A Grant Parish Gem: The Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden (9/10/14)

  

Pond at the Butterfly Garden (photo: J. Clark)

   I'm grateful to Tom Pollock for introducing me to The Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly
Garden. Being a Grant Parish resident, and in fact one of the garden's Active Gardeners, Tom is a regular at this location in the Kisatchie National Forest on FR 145, off  the south side of highway 8 between Pollock and Bentley.


"Trail's" Flycatcher (photo: J. Clark)

   Though it was a warm, breezy mid-to-late morning, and wildlife activity was not at it's highest by any means, our trip proved to be fruitful. Upon getting out of the vehicle at the garden's parking area, we were immediately made aware of several bird species including a flycatcher active in the area adjacent to the bat house. The bird proved to be a "Trail's" Flycatcher,

the umbrella name for two notoriously difficult to distinguish species: the Alder and Willow Flycatchers. Soon, a juvenile Chipping Sparrow was noticed. It would prove to be one of a family group of Chippers present around the garden.

 

Cloudless Sulphur, photo by T. Pollock

 

A look at the informative signage before entering the garden is suggested to any visitor and should prove useful. This is especially true if, like myself, one isn't very familiar with butterfly identification. The garden itself is a system of well maintained trails weaving trough diverse and dense beds of flowers. Butterflies. Goodness, the butterflies! Cloudless Sulphurs were probably the most abundant single species, though numerous species were present.
   Though hummingbirds were not so common, two female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were observed. The small pond, with its waterfall and bamboo gazebo, forms a wonderful focal point of the garden. Though silent at the time, Tom informed me that Southern Leopard Frogs chorus here, and indeed it seems a good spot for a number of anuran species to spawn. Watch your step, too, as Cottonmouths are regularly seen around the pond and adjacent areas. In fact, we saw a juvenile Cottonmouth in the pond.


Gulf Fritillary, photo by T. Pollock

photo by T. Pollock

   Though the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers that roost in the longleafs beside the garden were gone from the location by that time of the morning, we did get a look at one of the Gray Catbirds. Though not detected this day, Bachman Sparrows are common in the fine mature pine forests just a short walk from the garden. A trip there on a spring morning will let one hear their musical songs.



morning glory, photo by J. Clark

   Short drives further down the road past the garden and on the nearby Stuart Lake Road didn't yield much in the way of birds or other wildlife, the scenery of mature Longleaf Pine woods was a nice experience in and of itself.

Longleaf Pine forest along Stuart Lake Road,
photo by J. Clark

   I look forward to many future trips to The Catahoula Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden, most especially when spring comes around.

photo by J. Clark