Blown by the Wind

I went to the NE Gate before sunset to see what had happened in the Woods. I was surprised. The last 3-4 days we have had almost non-stop strong 20-30 + mph warm and cold winds, as one dry storm system after another tracked across Oklahoma.  I thought the wind would have evaporated the normal flood in the south Woods, and ended the budding population of mosquito wrigglers. But most of the previously flooded areas still have enough shallow pools to sustain mosquito survival and development.
 I found no significant new trees down. I did find a curious patch of Lamium purpureum, purple dead-nettle, flowering 3 m up off the ground, in an old gray snag.
North of the NW pond, the evening downslope wind carried the sweet smell of Elaeagnus autumn olive blooming. Heather has put out four battery powered mosquito traps (two designs) along the northern edge of the NW Pond and a couple floating traps. Interesting to see what she gets.
One large lone deer ran away up the upper terrace.
The north Woods are still filled with the sound of traffic from the highway; but green-up is picking up, with the box elder beginning to flush leaves. In two weeks, the forests' leaves will have filled in and damped the sound of the traffic, so that the heart of the Woods will be much quieter. I listened to chickadees, nuthatches and titmice scolding each other, and watched a large turkey fly heavily up to the canopy of the big bur oak, below the south end of the tree loop. I have heard no owls since I returned. I wonder if they are less active early in the spring, or if they are not in their usual haunts.

Trifoliate Orange New Tree and Aquatic Insects

Yesterday I encountered a new invasive tree in full profuse bloom west of the western wash. Beautiful 5-parted, white blossoms on a spreading crown 3 m tall; impressive sharp long green thorns. Poncirus Trifoliate orange. Never seen one in the Woods before.
I am sure flowers are feeding the native pollinators such as the Bombus bumble bee that was resting nearby. I will cut it later this spring, before it sets fruit. I also need to cut the dozen or more Lonicera maackii amur honeysuckles that are scattered through the Woods.
Interesting that invasive shrubs and vines like these and privet, autumn olive and Euonymus in the Woods all leaf out earlier than the natives, or keep some green all winter. Wonder about the ecology of this. Why natives don't compete for this early growing season. Other invasives in the Woods are similar: Liriope monkey grass, Rosa multiflora, Ailanthus tree-of-heaven, Nandina heavenly bamboo, to a lesser extent.
 Four days ago, I walked in the southern Woods with my water boots to check trails and replenish paint blazes on trees. Half the southern trails were underwater with lots of mosquito wrigglers. Saw a handful of predatory dytiscid diving beetles and there were young gerrid water striders everywhere. I think there may be quite a population of mosquitoes in a week or two. Need more gerrids, dytiscids and odonates on patrol.

Redbuds and Violets Spring 2016

This week I returned to the Woods after 51 days away 'down under'. Spring time is just coming into the Woods. Late afternoon I entered the NE Gate on a sunny day with the gentle breath of spring in the air. Blooming along the trail were Cercis redbuds, many Violets, one solitary Senecio groundsel, Cardamine toothwort, Capsella shepherd's purse, Lamium purpureum purple deadnettle, Stellaria chickweed, Taraxacum dandelion, and Elaeagnus autumn olive. The fresh brand new light green foliage of Euonymus strawberry bush and red green new foliage of Rosa multiflora. There were four deer in the south. Three days earlier I encountered a herd of 15 on the delta, with many young.
Why are robins so abundant in the Woods? or for that matter why so abundant in Oklahoma?
Two ponds are filled: East at 2.10 ft depth and NW Pond at 2.55 ft.
Three days ago I met Neal collecting morels along the NW trail. Had a hat full. He said he had just seen a snapper turtle in the NW pond area. I saw two frogs today, one at Island Crossing and one at the NW Pond.
A pair of Canadian geese flew west, honking, over the south border as I headed out. The coolness of the end of the day was a reminder of frost coming tonight.. but this afternoon was a beautiful breath of the spring coming in.