As we wandered yesterday through a local park with some good friends, we didn't get to see much by way of animals. Only a black squirrel was brave enough to stay amidst the running, shouting and splashing of sticks and stones into the river. Four little and not so little boys and two older girls who forgot they were "older" for a moment can cause quite a racket. We let them run off steam for a while before reigning them in. Still, this Great Blue Heron flew on ahead of us twice before the kids realized that quietness would get them a better sighting. This time, the heron walked away from us before flying, enabling us to get a couple of decent shots. It circled away and then over our heads (us adults at the back got to see that part--the kids missed it). Later, on our way back to the cars, we were startled to hear the sound of a branch cracking above our heads. Looking up we saw again the heron flying off away from us. He must have been sitting in the tree directly above us. I'm sure he was glad when we drove off!
Our friends have been doing a study on monarch butterflies. They "bought the kit" that included a tropical milkweed plant, caterpillars and a tent to let it all live in in their house until the butterflies "hatch". They have been in awe by the awesomeness of the process. So, as we passed a milkweed on our walk, of course we had to stop and look. (The milkweed plant is such has such funny little elves-hat seed pods.) We quickly saw these fuzzy caterpillars--not monarch--on leaves here and there. Then I lifted one and saw this colony of fuzz. They moved a bit so I tried to be quick to take the photos and leave them in peace. My guidebook tells me they are Milkweek Tussock Moth larvae.
And then I spotted the wild cucumber vine twining itself around the other plants. I remembered it from previous walks in this park but had forgotten about it until I ran across it on a website somewhere. The round, prickly pods dry to a lovely brown and the bottom pops open to disperse the seeds. The pod is then left looking like a loofa sponge with these neat cavities inside where the seeds had been. So of course I had to take a picture.
Over the way you will find our reasonable facsimiles of some of our finds from this walk.
1 comment:
Beautiful photos of the milkweed tussock moth larva. And the blue heron: absolutely lovely! I can barely make him out in my pictures, so it's a treat to have this view of him again, especially since I ony saw him that last time. Thanks for sharing with us - the photos and the day! :)
Hope you're having a wonderful time with Pieman back home. Enjoy the moments being a family again!
Post a Comment