWW9 Part 2
-Patuxent is a wildlife refuge as well as a research center. As an example of the work they do, they are responsible for the research (DDT) that saved our national emblem, the Bald Eagle, from extinction and are the clearinghouse for bird banding for North America.
-This was a 4-day Wicked Warbler Weekend. Thursday was spent at Bombay Hook, the next three days at Patuxent exploring trails on the North and South Tract, taking a shuttle bus tour of areas closed to the public, and taking the Whooping Crane observation tour. They also have a 12 mile car loop where you can go birding - lots of habitats.
-There was an unscheduled stop on the way home at Susquehannock State Park where the wind was blowing and the raptors flew close by us.
-www9 90-species bird list in description under first picture
UPDATE 2017-9-22: paraphrased: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., has for 51 years been the epicenter of an effort to rescue cranes from the precipice of extinction by breeding and training birds for release. Funding for the propagation program dries up this month.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/09/18/a-50-year-effort-to-raise-endangered-whooping-cranes-comes-to-an-end/
-This was a 4-day Wicked Warbler Weekend. Thursday was spent at Bombay Hook, the next three days at Patuxent exploring trails on the North and South Tract, taking a shuttle bus tour of areas closed to the public, and taking the Whooping Crane observation tour. They also have a 12 mile car loop where you can go birding - lots of habitats.
-There was an unscheduled stop on the way home at Susquehannock State Park where the wind was blowing and the raptors flew close by us.
-www9 90-species bird list in description under first picture
UPDATE 2017-9-22: paraphrased: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Laurel, Md., has for 51 years been the epicenter of an effort to rescue cranes from the precipice of extinction by breeding and training birds for release. Funding for the propagation program dries up this month.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2017/09/18/a-50-year-effort-to-raise-endangered-whooping-cranes-comes-to-an-end/
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Patuxent Research Refuge. There is much to see and do inside. WWW9 90-species bird list in description.
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One wing is only nature dioramas. You can spend several hours in this part of the Center looking and listening to the narrations.
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Another thing you can do is buy a T-shirt for your mother at their book and gift shop.
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No matter the weather, birders can watch from this half-round observation area.
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In a flower bed out front is a bed of Ragwort and on it, the White-crossed Seed Bug that loves the seeds of Ragwort.
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Karen finds something large on an outside wall. It's a Spring Fishfly.
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The Fire Road Trail. There are many miles of well-marked trails.
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Violet Wood Sorrel, an uncommon wildflower to find.
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Beech leaves
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A Beech and a Virginia Pine growing close together.
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Bluets
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Black Racer
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It's not Spring without Robins
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Narrow-leaved Buttercup
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At a lake mom sits on the bench and performs a camera check. First, a look to the right at the observation tower.
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The results of camera check #1, the observation tower and Karen.
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The second camera check is across the lake. See the arrow pointing to a Swan? -- No? -- Do you see the arrow?
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Camera check #2 reveals an immature Tundra Swan that was either left behind or didn't choose to follow the flock North.
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Third and last camera check to the left.
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Camera check #3 reveals a Beaver lodge. Later, along a wooded trail, we find Beaver sign on a tree.
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This is the North Tract contact station. You must check in here and sign a paper releasing the refuge from harm if you wander off the trail and get blown up by old ordinance.
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Wildflowers like Star of Bethlehem and Fleabane are encouraged to grow in the flower beds around the contact station.
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This is a female Black Willow tree. You can tell the difference by the flowers.
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We visit the Butterfly Garden, but not much is growing or blooming. Karen is intent on birding.
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Promethea Moth, freshly hatched and drying its wings on a Button Bush!
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We take some pictures while on the 12-mile car tour also. Here are Canada Geese feeding in tandem. Obligatory curpin. Don't ask.
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Believe it or not this spider, less than an eighth of an inch, was identified by the folks at bugguide as a spiderling of Labyrinth Orbweaver.
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Across the road from this spot is where Karen saw her Summer Tanager lifer.
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Lone Star Tick, female, was removed from Mom while at Patuxent.
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Lone Star Tick, male, Mom found and removed a week later. >:o(
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Buttercups are difficult to pin down to species if you don't get all the markers right.
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Autumn Olive is in bloom this time of year.
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Dwarf Crested Iris is a native wildflower.
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Dwarf Crested Iris only gows about 6" tall.
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Turkey Vulture couple. They kept touching beaks.
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Another stop on the car tour is for lunch at New Marsh lake.
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Mom brought a salad but forgot the fork. Karen to the rescue with a whittled utensil! Mom brought it home to save it, but a picture will do!
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We didn't stop at Cattail Pond.
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At the end of the car tour mom sees a tree and IDs it as Box Elder. She said that all this ID work might be paying off because she recognizes this tree that she didn't know several years ago.
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We visit another lake before we head back to the hotel. There's a tree stump in the water near the shore that has something moving on it.
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Karen counted 7 Cricket Frogs at one point, but some jumped off while pictures were being taken. How many do you think are left?
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One last look before we leave.
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Driving out of this area of the refuge we see Prickly Pear Cactus. This cactus is native to North America.
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We begin Sunday on a short trail near the visitor's center; there's Switchgrass on the left, Cattails on the right, and a Snowball Bush in back.
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While walking the paths there, we see Pussytoes
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Here's Mouse-eared Chickweed - it's easy to see why it's called that.
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Lyre-leaved sage - It's called that because of the shape of the leaves at the base of the plant.
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Rose Verbena
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Mom takes a break on a bench while Karen takes another short trail before we had back to the center.
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On the way back we pass Nodding Thistle
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The tram tour is narrated by a guide and takes us to areas of the refuge normally closed to the public.
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This is one of the habitats we pass through and is where Mom spotted a Kestrel to add to the bird list.
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We pass Snowden Hall on the way back to the center. This was the plantation home of the original owners of this land.
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In early afternoon we have our last event at the refuge before we leave for home.
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We go on the Whooping Crane Tour and have the opportunity to view these birds from a blind as well as from the road.
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Here are some Whooping Crane pictures from the diorama at the visitor's center. This is an adult.
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This is a juv. Whooping Crane. There is still some brown in the plumage.
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This is what a Whooping Crane chick looks like.
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And, to finish the record of our visit at Patuxent, another photo of a Whooping Crane.
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