Christmas Eve late afternoon, a walk in the Woods, a balm from the traffic and the bustle. From the NW entrance at 4:00 - an odd thing - the water from the NW pond is spreading and inundating more of the low land, despite the lack of rain for this past week. An indication of a recovering water table? Water depth at 2.50 ft. There is a light film of pollen covering all the surface and hay fever has afflicted people this week. Too early to be Juniper. I wonder what it could be? No minnows ruffling the surface, no turtles.
It was all peaceful (and warm). Through the Woods, there were only flocks of robins.. and three deer - two does and a yearling. I stopped, waved and sang a greeting to the deer. The moderate winds of this week brought down lots of small ends of branches but nothing significant across the trails.
I see fewer vertebrates in the Woods now, since the new station was built, limiting access to wild lands and the river to the south. Long time since I've seen raccoon, coyote, even armadillos in there. Fewer box turtles now. I did flush a barred owl from the big pecan tree above East Pond.
There are freshly-used prominent cliff or slope face burrows easily visible from the East Pond.
The Wash has long pools of standing water, although the Elm Bridge is dry. It will all be flowing again in the winter storm due in two days. Water depth at East Pond is 1.82 ft.
Last of the golden sun setting at 5:15. I watched the late light in the top 6 feet of the Grandfather cottonwood's highest branches. Those highest buds, branches and leaves must be especially valuable.
Thursday, December 24, 2015
Sunday, December 20, 2015
Warming Winter Woods
Out early Saturday morning to the Woods via the NE Gate. Mid December and the Woods were mid 50's. I walked in on the Tree Loop and wondered if trees would begin to break their buds before the winter solstice. The Woods are open now and clear. The last of the canopy leaves are down. Only the evergreen understory shrubs, Ligustrum, Elaeagnus, and Euonymus remain. At the south end of the loop, a cottontail rabbit dashes away east. There is still water in the Wash, not flowing as far as the dry Elm Bridge. At the East Pond the water is 2.85 feet.
It is a good time to wander and get lost, off trails, and to find new things. On the west side, the southwest quarter still has pools of standing water in a patchwork covering 40% of the area. These would be perfect for salamanders but there are none. I wonder about the patchwork effect that this could create on soil micro-arthropods, earthworms and other invertebrates either inundated or safe and dry above the standing water. On the west side two big trees are down from wind and rain a week ago. A large oak snag near the twin persimmons (#63) has fallen - its roots rotted away to too little support. By oak snag #57, an old elm killed by beetles and disease has broken. Both trees smashed down others when they fell.
In the south central Delta the green growth of annual herbs is advancing. Across the northern and western section it is purely Stellaria, chickweed. In the southern section it is a more diverse mixure of Stellaria, Viola violets, Cardamine bittercress, Geranium, Glechoma and young leaves of a borage. with some patches of Allium spring onions and grass scattered here and there. Four healthy, well-fed white-tail, deer grazing there as I arrive, run away uncertainly. The deer diagonal trail across the Tree Loop needs a blow down cleared. The West Loop of the Tree Loop does, too.
The dense stand of small diameter green ash is knocking branches tree to tree in the wind. A tall willow makes a repeated forsaken screeching as the wind blows a snag leaning against it.
It is a good time to wander and get lost, off trails, and to find new things. On the west side, the southwest quarter still has pools of standing water in a patchwork covering 40% of the area. These would be perfect for salamanders but there are none. I wonder about the patchwork effect that this could create on soil micro-arthropods, earthworms and other invertebrates either inundated or safe and dry above the standing water. On the west side two big trees are down from wind and rain a week ago. A large oak snag near the twin persimmons (#63) has fallen - its roots rotted away to too little support. By oak snag #57, an old elm killed by beetles and disease has broken. Both trees smashed down others when they fell.
In the south central Delta the green growth of annual herbs is advancing. Across the northern and western section it is purely Stellaria, chickweed. In the southern section it is a more diverse mixure of Stellaria, Viola violets, Cardamine bittercress, Geranium, Glechoma and young leaves of a borage. with some patches of Allium spring onions and grass scattered here and there. Four healthy, well-fed white-tail, deer grazing there as I arrive, run away uncertainly. The deer diagonal trail across the Tree Loop needs a blow down cleared. The West Loop of the Tree Loop does, too.
The dense stand of small diameter green ash is knocking branches tree to tree in the wind. A tall willow makes a repeated forsaken screeching as the wind blows a snag leaning against it.
Friday, November 27, 2015
Cold Wet New Things in the Woods
You see the most unusual things in the Woods when you go at the most unusual times.
Friday afternoon as all of Norman huddled beside heaters or cups of hot tea, with a steady drizzle of almost freezing rain outside, I put on knee boots and my best winter raincoat and went to the Southwest Gate of the Woods. The first thing I noticed was how open or bare the Woods suddenly seemed. The rain of the past few days brought down almost all the autumn leaves, leaving the Woods looking suddenly wintry. The next thing I noticed was how rich the colors were everywhere. The rain saturated everything and brought colors to their fullest. The big brown Auricularia jelly fungus growing on the dead elm and the two white agaric mushrooms (Coprinus?) growing at the base of the tree. Flood water from campus had backed up just short of the fifty meter post. The ground all through the SW third of the Woods will be getting a good deep long drink, saturated all the way down to the ground water table.
I walked north and east into the heart of the Woods away from the sound of the traffic on Chautauqua, taking care not to overtop my boots in some hidden depression.
The maze of leaves floating in the shallow water, rounded clubs of bur oak, light on the underside, richer red-brown on the top, the brighter yellow-green mottling of elm leaves.
Some things that are normally hidden in the Woods were revealed. Passing by the second largest cottonwood, as I have a hundred times before, I was surprised to find a four meter tall Euonymus americanus(?) hearts a busting bush in the shade of the dominant, second-largest cottonwood. Its leaves were still a bright green. It is the only one I have seen in the Woods, although its cousin, the Euonymus vine is a moderately common evergreen in the winter there. North to the East Pond, I caught the pond smell, not the same as the watery acres I had just walked through. This was a familiar smell of permanent or older water.. perhaps with fish..or some other forms of animal life.
On the north side of the Pond there were the bright red leaves of a black oak. It had been crushed two(?) years ago in a significant blow down; but it looked like it had come back, and was going to do well. I haven't seen red that rich and bright in the leaves of any other oak in the Woods.
East along the Northern Loop to Island crossing. The water there was flowing at a good volume, not quite covering the island. Southward along the levee the Chasmanthium fish-on-a-line grass was a bright yellow. At the small cluster of big cottonwoods, I disturbed the owl that perches on the east side of the Wash. It hooted and flew west a hundred feet to a new perch. I had not noticed before, that one of the three large cottonwoods had broken where the flow comes in from the smaller eastern culvert. At Tall Stump, and here and there through the Woods, the prettiest fall colors were on the Viburnum shrub trees with their orange brown leaves. Each Viburnum stood out like a surprising flame in the distance. The Northwest Pond was brim full and filling areas west and south, flowing into the cattails. The distinct almost fishy, smell of older water was there again.
After completing my looping wander through the Woods I packed up and headed out and stopped to say hello to Kim B leaving the NW Gate with her Dad and three colleagues after collecting insects in the rain from the forensic site.
Friday afternoon as all of Norman huddled beside heaters or cups of hot tea, with a steady drizzle of almost freezing rain outside, I put on knee boots and my best winter raincoat and went to the Southwest Gate of the Woods. The first thing I noticed was how open or bare the Woods suddenly seemed. The rain of the past few days brought down almost all the autumn leaves, leaving the Woods looking suddenly wintry. The next thing I noticed was how rich the colors were everywhere. The rain saturated everything and brought colors to their fullest. The big brown Auricularia jelly fungus growing on the dead elm and the two white agaric mushrooms (Coprinus?) growing at the base of the tree. Flood water from campus had backed up just short of the fifty meter post. The ground all through the SW third of the Woods will be getting a good deep long drink, saturated all the way down to the ground water table.
I walked north and east into the heart of the Woods away from the sound of the traffic on Chautauqua, taking care not to overtop my boots in some hidden depression.
The maze of leaves floating in the shallow water, rounded clubs of bur oak, light on the underside, richer red-brown on the top, the brighter yellow-green mottling of elm leaves.
Some things that are normally hidden in the Woods were revealed. Passing by the second largest cottonwood, as I have a hundred times before, I was surprised to find a four meter tall Euonymus americanus(?) hearts a busting bush in the shade of the dominant, second-largest cottonwood. Its leaves were still a bright green. It is the only one I have seen in the Woods, although its cousin, the Euonymus vine is a moderately common evergreen in the winter there. North to the East Pond, I caught the pond smell, not the same as the watery acres I had just walked through. This was a familiar smell of permanent or older water.. perhaps with fish..or some other forms of animal life.
On the north side of the Pond there were the bright red leaves of a black oak. It had been crushed two(?) years ago in a significant blow down; but it looked like it had come back, and was going to do well. I haven't seen red that rich and bright in the leaves of any other oak in the Woods.
East along the Northern Loop to Island crossing. The water there was flowing at a good volume, not quite covering the island. Southward along the levee the Chasmanthium fish-on-a-line grass was a bright yellow. At the small cluster of big cottonwoods, I disturbed the owl that perches on the east side of the Wash. It hooted and flew west a hundred feet to a new perch. I had not noticed before, that one of the three large cottonwoods had broken where the flow comes in from the smaller eastern culvert. At Tall Stump, and here and there through the Woods, the prettiest fall colors were on the Viburnum shrub trees with their orange brown leaves. Each Viburnum stood out like a surprising flame in the distance. The Northwest Pond was brim full and filling areas west and south, flowing into the cattails. The distinct almost fishy, smell of older water was there again.
After completing my looping wander through the Woods I packed up and headed out and stopped to say hello to Kim B leaving the NW Gate with her Dad and three colleagues after collecting insects in the rain from the forensic site.
Sunday, November 22, 2015
What do Robins Hear
Pleasant end of the afternoon. I went to the North Central Gate at 3:30. (One tree down across the trail south needs a saw.) From the herpetology array I went west. This section could still use some additional clearing of Verbesina frostweed and Symphoricarpos deerbush from summer's growth.
In the center of the Woods there were a couple of white-tailed deer, a doe and yearling. I waved to them and sang. They stared for a while, frozen in place, and then nervously twitched their tails and began to feed again.. partly ready to dismiss me as the harmless local nut.
There are small patches of green Stellaria and Glechoma (?) Gill over the.. in the Woods west of the trail south of the East Pond. The patches are discreet, the size of a bathtub or maybe 2-3 times that. Interesting to return with new spring canopy and see if extra light (beneath dead trees?) explained the location of these spots of green.. or water .. or?
I took the trail along the west side of the Wash and stopped to watch the robins. There were only 30-40 in sight at any one time but the air was filled with the calls of a hundred or more.
I wonder what they hear. Is it all noise to them.. or do they pick out particular messages from particular individuals? I sat and listened for a quarter of an hour. Then abruptly (in < 2 seconds) 90% of the calls stopped. I looked up to the sky and saw a short burly owl taking flight from the wash, heading west across the Woods accompanied by a troupe of crows. Another minute gone by and all was returning back to normal.
I was sitting across the Wash from the oldest and largest Albizia mimosa, I had cut a year or more ago and started thinking about invasive plants. The mimosa stump now has a cluster of two-meter high stump sprouts.. wilting after the cold freeze Saturday night. Down in the Wash walking north to the Bur Oak bridge, I was struck by the still green and fresh curtain of Clematis virgin's bower growing there up into the sub-canopy branches. On the sides of the Wash north there are many stems of Lonicera maacki asian amur bush honeysuckle. I need to cut them and watch to see if they resprout.
Returning up the hill along the Northen Rim trail I spotted the two Ailanthus Tree-of-Heaven meter high saplings that remain, after we pulled up 30+ in the same area. I am inclined to leave them and watch their development.
In the center of the Woods there were a couple of white-tailed deer, a doe and yearling. I waved to them and sang. They stared for a while, frozen in place, and then nervously twitched their tails and began to feed again.. partly ready to dismiss me as the harmless local nut.
There are small patches of green Stellaria and Glechoma (?) Gill over the.. in the Woods west of the trail south of the East Pond. The patches are discreet, the size of a bathtub or maybe 2-3 times that. Interesting to return with new spring canopy and see if extra light (beneath dead trees?) explained the location of these spots of green.. or water .. or?
I took the trail along the west side of the Wash and stopped to watch the robins. There were only 30-40 in sight at any one time but the air was filled with the calls of a hundred or more.
I wonder what they hear. Is it all noise to them.. or do they pick out particular messages from particular individuals? I sat and listened for a quarter of an hour. Then abruptly (in < 2 seconds) 90% of the calls stopped. I looked up to the sky and saw a short burly owl taking flight from the wash, heading west across the Woods accompanied by a troupe of crows. Another minute gone by and all was returning back to normal.
I was sitting across the Wash from the oldest and largest Albizia mimosa, I had cut a year or more ago and started thinking about invasive plants. The mimosa stump now has a cluster of two-meter high stump sprouts.. wilting after the cold freeze Saturday night. Down in the Wash walking north to the Bur Oak bridge, I was struck by the still green and fresh curtain of Clematis virgin's bower growing there up into the sub-canopy branches. On the sides of the Wash north there are many stems of Lonicera maacki asian amur bush honeysuckle. I need to cut them and watch to see if they resprout.
Returning up the hill along the Northen Rim trail I spotted the two Ailanthus Tree-of-Heaven meter high saplings that remain, after we pulled up 30+ in the same area. I am inclined to leave them and watch their development.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Turkey and Thanksgiving Mulberry Green
Early winter arrived last night and today with 40 mph winds and the jet stream cutting south over Oklahoma. Almost freezing last night and a 'hard' freeze tonight, 26F, or so. At 3 pm I walked in through the SW Gate to see what had happened to the Woods with all the shaking and rattling of 12 hours of brisk wind. A hundred yards in, along the South Boundary Trail, I encountered a lone female turkey walking north on the same trail I was on. She was lame, or not happy, using one of her legs/ feet. She ran ahead of me twice, a short ways, although I was not trying to approach her, then she flew to a perch in some heavy low branches of the oak of the Two Friends.
The strong winds of the past twelve hours have brought down almost all of the leaves.. including many still-green mulberry leaves along the SE Trail. Interesting that some trees hold their green leaves much longer.. wonder if this is true mainly for invasive species? In patches where elms were dying the trunks still carried scores of late green leaves.
On the Tree Loop, the Juniper cedar #91 had a bare patch of stem where a buck had rubbed antlers.
The berries of Ligustrum privet are ripe with a glaucous black. The Symphoricarpos buck brush berries are ripe. The Elaeagnus leaves are green, but I saw no berries there.
Also along the tree loop, 50 feet east of cedar #91 a big (>60 cm DBH) old open-grown elm (?) with large, low branches had tipped over and captured & crushed a cedar and some other trees beneath it. I went to examine the base of the fallen tree. The roots had all been eaten up..j ust weakening rot had held the tree up. No sign of scolytid beetle galleries under the bark.. only cerambycids and other wood borers.
Crowds of robins were gathered along the stream and around the East pond. I think they know there is a cold night in store.
The south side of the forest, still has good growth of green Stellaria chickweed and other inch high annuals.
The recent rains had supplied water across the bed at Island Crossing; but not flowing at Elm Bridge.
Lots of medium size branches down along the trails. Interesting sample of lichens from above.. covering the fallen branches.
I did not see any deer.
The strong winds of the past twelve hours have brought down almost all of the leaves.. including many still-green mulberry leaves along the SE Trail. Interesting that some trees hold their green leaves much longer.. wonder if this is true mainly for invasive species? In patches where elms were dying the trunks still carried scores of late green leaves.
On the Tree Loop, the Juniper cedar #91 had a bare patch of stem where a buck had rubbed antlers.
The berries of Ligustrum privet are ripe with a glaucous black. The Symphoricarpos buck brush berries are ripe. The Elaeagnus leaves are green, but I saw no berries there.
Also along the tree loop, 50 feet east of cedar #91 a big (>60 cm DBH) old open-grown elm (?) with large, low branches had tipped over and captured & crushed a cedar and some other trees beneath it. I went to examine the base of the fallen tree. The roots had all been eaten up..j ust weakening rot had held the tree up. No sign of scolytid beetle galleries under the bark.. only cerambycids and other wood borers.
Crowds of robins were gathered along the stream and around the East pond. I think they know there is a cold night in store.
The south side of the forest, still has good growth of green Stellaria chickweed and other inch high annuals.
The recent rains had supplied water across the bed at Island Crossing; but not flowing at Elm Bridge.
Lots of medium size branches down along the trails. Interesting sample of lichens from above.. covering the fallen branches.
I did not see any deer.
Sunday, November 15, 2015
Wet Evening in the Woods
Sunday evening a light rain began to fall as the light began to fade. Perfect time to go see the Woods at twilight. At 6 I entered the SW gate and walked the Main SW trail into the heart of the woods. As a hundred thousand Norman citizens hurried home to escape the light intermittent rain and consult the internet, I put on my favorite gray raincoat and went to see what the Woods' inhabitants were doing. Cool mid 50's and mid November but a few crickets were still singing. At Island Crossing the water was slowly beginning to flow with the runoff from the light rain so far. I saw no deer and wondered where they would take shelter on such a gently cool wet evening. On the trail at Tall Stump, there was a hawk's tail feather. Reminded me of watching two days earlier a red tailed or red shouldered hawk flying in circles fairly low over the forest continually harassed by a reckless gang of five daredevil crows. They did not hesitate to dive bomb and harass the hawk, all the while shouting their raucous calls.
The hawk did not seem happy, nor did it seem to be terribly disturbed. It was taking its time.. not fleeing precipitously.
I stopped and looked at the old Grandfather cottonwood. Its leaves are now 80% gone, and the Woods' leaves are 75-80% down. The Woods are opening up again. As darkness came on I enjoyed getting 'lost' or having to retrace my steps to find the right trail in the near dark. The few fresh blazes help when the light is almost gone.
I should walk every day and watch the life of the Woods for my own life.
The hawk did not seem happy, nor did it seem to be terribly disturbed. It was taking its time.. not fleeing precipitously.
I stopped and looked at the old Grandfather cottonwood. Its leaves are now 80% gone, and the Woods' leaves are 75-80% down. The Woods are opening up again. As darkness came on I enjoyed getting 'lost' or having to retrace my steps to find the right trail in the near dark. The few fresh blazes help when the light is almost gone.
I should walk every day and watch the life of the Woods for my own life.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Fish in the Forest
11/14/2015
Out to the Woods this morning from the construction behind the Dog Pound. I checked and cleared the SE Trail and S. Central trail with swing blade and loppers and renewed the blue blazes. The south Service road is blocked by construction. The dried, old red stems of Polygonum were thick and high, mixed with five foot tall dead stems of ragweed. Clearing the southern end of the two trails at the Service Rd. was a job with the tall dead vegetation. And it was more challenging to clear the growth further west at the southern end of the N-S Trail, beside Heather's solar cell.
Beautiful cool fall day.. overcast with rain coming in a day or so. About 70% of the leaves are down. Along the E-W Trail there was a doe and two yearlings. There will be more seeking safety in the Woods as hunting season begins. The southern center of the Woods east of the N-S trail is green with new inch high growth of Stellaria chickweed and other herbs.
It has likely been a good summer for growth. Heavy, record rains/ floods May and June but then a long 'flash drought' lasting for the rest of the summer. Trees had good soil moisture in the important early summer growing season.. then they just had to survive the drought.
I started clearing the Ravine Trail from the west but was only half done when a bolt on the swing blade flew off. I set it aside and did some minimal clearing back up the slope to the western herp trap, now old and de-activated.
Passing by the NW pond, I saw the water at the NE corner roiled with something in the water. After a few minutes I could see the small fish, gathered where the sunlight was warmest. Gambusia, most likely.. probably placed there by mosquito control folks. There was also a small young garter snake by the water's edge, sunning and perhaps looking for a meal. First snake I've seen in the Woods in years. I wonder if the fish will bring back the turtles.
Out to the Woods this morning from the construction behind the Dog Pound. I checked and cleared the SE Trail and S. Central trail with swing blade and loppers and renewed the blue blazes. The south Service road is blocked by construction. The dried, old red stems of Polygonum were thick and high, mixed with five foot tall dead stems of ragweed. Clearing the southern end of the two trails at the Service Rd. was a job with the tall dead vegetation. And it was more challenging to clear the growth further west at the southern end of the N-S Trail, beside Heather's solar cell.
Beautiful cool fall day.. overcast with rain coming in a day or so. About 70% of the leaves are down. Along the E-W Trail there was a doe and two yearlings. There will be more seeking safety in the Woods as hunting season begins. The southern center of the Woods east of the N-S trail is green with new inch high growth of Stellaria chickweed and other herbs.
It has likely been a good summer for growth. Heavy, record rains/ floods May and June but then a long 'flash drought' lasting for the rest of the summer. Trees had good soil moisture in the important early summer growing season.. then they just had to survive the drought.
I started clearing the Ravine Trail from the west but was only half done when a bolt on the swing blade flew off. I set it aside and did some minimal clearing back up the slope to the western herp trap, now old and de-activated.
Passing by the NW pond, I saw the water at the NE corner roiled with something in the water. After a few minutes I could see the small fish, gathered where the sunlight was warmest. Gambusia, most likely.. probably placed there by mosquito control folks. There was also a small young garter snake by the water's edge, sunning and perhaps looking for a meal. First snake I've seen in the Woods in years. I wonder if the fish will bring back the turtles.
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Gone to the River
16 May 2015 Gone to the River for the summer. The ticks of Oliver's Woods are a little too amazing. The Woods can rest from my daily walks. The roots of the Elephantopus and the roots of trailside grasses can grow fully into the soil and hold it in place. Trees can fall and I won't be there to clear the trail until September. The Woods can be alone and be itself.
Possum Drinking and Purple Beauty Berries
Returned to the Woods this afternoon at 3:15, the NE Gate and Tree Loop. I brought my clippers and walked the east side of the Loop. It needed some clearing.. and still needs more. It has been months since I regularly walked there; but the trail is OK. I walked down the steep section to the creek and was surprised to see an opossum by the water just ten feet in front of me. It barely looked up at me but went on drinking. I decided to stand and watch this wild animal. It was not well. Breathing looked labored and movements were slow. I wondered about rabies or some other distemper that leave animals with thirst. For all of its difficulty, it was still wonderful to watch this animal that lived its life in the Woods and knew winter spring summer and fall; nights and days.. good fat times and lean times there.
After the rains this past ten days, the Woods were rich with fungi and dark wet colors. Winter greens included Euonymus hearts bustin', Lonicera honeysuckle, Ligustrum privet, Geum avens, Juniperus, Elaeagnus autumn olive, Smilax greenbriar, Liriope monkey grass, milkweed vine, new grasses, No new flowers but lots of late Verbesina frostweed and Elephantopus elephant's foot gone to seed.
And on my way out, the best brightest fall colors were the big bright yellow rounded leaves of Callicarpa beauty berry with perfect full clusters of lustrous light purple berries.
After the rains this past ten days, the Woods were rich with fungi and dark wet colors. Winter greens included Euonymus hearts bustin', Lonicera honeysuckle, Ligustrum privet, Geum avens, Juniperus, Elaeagnus autumn olive, Smilax greenbriar, Liriope monkey grass, milkweed vine, new grasses, No new flowers but lots of late Verbesina frostweed and Elephantopus elephant's foot gone to seed.
And on my way out, the best brightest fall colors were the big bright yellow rounded leaves of Callicarpa beauty berry with perfect full clusters of lustrous light purple berries.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
Something big .. in the water
Afternoon before Halloween evening, perfect time to return to the Woods. Yesterday Norman received 1.5 inches of rain, soft and long with some heavy rain bouts included. The week before we had had an earlier inch of rain. The Woods were clearly in autumn mode. Maybe 30-40% of the leaves are down and the Woods are beginning to have a more open feel. Much of the canopy remains; but the understory is opening up.
As I approached the NW toe slope pond there was a deeper ripple on the far side.. as of a turtle pushing off and swimming underwater, perhaps a big snapper. There was also the rippling of the surface from smaller creatures, flies and beetles skittering about.
The NW pond was full to a good degree.. much of its depth and diameter restored. I noticed a small group of two or three tall darker green cattails growing near Carpenter's old steel survey post there. The eastern pond, too was in good shape, although only 0.95 feet in depth. It can hold 4-5 x that in volume.
I walked the Northern Loop to Island Crossing (water gently flowing) and then back west along the Trans OWP trail. Most flowers are gone except Verbesina virginica frost weed. The abundant trailside Elephantopus elephant's food have all gone to seed. Interesting to see what will be winter green: Lonicera Japanese honeysuckle, Ligustrum privet, Geum Avens. I clipped back green shoots of Rosa multiflora rose extending out across the trails. A few fresh green pecan hulls have fallen.. not much.
I stopped to tug and pull at a modest pole-sized tree fallen across the path. It was tough like an elm.. although long dead. Just south of the three big cottonwoods along the levee, the English ivy was beginning to ascend trunks of trees. I pulled out and cut it back.
There were just two white-tailed deer I saw. There will likely be several more when hunting season starts up. I waved and sang to them. They kept a safe 100 foot distance and didn't seem too skittish.
With El Nino forecast for this winter, the Woods may see some cold days soon and more snow and deeper cold than normal.
As I approached the NW toe slope pond there was a deeper ripple on the far side.. as of a turtle pushing off and swimming underwater, perhaps a big snapper. There was also the rippling of the surface from smaller creatures, flies and beetles skittering about.
The NW pond was full to a good degree.. much of its depth and diameter restored. I noticed a small group of two or three tall darker green cattails growing near Carpenter's old steel survey post there. The eastern pond, too was in good shape, although only 0.95 feet in depth. It can hold 4-5 x that in volume.
I walked the Northern Loop to Island Crossing (water gently flowing) and then back west along the Trans OWP trail. Most flowers are gone except Verbesina virginica frost weed. The abundant trailside Elephantopus elephant's food have all gone to seed. Interesting to see what will be winter green: Lonicera Japanese honeysuckle, Ligustrum privet, Geum Avens. I clipped back green shoots of Rosa multiflora rose extending out across the trails. A few fresh green pecan hulls have fallen.. not much.
I stopped to tug and pull at a modest pole-sized tree fallen across the path. It was tough like an elm.. although long dead. Just south of the three big cottonwoods along the levee, the English ivy was beginning to ascend trunks of trees. I pulled out and cut it back.
There were just two white-tailed deer I saw. There will likely be several more when hunting season starts up. I waved and sang to them. They kept a safe 100 foot distance and didn't seem too skittish.
With El Nino forecast for this winter, the Woods may see some cold days soon and more snow and deeper cold than normal.
Saturday, June 20, 2015
Dank, rich, sweet, heavy air, before Bill
Into the Woods NE Gate 17 June 8:15 AM before the storm Bill
arrives.
Dank, rich, sweet, heavy air. Old Ligustrum privet bloom perfumes the
entrance. Elephantopus, elephant’s foot has overgrown the trail..large green
leaves with no flowers.
A walnut is down across the trail at NL5, the jct of the
Northern Loop and the Rim trail. The E. Pond is very full 3.16 depth. An Ampelopsis wild
grape vine with bright green leaves hangs low over the middle of the water, fallen along
with a small dead green ash. ‘Cotton’ fluffy seed from the
Populus cottonwoods floats on the water. All the air is heavy and still.
The trails show considerable washing, cleared of organic
litter, twigs and leaves. Left me thinking again about natural hot-spots for
nutrients in the woods. Shallow low places where water collects and may
deposit extra nutrients.
The big masters of the forest, the largest old cottonwoods
are standing tall. They have seen droughts and floods before.
W. Pond at 2.55 feet depth with water extending to the next
highest stepping stone.
Three brilliant tiger beetles were scurrying along the trail
at the slope up to the southern end of the Tree Loop and along the EW fence line
trail. Unripe full green plums lay on the ground beneath the Mexican plum.
No deer or other quadrupeds spotted, although recent tracks
led south from the East Pond into the soggy Woods. White daisies and white apiacease
in bloom.
Six ticks and abundant large mosquitoes with DEET.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Turtles and Floods Return
The rain started about 5 AM this Monday morning - a good hard freshet, strong gusting wind, thunder and lightning, about an inch of rain in about an hour. Then all morning a long, soaking, gentle additional inch before lunch. At 7 in the evening I went to the Woods to see what the storm had brought.
Entering by the SW gate the trail was not flooded under the big bur oaks; but the flood had risen to 10 meters north of the trail junction. I set out with knee boots walking east along the South Boundary Trail and then heading north to the Two Friends Trail and up over the W Dune trail. The South Boundary trail was flooded just ankle deep; but on the north side of the dune, the Main SW trail was flooded 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the top of my boots. The Woods there are getting a good long deep drink, enough to fill all the interstitial fissures and spaces below the big ash trees. I sloshed carefully down to the beaver dam and found that the water was flowing out. It had been since about noon that the rain had stopped. Heading north up around the west side of the Tree Loop and down to Island Crossing, I was delighted to see a nice 18 inch-long snapping turtle waiting quietly in the flowing 4- inch deep flowing water. It may have been two years or more since I last saw a snapper in the Woods.
Returning west the East Pond had risen to 2.36 feet deep and the NW Pond was full at 2.50 feet and flooding south into the cattail swamp. I left at 8 with darkness coming on.
Entering by the SW gate the trail was not flooded under the big bur oaks; but the flood had risen to 10 meters north of the trail junction. I set out with knee boots walking east along the South Boundary Trail and then heading north to the Two Friends Trail and up over the W Dune trail. The South Boundary trail was flooded just ankle deep; but on the north side of the dune, the Main SW trail was flooded 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the top of my boots. The Woods there are getting a good long deep drink, enough to fill all the interstitial fissures and spaces below the big ash trees. I sloshed carefully down to the beaver dam and found that the water was flowing out. It had been since about noon that the rain had stopped. Heading north up around the west side of the Tree Loop and down to Island Crossing, I was delighted to see a nice 18 inch-long snapping turtle waiting quietly in the flowing 4- inch deep flowing water. It may have been two years or more since I last saw a snapper in the Woods.
Returning west the East Pond had risen to 2.36 feet deep and the NW Pond was full at 2.50 feet and flooding south into the cattail swamp. I left at 8 with darkness coming on.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Violets and Morels
Out to the Woods this afternoon through the SW Gate. First visit since the March tornado in Moore, I wanted to see if there was much blow down from the strong winds. I brought my saw. One good sized elm near butterfly corner had fallen north across the trail and another elm SE of the grandfather cottonwood had also fallen north across the trail.
It has been warm and sunny with good soil moisture. In the Woods, purple violets are in bloom along with the Lamium purpureum henbit. Stellaria, grasses and sedge are also growing and greening much of the floor of the Woods. One early leaf-out shrub is the invasive Lonicera mackii Amur honeysuckle. I found stems on the W. Dune trail and by the old populations. Other invasives: two more meter-high stems on SE end of Ravine trail look to both be Ailanthus Tree-of-heaven. I'll wait for leaves to be sure.
The East Pond water depth was 1.32 feet and the west pond was 1.48. The west pond is covered with a heavy scum of greenish pollen. North of the East Pond there was one single morel a pale light mocha colored cap. On the west trail 20 feet north of WT #4 post there were three more big morels with a bright cinnamon red colored cap. I initially thought 'false morel'.
Mexican plum flowers are almost gone now, Bradford pear leaves are almost fully out, no flowers remain there.
As I was passing by the southern most young pig carcass used in the current forensic study two vultures came to roost in the tall trees to the west. They waited for me to leave. I wondered if they were attracted and comforted by the smell of the carrion.
Leaving the Woods there was a lovely soft spring sunset, reminded me of happy days.
It has been warm and sunny with good soil moisture. In the Woods, purple violets are in bloom along with the Lamium purpureum henbit. Stellaria, grasses and sedge are also growing and greening much of the floor of the Woods. One early leaf-out shrub is the invasive Lonicera mackii Amur honeysuckle. I found stems on the W. Dune trail and by the old populations. Other invasives: two more meter-high stems on SE end of Ravine trail look to both be Ailanthus Tree-of-heaven. I'll wait for leaves to be sure.
The East Pond water depth was 1.32 feet and the west pond was 1.48. The west pond is covered with a heavy scum of greenish pollen. North of the East Pond there was one single morel a pale light mocha colored cap. On the west trail 20 feet north of WT #4 post there were three more big morels with a bright cinnamon red colored cap. I initially thought 'false morel'.
Mexican plum flowers are almost gone now, Bradford pear leaves are almost fully out, no flowers remain there.
As I was passing by the southern most young pig carcass used in the current forensic study two vultures came to roost in the tall trees to the west. They waited for me to leave. I wondered if they were attracted and comforted by the smell of the carrion.
Leaving the Woods there was a lovely soft spring sunset, reminded me of happy days.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Rolling Thunder Tornadoes
Severe weather been forecast for ten days now to hit this afternoon. At 6 PM I went to the Woods SW Gate. Right on schedule, the storm was coming in. As I walked into the warm, still Woods the rolling, continuous thunder in the north was like a distant battle sweeping my way. It was a tornado on the ground in Moore crossing I-35 at 6:30. In the Woods, animals were preternaturally quiet. Three crows flew away. I watched a stream of ants ascending a dead elm and wondered if they were preparing for their subterranean home to be flooded. Many of the trees in the Woods are right on the cusp of breaking buds, but most have not done so. It is really only the flowering Mexican plums and the elms. Some of the elms are beginning to drop their mature green samara seeds. The cottonwoods buds are all as swollen as they can be, without opening. Oaks, walnuts, pecans, willows, sugar berry, catalpa, green ash, rusty haw, coffee trees, persimmons, chittamwood, soap berries, are all still quiet.. no sign of any bud development. After a quick half hour loop through to the NE Tree Trail and back, the wind began to rise with rushing cool air flooding south. I paused under a large bur oak snag #47 and looked up to see a turkey in the branches..but only for a moment as the dead branches of an elm snag crashed into the oaks and sent the turkey flying east. I returned to the SW Gate and watched the sky as the storm came in.
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Peak of Early Spring
Update on spring: after an inch of gentle mild rain spread over the last ten days, the Woods are coming to life. Across the forest floor, the light halo of green is almost everywhere.. early Lonicera honeysuckle and Rosa multifora leaves unfolding, Stellaria chickweed, Galium bedstraw, Lamium purpureum henbit (first blooms today), early Poa grasses. In the shrub understory, young Ligustrum privet and Acer negundo box elder leaves (first ~ 3%) leaves are unfolding. When the box elder leaves come full flush, the canopy understory will be closed until September. No turtles in the ponds or visible in the Woods but the ponds are looking OK: 1.36' in the East Pond and 1.52' in the Northwest. Both are covered with a light film of pollen. The East (and probably the NW too) has hundreds and thousands of mosquito wrigglers. They both have a few gerrid water striders but are in need of some odonate larvae, tadpoles or Gambusia to hunt down the wrigglers.
I saw just one white-tail, a larger doe near the south delta. Several old burrows right along the main trails are freshly dug out.. must be armadillos.. or maybe box turtles. No more tracks of hogs - thank goodness.
Prunus Mexican plum is in full beautiful bloom scattered through the Woods.
Around Norman, the Forsythia, Quince and Bradford Pear are either at their peak bloom or just before it.
Heather's forensic pigs are in full bloat on this sunny warm day.
Sky is powder Carolina blue.
I saw just one white-tail, a larger doe near the south delta. Several old burrows right along the main trails are freshly dug out.. must be armadillos.. or maybe box turtles. No more tracks of hogs - thank goodness.
Prunus Mexican plum is in full beautiful bloom scattered through the Woods.
Around Norman, the Forsythia, Quince and Bradford Pear are either at their peak bloom or just before it.
Heather's forensic pigs are in full bloat on this sunny warm day.
Sky is powder Carolina blue.
Friday, March 20, 2015
General Verdure and Great-Horned Owl
Out to the Woods via the Tree Loop trail. We've had light cool spring rains, an inch total over the past week. The Mexican plum Prunus mexicana are all blooming scattered through the Woods, like individual points of light. A few of the Bradford pear, Pyrus are also beginning to bloom. One, on the Pipeline trail had a dozen branches of flowers just newly, fully open. Another pear, seventy feet east, had no flowers but many green leaves just beginning to break bud. Along the Tree Loop, the elms have all had their small red and green flowers open since February. Yesterday the first redbud flower buds were showing their rich deep pink color still largely closed inside the bud.
There is a south-facing slope on the west side of the west wash I enjoy watching in the spring, as the Galium bedstraw, Stellaria chickweed and other annuals first begin to turn the ground from brown to green.. and then as the low shrubs and young trees fill in a wall of green.
The air is redolent with patches of wild green onions north of the main east west trail.
Along the north fence line, the crews have cut and shredded a swath of destruction ten feet or more south from the fence. They've completed that 'mowing' from the NW corner to the top of the slope down to the western wash. Walking along the newly opened space, the air is filled with the smell of cut cedar wood. I am tempted to place my beetle traps out along the fence to see what is flying.
Sad note from five days ago.. coming to the East Pond I saw an unidentifiable brown shape floating by the the big cottonwood. With two sticks I fished out a beautiful great-horned owl. It must have been recently dead as the wings were not stiff. It was a gorgeous animal with magnificent wings, feathers, large round yellow eyes, powerful beak, strong stiff legs and powerful talons. A mystery, why it came to be floating there. I emailed Gary and rang Tamaki and took it to the Museum.
There is a south-facing slope on the west side of the west wash I enjoy watching in the spring, as the Galium bedstraw, Stellaria chickweed and other annuals first begin to turn the ground from brown to green.. and then as the low shrubs and young trees fill in a wall of green.
The air is redolent with patches of wild green onions north of the main east west trail.
Along the north fence line, the crews have cut and shredded a swath of destruction ten feet or more south from the fence. They've completed that 'mowing' from the NW corner to the top of the slope down to the western wash. Walking along the newly opened space, the air is filled with the smell of cut cedar wood. I am tempted to place my beetle traps out along the fence to see what is flying.
Sad note from five days ago.. coming to the East Pond I saw an unidentifiable brown shape floating by the the big cottonwood. With two sticks I fished out a beautiful great-horned owl. It must have been recently dead as the wings were not stiff. It was a gorgeous animal with magnificent wings, feathers, large round yellow eyes, powerful beak, strong stiff legs and powerful talons. A mystery, why it came to be floating there. I emailed Gary and rang Tamaki and took it to the Museum.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Cutting and Shredding along the Woods N Fence Line
This morning Greg and Fred, OU Arborists and I met Shain and Tommie OEC at NW corner of Woods. OEC began trimming trees along the north fence line. They will prune trees and shred the vegetation up to 10 feet S of the power lines. Heather's class was out, placing new pigs: 12 on the upper terrace and 6 below on the floodplain. The northern edge of the Woods will be transformed this week and will look scalped. I collected my bug traps. I explained the Woods was a sensitive area and asked that the trimming always be conservative where possible. I trust they will honor this; but there will be a significant disturbance of the habitat.
At 4 I walked the NE Tree Loop to enjoy the late winter Woods while still peaceful and untrimmed. 57 F today with piles of snow melting this morning and more snow and sleet due tonight. Spring.
At 4 I walked the NE Tree Loop to enjoy the late winter Woods while still peaceful and untrimmed. 57 F today with piles of snow melting this morning and more snow and sleet due tonight. Spring.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Marvelous Spring Day
Went to the Woods this afternoon at 3. It was pleasant almost 60 F. Along the Tree Loop, the flowers of the Ulmus rubra slippery elms were opening and open.. new development this week. Each Elaeagnus autumn olive had new green leaves emerging along the stems. The green understory was growing with Stellaria chickweed and Capsella shepherd's purse.. a few Capsella in bloom. There were also the older winter-green leaves of Geum Avens, Allium wild onions and others. There were 4 white-tail deer SW of the Elm Bridge.
I took a saw and cleared an old fallen Celtis sugarberry snag blocking the W Dune trail. Spring is coming on - marvelous Day. Thirty degrees cooler, clouds and snow tomorrow and Monday.
I took a saw and cleared an old fallen Celtis sugarberry snag blocking the W Dune trail. Spring is coming on - marvelous Day. Thirty degrees cooler, clouds and snow tomorrow and Monday.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Twilight to Near Dark in the Woods
Another mild mid late winter day in the Woods. Just before sunset I walked in via the NW Trail past the pond and set out, off-trail through the open Woods. East of the NW Pond the forest floor of leaves of hackberry, willow and elm was sprouting a greenish verdure. Young inch high sprouts of Galium bedstraw, Stellaria chickweed and other green understory herbs were beginning to rise above the dried leaves. Good forage for young cottontails, mice and other small herbivores. I wandered east, deliberately not following the marked paths, to see what new sights I would find. As I walked, I encountered soft subtle currents of air, cooler down drafts and 50 feet farther on, warmer eddies. I wondered if the paths of these currents are set by the topography and vegetation so that in the absence of significant wind, wildlife living in the Woods knows which way the breezes will blow and can navigate familiar routes, following scent trails to food, safety, favorite places or to hunt prey.
By the time I turned back west the twilight was moving on to near dark and I admired the silhouetted forms of the larger trees. The form and size of big deciduous trees are always better appreciated at night and in the winter. The massive pecan with its spreading crown, so different from the lower but massive trunks of the walnut or more tightly gathered crowns of the old elm and sugarberry. The largest green ash with unbranched bole rises straight and tall over branching lower species.
I did not see any white-tailed deer this evening.. but I often do. This is their world. We think of them out and about in the daylight forest, seeing it much as we do. In fact the forest of the white-tailed deer is most often the crepuscular forest of twilight and early evening with colors shifted to reds and golds of sunset or faded altogether into the shadows and forms of the forest near darkness.
I paused to talk with my friend the barred owl. I usually encounter at twilight setting in the branches of one of the largest pecans or some of the smaller old junipers nearby. It calls to the evening and I answer with a four or five note whistle from a small owl. The barred owl I think is curious but has heard this often enough that I think it knows I am not the real thing.
By the time I turned back west the twilight was moving on to near dark and I admired the silhouetted forms of the larger trees. The form and size of big deciduous trees are always better appreciated at night and in the winter. The massive pecan with its spreading crown, so different from the lower but massive trunks of the walnut or more tightly gathered crowns of the old elm and sugarberry. The largest green ash with unbranched bole rises straight and tall over branching lower species.
I did not see any white-tailed deer this evening.. but I often do. This is their world. We think of them out and about in the daylight forest, seeing it much as we do. In fact the forest of the white-tailed deer is most often the crepuscular forest of twilight and early evening with colors shifted to reds and golds of sunset or faded altogether into the shadows and forms of the forest near darkness.
I paused to talk with my friend the barred owl. I usually encounter at twilight setting in the branches of one of the largest pecans or some of the smaller old junipers nearby. It calls to the evening and I answer with a four or five note whistle from a small owl. The barred owl I think is curious but has heard this often enough that I think it knows I am not the real thing.
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Late Mid-Winter Warm Day in the Woods
This morning I finished refreshing blue flags on labelled trees around the Tree Loop. This afternoon I took off to see the Woods on the warmest day of the year. 77 F at 4 o'clock. I took one spray can of paint for the once annual refresh of all the blue blazes in the Woods. I walked 80% of the 2 miles of trails checking everything I could see.
The southern and central Woods were busy with woodpeckers - lots of small groups of two and three, a few different species. Three white-tailed deer moved away SE of the East Pond.
The soil was soft everywhere, enough moisture - though none recent, and warm sun. The Delta and across much of the southern central Woods there is a modestly abundant cover of Capsella Shepherd's Purse, Stellaria Chickweed and other low green annuals. There were tracks everywhere through the Woods. The NW Pond was moderately full and looked to have the first beginning of the layer of Juniper pollen it will have later on. Patches of spring onions several inches high scattered here and there. (Why don't / can't they grow as a larger green sward, I wonder. What limits them?) The West Dune Trail has a tree down across the trail. None of the trees are active yet, although the first silver maple flower buds in Norman began to open last week.
The southern and central Woods were busy with woodpeckers - lots of small groups of two and three, a few different species. Three white-tailed deer moved away SE of the East Pond.
The soil was soft everywhere, enough moisture - though none recent, and warm sun. The Delta and across much of the southern central Woods there is a modestly abundant cover of Capsella Shepherd's Purse, Stellaria Chickweed and other low green annuals. There were tracks everywhere through the Woods. The NW Pond was moderately full and looked to have the first beginning of the layer of Juniper pollen it will have later on. Patches of spring onions several inches high scattered here and there. (Why don't / can't they grow as a larger green sward, I wonder. What limits them?) The West Dune Trail has a tree down across the trail. None of the trees are active yet, although the first silver maple flower buds in Norman began to open last week.
Saturday, January 17, 2015
Return from the Deep Cold
Late December and early January were unusually cold and cloudy for central Oklahoma.. 7-8 F below 30 year average. I went to the Woods before sunset and thought of the barred owl I often encounter in the NE corner of the Woods at the end of the day. What do they do when it is 15 F instead of the normal winter 25F? They are insulated with all their feathers but flight for food must be very chilling. Do they just go on? Some other animals (squirrels?) may just shelter in their nest and suspend activity.
Two days ago at twilight I went to the Woods and walked along the south boundary. There, in the failing light, I came on a large track west of the south end of the NS trail. A large cloven hoof, it looked too heavy, broad and solid for a deer..it looked like a hog. Further west along the boundary I found areas that had been disturbed by rooting. It looked too deep to be the foraging of armadillos or skunks, but in the near-dark I could not be sure it was a hog.
Today the jet stream shifted north and temperatures rose to a pleasant 61 F. I went to the Woods at 2 for a walk from the NE Gate. At the foot of the drop to the wash, the largest bur oak had a colorful assemblage of box elder bugs. There were 35 or more bugs in a crevice in the bark, half the size of my hand. They were crawling about and arranging themselves basking in the warm sun from the south. The green growing herbs Stellaria chickweed and Glechoma Gill-over-the ground, looked a little bedraggled, as though the recent cold had set them back. I encountered one large doe south of the east dune crossing. This is the time of year when does will be carrying new developing young from breeding in late November to early December. I approached the NW pond from the south walking through the dried stems of red-brown Polygonum knotweed, present as an unbroken solid cover, surrounded by scattered patches of Typha cattails and a wide ring of Carex sedge. Interesting question what so sharply delimits the knotweed-sedge boundary. Topography seems little or no different.
The pond was still except for the cardinals and other birds there foraging. I settled there to observe and ended up taking a nap in the warm sun.
Back east of the East Pond I encountered a group of three deer, a younger doe and two yearlings. I sang to them from fifty feet away and waved my hands. They looked skittish but did not run. I wondered what they found to eat this time of the year in the Woods.
Two days ago at twilight I went to the Woods and walked along the south boundary. There, in the failing light, I came on a large track west of the south end of the NS trail. A large cloven hoof, it looked too heavy, broad and solid for a deer..it looked like a hog. Further west along the boundary I found areas that had been disturbed by rooting. It looked too deep to be the foraging of armadillos or skunks, but in the near-dark I could not be sure it was a hog.
Today the jet stream shifted north and temperatures rose to a pleasant 61 F. I went to the Woods at 2 for a walk from the NE Gate. At the foot of the drop to the wash, the largest bur oak had a colorful assemblage of box elder bugs. There were 35 or more bugs in a crevice in the bark, half the size of my hand. They were crawling about and arranging themselves basking in the warm sun from the south. The green growing herbs Stellaria chickweed and Glechoma Gill-over-the ground, looked a little bedraggled, as though the recent cold had set them back. I encountered one large doe south of the east dune crossing. This is the time of year when does will be carrying new developing young from breeding in late November to early December. I approached the NW pond from the south walking through the dried stems of red-brown Polygonum knotweed, present as an unbroken solid cover, surrounded by scattered patches of Typha cattails and a wide ring of Carex sedge. Interesting question what so sharply delimits the knotweed-sedge boundary. Topography seems little or no different.
The pond was still except for the cardinals and other birds there foraging. I settled there to observe and ended up taking a nap in the warm sun.
Back east of the East Pond I encountered a group of three deer, a younger doe and two yearlings. I sang to them from fifty feet away and waved my hands. They looked skittish but did not run. I wondered what they found to eat this time of the year in the Woods.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)