January and February on Catahoula NWR

Barred Owl at the Headquarters Unit, 2/27/2017

   For 1/1/2017 lists from Willow Lake and Headquarters Units, see previous blog entry about CBC and "Count Week" lists.
   As always, feel free to let me know if you spot incorrect info in this blog, or have suggestions for specific i.d.s for organisms in the photos who's i.d.s I'm not certain about (I'm looking at you, plant i.d.s!). 
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Headquarters Unit 1/13/2017:
7:07 am - 11:09 am
9.2 miles by vehicle, along entire refuge loop, with numerous stops
62 to 74 degrees f., started foggy and calm, became cloudy and light breeze, water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34.7 feet
Habitat Shots: 

woods along refuge loop

north end of Duck Lake

Cowpen Bayou

Birds:

Merlin -- male

Greater White-fronted Goose - 5
Snow Goose - x - undetermined number heard as flyovers in fog
Wood Duck - 21
Mallard - 400
Northern Pintail - 5
Canvasback - 20
Ring-necked Duck - 3
duck. sp. - 350 - distant on lake or in flight

Double-crested Cormorant - 3
Anhinga - 3

Great Blue Heron - 4
Great Egret - 3

Turkey Vulture - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 3

Greater Yellowlegs - 1

Mourning Dove - 3

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 16
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 4

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker -- male

Downy Woodpecker - 9
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 22
Pileated Woodpecker - 7

Merlin --male

Merlin - 2  This was a fun observation. There was a male who was quite tame and allowed many pics to be taken and, a little further up the road, a female who flew before I could get close enough for good pics. I was busy getting pics of him while I could and unfortunately she wasn't hanging around for me to finish and focus my attention on her. I love the video of the male stretching. What a shame the lighting is so poor!

Eastern Phoebe - 13

Blue Jay - 13
American Crow - 11

Carolina Chickadee - 35
Tufted Titmouse - 19

Brown Creeper - 1

House Wren - 1
Carolina Wren - 19

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 13
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 11

Hermit Thrush - 5
American Robin - 6

American Pipit - 4

Cedar Waxwing - 28

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Pine Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 35

Chipping Sparrow - 3
White-throated Sparrow - 40
Savannah Sparrow - 2
Song Sparrow - 7
Swamp Sparrow - 1
Eastern Towhee - 1

Northern Cardinal - 29

Red-winged Blackbird - 2

American Goldfinch - 10

Other:
Spring Peepers and at least 3 Cope's Gray Treefrogs were heard. An American Alligator was out in Cowpen Bayou. The only mammals seen were Eastern Fox Squirrel.
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Headquarters Unit 2/5/2017:

Red-tailed Hawk and Great Blue Heron at Headquarters Unit, 2/5/17

7:08 am to 8:51 am
2.8 miles by vehicle along a section of the refuge loop w/ many stops
53 to 57 degrees f., mostly cloudy, calm. Water level marker at N end of Duck Lake showed approx. 35.5 feet.
Habitat Shots:

north end of Duck Lake

Ring-necked Duck -- male

Birds:
Greater White-fronted Goose - 24
Snow Goose - 6
Wood Duck - 2
Mallard - 32
Canvasback - 7
Ring-necked Duck - 1

*The water was high enough to flood some woods and brush along lake shore, and many ducks were probably hidden there (some could be heard splashing, think I heard Mallard vocalizations a couple of times), accounting for the lower than expected number of ducks recorded.

Double-crested Cormorant - 2

Great Blue Heron - 4
Great Egret - 1

Bald Eagle - 1

Bald Eagle -- A 4th-year bird, I assume. Note the few dark marks on the essentially white head; some white was seen in body plumage when it took flight

Red-tailed Hawk - 1

Killdeer - 1

Mourning Dove - 2

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 2
Downy Woodpecker - 3
Northern Flicker - 3
Pileated Woodpecker - 2

Eastern Phoebe

Eastern Phoebe - 4

Blue Jay - 2
American Crow - 8
Fish Crow - 1

Carolina Chickadee - 19
Tufted Titmouse - 8

House Wren - 1
Carolina Wren -6

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7

Eastern Bluebird - 2
American Robin - x

Orange-crowned Warbler - 1
Pine Warbler - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 10

Chipping Sparrow - 25
Dark-eyed Junco - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 10
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 3
Swamp Sparrow - 2
Eastern Towhee - 1

Northern Cardinal - 28

Northern Cardinals -- female and males

--cardinals, cardinals, cardinals, cardinals... Most of the Northern Cardinals on the list were traveling together in a single group -- a few of which can be seen in this pic, in the bushes where some took a break from roving along the edge of the woods. Perhaps food was scarce and they were drawn together because the presence of more cardinals might signal that a food source had been found (no weeds in road right of way)? Just my impression.

Red-winged Blackbird- 10
Common Grackle - 2

American Goldfinch - 22

Other:
The weather was a bit cool for butterfly activity. A few Southern Leopard Frogs were heard. Eastern Fox Squirrels were active, but no other mammals were noticed.
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Bushley Bayou Unit, 2/12/2017:

along Minnow Ponds Road

1:40 pm to 5:28 pm
about 2.3 miles total: 1.8 miles by vehicle on Minnow Ponds Rd and Dry Bayou Rd; and about 0.5 mile on foot divided among levee by impoundments, right-of-way south of Green's Creek, and Minnow Ponds Trail.
Conditions: spring-like -- 80 to 86 degrees F., varying mix of cloud and sun, light breeze.
Habitat Shots:

impoundments

impoundments levee and Minnow Ponds Road

looking back up Minnow Ponds Road from corner of Minnow Ponds Trail and Dry Bayou Road -- hardwood secondgrowth (of the WRP sort), with areas of more than one stage of growth, is the dominant habitat type on this part of the refuge. There are smaller areas of mature woods as well.

path south of Green's Creek

Green's Creek flowing through its corridor of more mature, natural woods

Minnow Ponds Trail at final crossing of Flat Creek

Birds:

Brown Thrasher

Wood Duck - 2
Mallard - 9
Canvasback - 9
Ring-necked Duck - 37

Pied-billed Grebe - 1

Double-crested Cormorant - 1

Great Blue Heron - 1
Great Egret - 1

Turkey Vulture - 11
Northern Harrier - 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 2

Red-tailed Hawks -- This pair of lovebirds were seen apparently copulating, but I wasn't able to get the camera on them until just after the bird on the right dismounted.

Mourning Dove - 3

Barred Owl - 2

Belted Kingfisher - 2

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 2
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 3

American Kestrel - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 3

Blue Jay - 3
American Crow - 9

Carolina Chickadee - 5
Tufted Titmouse - 5

Carolina Wren - 2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 7

Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 2

Brown Thrasher -  1

Brown Thrasher

Orange-crowned Warbler - 4
Common Yellowthroat - 1
Pine Warbler - 2

Pine Warbler -- male

White-throated Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 8

White-throated Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 7
Swamp Sparrow - 8
Eastern Towhee - 5

Northern Cardinal - 10

Red-winged Blackbird - 23

American Goldfinch -3


Butterflies:

Gray Hairstreak

 duskywing sp. - 1
(insufficient look, but probably a) Clouded Skipper - 1
Pipevine Swallowtail - 1 +
Cloudless Sulphur - 1
Gray Hairstreak - 4

Gray Hairstreak

Pearl Crescent - 6 +
Goatweed Leafwing - 1

Goatweed Leafwing

unidentified small butterflies (poorly seen) - several, often flying toward upper part of trees (more Hairstreaks?)

Herps:

Sorry, Ophidiophobes... you might want to look away.

Blanchard's Cricket Frog - couple of small choruses heard
Cope's Gray Treefrog - 8, heard calling in woods along Green's Creek
Southern Leopard Frog - 2

Cottonmouth, aka Water Moccasin, aka Agkistrodon piscivorus leucostoma-- first individual

Cottonmouth - 2  The first and larger one was encountered while on foot on Minnow Ponds Trail. Goes without saying that I was careful to remain a safe distance and not harasses the snake excessively either, but I did take the opportunity of having one of these impressive venomous snakes laid out in the open on bare ground to take a series of photos. Then, while driving back toward the entrance, I spotted a younger specimen on Minnow Ponds Road, and snapped a few pics of it too. Note the redder coloration and bolder pattern on the younger Cottonmouth. 

Cottonmouth -- 1st individual, full body view

Cottonmouth -- 1st individual, close-up of pattern on side of head and neck

Cottonmouth, 1st individual -- the other end, showing the hard point at tip of tail. There's something to poke you, whichever end of the snake you might be foolish enough to grab!

And now the show begins -- Feeling threatened, the Cottonmouth opened its mouth, showing the attention-grabbing pale coloration that is it's namesake. It puffed-up/spread-out it's body a bit to look bigger. The overall effect of all this says "Hey! I'm not something you should mess with!". Notice the folded-back fang sheaths beside the upper teeth.

Cottonmouth, 1st individual

Cottonmouth, 1st individual -- close-up of open mouth

Cottonmouth, 1st individual -- gives an idea of the somewhat obscure pattern on the snake's body, and the shape of the head

Cottonmouth, 1st individual -- I just like the shot. ..."That's your good side."

Cottonmouth, 2nd individual -- Notice the much clearer pattern on this younger individual, and the yellowish end of the tail.

 

Cottonmouth, 2nd individual -- This youngster's reddish complexion seemed especially colorful after spending time staring at the swamp-brown older individual.

Mammals:
Eastern Fox Squirrel -2
White-tailed Deer - 4

"Keep an eye on that human! He seems suspicious, I don't trust him." (White-tailed Deer, all four can be seen below.)

You can relax now, guys: hunting season's over.

Wildflowers:

white violet species (Viola blanda or V. primulifolia?) -- more images, showing context, below

    I failed to keep a list of flowers from this trip, but some early spring bloomers from that day include white violet species (Viola primulifolia or V. blanda?)...

white violets (Viola blanda or V. primulifolia?) growing in the edge of the road right-of-way approaching Green's Creek. This is part of a larger patch. A few more were growing down beside the creek.

a closer look at one of the Viola sp., whole plant

This is one of the violets growing on the slope of the creek bank.

... Yellow Jessamine aka "yellow honeysuckle" (Gelsemium sempervirens)...

Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

Yellow Jessamine (Gelsemium sempervirens)

... and hawthorn species (Crataegus).

hawthorn (Crataegus) sp.

hawthorn (Crataegus) sp.

 Some more scenery shots...

walk the levees

Flat Creek

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Headquarters Unit, 2/20/2017:

About to drizzle, looking back up the gated walk-in road from near the Duck Lake end

3:34 pm to 5:19 pm
about 2.6 miles: birded driving a 2.3 mile section of refuge loop w/ numerous stops and a roughly 0.3 mile walk down gated road
Conditions: 75 to 79 degrees F., cloudy and light wind with a period of light drizzle and calm wind, storm front approaching as I left, water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed about _ feet.
Habitat Shots:

near lake end of gated road

from near east end of gated road

Most of the brushy strip that had existed along the edge of Duck Lake at the north end had been mowed since my last visit, and some species that had been found there, such as Song and Swamp Sparrows, were nowhere to be found

Birds:
Wood Duck - 2
Mallard - 37

Great Blue Heron - 4

Black Vulture - 1
Turkey Vulture - 4
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

Killdeer - 1

Mourning Dove - 2

Belted Kingfisher - 1

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 4
Northern Flicker - 4
Pileated Woodpecker - 1

Eastern Phoebe - 3

Blue Jay -1
American Crow - 4

Carolina Chickadee - 3
Tufted Titmouse - 1

Golden-crowned Kinglet - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1

American Robin - x

American Pipit - 2

Yellow-rumped Warbler - 7

Chipping Sparrow - 15
White-throated Sparrow - 4
Savannah Sparrow - 2

Northern Cardinal - 2

American Goldfinch - x

Butterflies:

Gemmed Satyr

  American Snout - 1
Pearl Crescent - 1
Common Buckeye - 4
Gemmed Satyr - 1

Gemmed Satyr

Carolina Satyr

Carolina Satyr - 1
Both satyr species were found along the gated road, in the wooded eastern end (seen in one of the habitat shots).

Other:
   6 or so Cope's Gray Treefrogs were heard, and I saw a sizable Cottonmouth slither into the underbrush beside the walk-in road. Several Eastern Fox Squirrels were seen or heard, which were the only mammals making their presence known.
   Some of the wildflowers that I noticed in bloom included violet species (Viola)...

Viola sp.

... buttercup sp. (Ranunculus), Henbit (Lamium, presumably L. amplexicaule)...

henbit and buttercup

... and tentatively i.d.ed Cress-leaf Groundsel (Packera glabella).

tentative i.d.: Cress-leaf Groundsel

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Headquarters Unit, 2/27/2017:

north end of Duck Lake

3:34 pm to 6:07 pm
2.2 miles: 2 by vehicle on a section of refuge loop w/ numerous stops, about 0.2 on foot, mostly at gated walk-in road between refuge loop and east side of Duck Lake.
Conditions: 70 to 73 degrees F., sunny w/ some clouds, breezy, water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed about 35.7 feet.
Habitat Shots:

The rest of the narrow brush strip along the lake's edge had been mowed, no sparrows except Savannah Sparrow were at this location. Flowers in the grass, such as buttercup and low dewberries, hosted a few nectaring butterflies.

looking east along the gated walk-in road, toward refuge loop -- There's owls ahead!

Birds:
Wood Duck - 3
American Wigeon - 8
Mallard - 4
duck sp. - 50

Double-crested Cormorant - 14

Great Blue Heron - 1
Great Egret - 1

Turkey Vulture - 6
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1

American Coot - 1

American Coot -- The poor thing appeared to have an injury under the chin.

Barred Owl - 4 

Barred Owl

The highlight of the trip was "hanging out" with the familiar pair of Barred Owls that are often heard or seen near the east end of the gated road. As was the case this evening, another pair can sometimes be heard from this spot, apparently engaging with them in territorial vocal exchanges. This time, one of the birds from the local pair hung out beside the road for a while, eyeing me as it called back-and-forth with it's mate who was usually obscured in the trees nearby. I have several videos of it calling and responding to it's partner, and one where it responds to my screech-owl imitation. However, blog's having trouble processing the vids when I try to insert them, so I can't include them at this time. It's a shame, because Barred Owls are always fun to watch.

Barred Owl

Red-bellied Woodpecker - 3
Downy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 1
Pileated Woodpecker - 3

Eastern Phoebe - 1

American Crow - 4

Carolina Chickadee - 6
Tufted Titmouse - 3

Carolina Wren - 6

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1

Hermit Thrush - 1
American Robin - 4

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) - 1

White-throated Sparrow - 4
Savannah Sparrow - 3

Northern Cardinal - 6

Red-winged Blackbird - 2
Common Grackle - 1
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1

Butterflies:

Common/White Checkered-Skipper (Pyrgus)

Silver-spotted Skipper - 6
Common/White Checkered-Skipper - 3
Clouded Skipper - 1

Silver-spotted Skipper nectaring from dewberry (Rubus) blossom

Red-banded Hairstreak

Red-banded Hairstreak - 2 +

'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple - 2
Pearl Crescent - 4
Common Buckeye - 5 +
Goatweed Leafwing - 2
Carolina Satyr - 1


Other:
  Herps included 6 Cope's Gray Treefrog and 1 Green Treefrog (both heard only); in addition to the several Pond Sliders, there was a briefly-seen turtle that looked to probably be a River Cooter.
The only mammal sp. observed were several Eastern Fox Squirrel.

Pond Slider

   Wildflowers in bloom included Winter Vetch (Vicia villosa)...

Winter Vetch

... tentatively i.d.ed Common Vetch (Vicia sativa)...

Vetch

 ... buttercup sp. (Ranunculus), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)...

Red Clover, w/ in-coming Honey Bee

dewberry (Rubus), violet species (Viola), False Garlic (Nothoscordum bivalve)...

False Garlic

tentatively i.d.ed Cress-leaf Groundsel (Packera glabella), and tentatively i.d.ed Medicago species (I was unfamiliar w/ this one).

Medicago sp.?

   There is so much more to learn. : )  The joy of being a nature nerd. 
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Jan-Feb Summary:
   Throughout the year, I look forward to winter birding, and especially finding what the refuge has to offer during this season. However, things simply weren't as exciting during this period as I'd hoped they would be. No unusual duck species, low diversity of sparrow species, a general impression of underwhelming numbers of birds, etc.
   Despite some cold days and a sleet-and-snow weather event in early January, this was an uncommonly warm winter overall. Spring-like conditions were the headline for the January-February 2017 period. Many plants were blooming early, and fresh spring foliage is already on some deciduous trees. Some butterflies were active early and some frogs which I usually expect to hear starting in Spring (I'm especially thinking of Cope's Gray Treefrog) were routinely heard during Jan-Feb. Many wintering bird species seemed scarce compared to what I'd expect in a typical winter, and some that I'd normally encounter have, so far, gone unseen and unheard. Mother Nature seems a bit confused. Let's hope for a good Spring and Summer season.

Barred Owl

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