Wacouta Potpourri

Fog Shrouded Rattlesnake Bluff

August moving into early September is an optimum time to observe morning fog a result of cool air over the moist landscape.

Fog Over Wacouta Bay

The same can be said of cool air over the warm water of the river and it's backwaters.

Male Black Swallowtail

As the Wacouta Prairie begins to develop, we are observing more and more interesting insects.  Here we have a male black swallowtail butterfly resting upon the mature blossom of a Queen Anne's Lace.  This curled umbel resembles a bird's nest.

New England Aster and Canada Goldenrod

In her inspiring book "Braiding Sweetgrass", Robin Wall Kemmerer describes the interesting relationship between New England Aster and Canada Goldenrod.

They tend to attract far more pollinating bees by growing together than in isolation.  She poses the question.  Are plants capable of communicating with each other?

There are several places along the trail where you will see these plants growing side by side.

Black and Yellow Garden Spider

One day while walking on the trail next to the prairie, I observed this colorful black and yellow garden spider.  These orb web spiders weave large, vertical open webs for capturing other insects.

White Pelicans

While paddling my canoe in the early morning of September 1st with a river level of 3.9 feet, I observed a flock of 30 white pelicans for the first time this summer.  Given the fact the river has been low for the better part of the summer, I was surprised they hadn't arrived earlier.  It is much easier for these birds to catch fish in low water conditions.

White Pelicans

"YOU DON"T SAY"

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

This has been a wonderful summer for hummingbird activity at our backyard feeders.  At the height of their activity, we were treated to as many as a dozen hummers at the feeders at the same time.

As of September 17th, we still have a few hard core hummers hanging around.  As hard as it is to believe, I have read these birds migrate south solo!

View of Wacouta Prairie from Rattlesnake Bluff

Photo was taken on September 10th.