Sicily Island Hills, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana (5/7/2016)

   I made an afternoon trip to Sicily Island Hills WMA on Saturday afternoon. I didn't have time to explore too far on foot, but its always nice to get out there and enjoy the interesting, unique forest. (WMA regulations can be found here: LDWF S. I. Hills aka Sonny Gilbert WMA, and remember that to use a WMA you must posses a Wild Louisiana Stamp or a Louisiana hunting or fishing license and check in and check out at the self-clearing station.)

Rock Falls trailhead

   The geography and geology of Sicily Island Hills itself is pretty fascinating. "The Island" is a roughly circular area of upland that rises from the floodplain on the east side of the Ouachita River, NE of Harrisonburg. Essentially, its the far eastern tip of the Kisatchie Wold that long ago got cut off from the rest of the hill country by erosion and the shifting river channels. (Further info can be found here: SCS Soil Survey of Catahoula Parish). I entered on the road that comes from the south, which rises steeply into the hills. Forest type is upland hardwoods and mixed pine-hardwoods, generally.

looking across Rock Creek at the falls

 

    The star attraction in this part of the hills is Rock Falls (at 17 feet, its probably the tallest waterfall in Louisiana). The falls is accessible from a trail that makes the steep, twisting descent from the ridge-top road to follow Rock Creek upstream a short distance to the falls. There's a small foot bridge over the little springwater stream, just upstream of the falls, and the trail continues on through the impressive woods, crossing small branches of the creek and offering excellent viewing opportunities for those interested in native forest plants and a variety of wildlife.

Rock Falls

Rock Falls

   Common woodwarblers found here during the spring and summer include Hooded Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, and Northern Parula; all of which were around during this trip. Pine Warblers are common and present year-round. Though I haven't encountered Louisiana Waterthrush on my limited visits here, the habitat in some parts seems perfect for them and I don't doubt that they can be found there.
   Wood Thrush, Summer Tanager, Acadian and Great Crested Flycatchers, Red-eyed and White-eyed Vireos, and Yellow-billed Cuckoos are among the other common neotropical species that make these woods their home for the breeding season.
   Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were found around the Red Buckeye, which are common and in bloom this time of year.

Red Buckeye, Sicily Island Hills, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

part of a patch of Indian Pink growing along the road south of the Rock Falls trailhead

Indian Pink

   There were a few wildflower species in bloom other than the iconic Red Buckeye (Aesculus pavia). The highlight for me, personally, were the two significant patches of Indian Pink or Woodland Pinkroot (Spigelia marilandica). This is not a flower I've encountered since I began seriously attempting to identify and record wildflowers last spring. As you can see in the pictures below, the flowers are trumpet-shaped and red with split, five-lobed bells that curl back and expose the yellow underside.

close-up of Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), Sicily Island Hills, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

The plants were low-growing (a foot or so tall) and were found in the narrow road margin in the edge of the trees.

Indian Pink (Spigelia marilandica), Sicily Island Hills, Catahoula Parish, Louisiana

   Other wildflowers in bloom that day included Coralbean (Erythrina herbacea), Verbena (V. halei or V. officinalis?), Lobelia sp., Viburnum sp., Ruellia sp., Black-eyed Susan sp., Fleabane sp., Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.), Phlox sp., Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana). Again - still learning my wildflowers, so the identifications should be treated as those of an enthusiastic amateur! : )  (http://southeasternflora.com/)

   With any luck, I'll make a longer trip to SI Hills later this spring or summer. There's a lot to see out there. I've never visited the trails north of Big Creek, and I'm thinking that would be a fine all-day trip!

first step of Rock Falls

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