Date: 3/30/25 7:08 am From: Judy Griffith <9waterfall9...> Subject: More First of Season Everything
On Saturday, March 29, after receiving a blessed 2/10ths inch of rain, the native wildflowers responded so happily with their blossoms. In part of the woods there were Ozark Trillium, Bloodroot, Celandine Poppy, Rue Anemone, White Trout Lilies still in flower or bowing their seed pods to Earth, and of course the patient Spring Beauties and Bluets that began their cheerful bloom during the drought. Fragrant Golden Selenia flowers covered patches of sandstone in the bluff glade, and Crow Poison buds were evident. Then last night in a 3am thunderstorm all received another 4/10ths. Now there are finally leaves pushing out of Elderberries and Shrubby St. John'swort, native Christmas Fern fiddleheads actually showing in the centers of crowns, Mayapples opening their umbrellas, and tiny ’toe beans’ on the Pussy Toes.
Singing FOS neotropical migratory birds included Northern Parula, Yellow-throated Warbler, and this morning a Brown Thrasher. Looking forward to what arrives later today.
Pine Siskins and Goldfinches have now donned their happy yellow for breeding season, and others like Carolina Chickadees, Carolina Wrens, and American Crows appear to be gleaning seeds, suet, corn, and peanuts to take home to their nests. Wood Ducks are also quietly nesting or flush from the water when seen.
My walk with the dogs was only about 2 miles round trip but I wanted to monitor the territories to which Louisiana Waterthrushes had returned, and was delighted to note at least seven males singing and sometimes females chipping at these places:
1) Piney Creek below house 2) Waterfall 3) SE corner at creek 4) Rabbit Rock below bluffs 5) Whiskey Hollow Creek
6) Tipi Creek 7) Otter Pond
And although I’ve seen only one Zebra Swallowtail to date, there were several Orange-tip Falcate butterflies fluttering low above emerging vegetation, along with small dark Skippers, some little Blues, and either Comma or Question-Mark butterflies nectaring on the sap wells of trees.
