While driving down Telegraph Road, I saw some movement in a mud puddle in front of me. I slowed down and discovered a bunch of American Toad (Bufo americanus) swimming around. Looking a little closer,…
Today I did not do much botanizing. Instead I just drove around to see what I could find. Along side South Road near the BGE Powerline Right-of-way I spotted a lizard, which I believe is…
SPRING IS HERE! Today along the Little Patuxent River Trail spotted the first Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica L.) of the year blooming. By comparison last year, the spring beauty was spotted on 16 March. By…
Today, I spotted some American Hazelnut (Corylus americana Walter) along Bald Eagle Drive just north of the Contact Station. It was in full bloom with both male (staminate) flowers and female (pistillate) flowers. The staminate…
This is a departure from my usual nature related posts, but I don't have another place to put it. While up in Somerset, PA today, we decided to visit the Flight 93 Memorial in nearby…
Today, while looking at some populations of club mosses (Lycopods) I discovered a rocky outcropping in the woods near the Hopkins Cemetery. While at first glance this may not seem like a big deal, but…
[caption id="attachment_437" align="alignleft" width="228" caption="Flowers"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_440" align="alignright" width="228" caption="Flowers"][/caption] After checking out the giant sycamore, I decided to check out the Birmingham Manor Ruins located in the Southwest corner of the North Tract. I…
[caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Bill Standing next to the Giant Sycamore"][/caption] Today, Ranger Jeff Bolden and I visited our Giant Sycamore on the North Tract. Although, the tree is not a state champion, it is…
Today, Joe DiGiovanni and I went out to the Duvall Cemetery just to look around. While there I realized that I had not collected a specimen from the Thuja occidentalis or Eastern Arborvitae/Northern Whitecedar tree…
Now that is the off-season for collecting plants, I am spending my time identifying and processing the specimens collected last year. According to my logbook, I collected 928 specimens and after accounting for duplicate specimens,…
Today, let's take a look at the sites along Bald Eagle Drive between the Main Gate and the Visitor Contact Station. At this point it is important to note that some of the main roads…
[caption id="attachment_260" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Trailhead to the Little Patuxent River Trail"][/caption] The Little Patuxent River Trail is a showcase trail on the North Tract. It is located along the Little Patuxent River. The trailhead is…
[caption id="attachment_82" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Welcome sign by main entrance to North Tract"][/caption] UPDATE - Last week we received a Special Use Permit (SUP) for the next year. It expires on 31 December 2012. The SUP…
Today I had the pleasure of taking my daughter Jen on a whirlwind tour of Refuge. She is from Washington State and was in Maryland with her husband and two of our grandchildren to visit…
Today, 27 December 2011, I went out to the end of Millrace Road to Emmy's Pond. Took some pictures along the way. [caption id="attachment_91" align="alignleft" width="640" caption="Emmy's Pond - Open water"][/caption] [caption id="attachment_106" align="alignleft" width="300"…