 |
| Great Blue Heron -- Headquarters Unit, July 6 |
Catahoula NWR Butterfly Count June, 2018: http://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2018/06/catahoula-nwr-naba-butterfly-count-2018.html
Catahoula NWR ~Summer, 2017: http://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2017/09/catahoula-nwr-spring-summer-2017.html
Catahoula NWR Spring, 2018 (w/ links to the preceding winter and fall posts): http://falloutbird2014.blogspot.com/2018/06/catahoula-nwr-la-salle-catahoula.html
*****************************************************
These posts cover numerous visits to Catahoula NWR in La Salle and Catahoula Parishes, with a date range of June 11 to September 21. Let's call it circa Summer. The bulk of them are for the Headquarters Unit, but there are also lists for Willow Lake, French Fork, and Bushley Bayou Units. In addition to the lists of birds, which are presented by unit below, there are refuge-wide lists for mammals, Herps, fishes, Lepidoptera, Odonata, as well as some of the wildflowers seen during this period. Lot's of photos and a few videos are included. None are of great quality, but they show many of the species listed.
If you spot any incorrect i.d. or have a suggestion for one I'm unsure of, feel free to let me know.
Please note that these are the observations of an amateur - a birder and general nature enthusiast without formal training and limited experience with some of the groups of organisms covered here, so there could be mistakes. I try to do my research before posting, but sometimes I rush to publish a post before too much time has passed since the events that post covers.
Without further adieu, and with no more gilding the lily...
Birds - Headquarters Unit:
Habitat Shots:
 |
| view from northeast corner of Duck Lake -- 7/26 |
 |
| water across the road from north end of Duck Lake (often a few shorebirds around at appropriate season) -- 9/2 |
 |
| Rainbow! -- refuge loop at north end of Duck Lake -- 9/2 |
 |
| refuge loop where it runs along La Salle - Catahoula Parish line -- 8/23 |
 |
| refuge loop at "gated side road" -- 8/23 |
 |
| nature trail -- 7/21 |
 |
| one of the "big culverts" along south part of refuge loop -- 7/21 |
 |
| woods along west side of refuge loop - 7/26 |
 |
| Cowpen Bayou -- 7/26 |
6:23 a.m.; 3 hrs 57 min
5.5 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
77 - 84 degrees F.; cloudy at first becoming mixed cloud and sun; light breeze
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. _.
Birded driving north, east, and south parts of loop, with numerous stops.
June 16 (NABA Catahoula NWR Butterfly Count)
9:30 a.m.; 1 hr 40 min
~6 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
warm, sunny, not much wind
Birds that my party (Craig Marks and Jonathan Clark) detected during the HQ Unit portion of the butterfly count. Driving (w/ numerous stops and some short walks) from kiosk near entrance, south along east leg of refuge loop, around south end, and down Mosquito Bend Road to end.
July 6
9:21 a.m.; 1 hr 14 min
2.8 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
82 - 86 degrees F.; sunny/partly cloudy; some light breeze
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34.5 feet.
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop
July 21
6:35 a.m.; 3 hrs 53 min
6 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
79 - 86 degrees F.; mostly cloudy, mixed cloud and sun; wind calm at start, some light breeze beginning about half way through
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34.5 feet.
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north, east, and south legs of the refuge loop (5.6 miles), plus on foot down nature trail to beginning of boardwalk, which was closed for repairs.
July 26
8:34 a.m.; 3 hrs 44 min
9.6 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
77 - 92 degrees; clear; some light breeze
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34 to 34.5 feet (rotted, hard to read).
Birded driving, with numerous stops, the entire refuge loop, plus walking the gated side road that goes down to the east side of Duck Lake (walk = estimated 0.4 miles one way)August 11
8:54 a.m.; 1 hr 55 min
2.5 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
76 degrees F. at start; sunny / partly cloudy; calm at first, some light breeze developing
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop
6:50 a.m.; 2 hrs 17 min
2.3 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
69 - 78 degrees F.; sunny; calm, then some light breeze
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34' or slightly more (rotted, hard to read)
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop, with some time on foot walking on the road
September 2
7:05 a.m.; 3 hrs 7 min
2.3 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
74 - 81 degrees F.; cloudy a first, then variable mix of cloud and sun; some light breeze at first, became light to moderate wind (east / southeast?)
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34' or slightly less (rotted, hard to read)
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop, with circa 2hrs on foot at north end of Duck Lake
September 13
6:45 a.m.; 2 hrs 53 min
2.5 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
74 - 81 degrees F.; light breeze; varying mix cloud and sun, favoring sunny
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34' - 34.5' (rotted, hard to read)
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop, with significant time on foot at north end of Duck Lake and down to corner by Cowpen BayouSeptember 21
9:36 a.m.; 3 hrs 20 min
2.2 miles; primarily La Salle Parish
84 - 94 degrees F.; sunny to partly cloudy; light breeze
Water level marker at north end of Duck Lake showed approx. 34' (rotted, hard to read)
Birded driving, with numerous stops, parts of the north and east legs of the refuge loop, with about 2 hrs and 0.3 miles on foot on road where it runs north-south along the parish line south of the fork by the sign-in board and port-o-potty.
A reminder what the dates are: June 11 and 16. July 6, 21, and 26. August 11 and 23. September 2, 13, 21. Each month's set of numbers is separated by " / ".
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - 1, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 7, / 0, 0, 0
(video: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck -- 6/11)
 |
| Black-bellied Whistling-Duck -- HQ Unit, 6/11 |
Blue-winged Teal - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, . 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
duck sp. - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 5, 0
Mourning Dove - 4, 0, / 3, 1, 3, / 1, 0, / 1, 0, 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 9, 2, / 4, 7, 13, / 5, 6, / 2, 2, 0
 |
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo with caterpillar -- 8/11 |
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 1, 2, / 0, 2, 3, / 0, 0, / 3, 2, 1
Black-necked Stilt - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 6, 8, / 5, 4, 4
 |
| Black-necked Stilt -- 9/2 |
Least Sandpiper - 0, , / 0, 0, 0, / 4, 0, / 9, 0, 0
(video: Least Sandpiper, 8/11)
 |
| Least Sandpipers and a Solitary Sandpiper (right end) -- 9/2 |
dowitcher sp. - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 5, 0, / 0, 0, 1
(video: dowitchers, 8/11)
 |
| dowitchers -- 8/11 |
 |
| dowitchers -- 8/11 |
 |
| dowitchers -- 8/11 |
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| (Long-billed?) dowitcher -- 9/21 |
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| (Long-billed?) Dowitcher -- 9/21 |
Solitary Sandpiper - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 1, / 4, 0, 0
Greater Yellowlegs - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 2, 0, 3
 |
| Greater Yellowlegs -- 9/21 |
 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs -- 9/21 |
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| Lesser Yellowlegs (foreground) and Greater Yellowlegs -- 9/21 |
Wood Stork - 0, 0, / 0, 22, 23, / 0, 19, / 0, 29, 0
 |
| Wood Storks and a couple of Roseate Spoonbills -- 7/21 |
American White Pelican - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 1, 6, / 0, 0, 0
 |
| American White Pelican -- 8/11 |
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| Great Blue Heron -- 9/13 |
Snowy Egret - 3, 1, / 9, 7, 9, / 0, 6, / 7, 8, 4
 |
| Snowy Egret -- 9/2 |
Tricolored Heron - 0, 0, / 1, 0, 1, / 8, 1, / 3, 4, 3
 |
| Tricolored Heron -- 9/2 |
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| Tricolored Heron -- 9/2 |
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| Cattle Egret -- 7/21 |
Green Heron - 1, 0, / 1, 6, 1, / 2, 0, / 1, 0, 0
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| Green Heron -- 9/2 |
 |
| juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron -- 8/23 |
White Ibis - 11, 0, / 3, 3, 14, / 4, 9, / 12, 25, 9
 |
| White Ibises and a Greater Yellowlegs -- 9/2 |
 |
| flock of Plegadis sp. ibises (Glossy/White-faced Ibis) -- 9/13 |
 |
| Plegadis sp. ibis -- 9/21 |
 |
| young Roseate Spoonbill -- 7/21 |
 |
| adult Roseate Spoonbill -- 9/13 |
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| Black Vulture -- 7/26 |
Osprey - 1, 0, / 0, 1, 1, / 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
Mississippi Kite - 1, 1, / 0, 1, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0
 |
| Mississippi Kite -- 7/21 |
(video: adult Bald Eagle, Wood Storks -- 7/21)
 |
| adult Bald Eagle -- 7/21 |
 |
| juvenile Red-shouldered Hawk -- 8/23 |
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| Broad-winged Hawk -- 7/26 |
Red-bellied Woodpecker - 4, 2, / 6, 3, 7, / 2, 2, / 1, 6, 7
Downy Woodpecker - 3, 1, / 0, 3, 6, / 4, 3, / 1, 7, 2
Hairy Woodpecker - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 1, / 0, 1, 0
 |
| Hairy Woodpecker -- 8/23 |
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 1, 3, 2
(video: two Eastern Wood-Pewees, one of them calling -- 9/13)
Acadian Flycatcher - 12, 1, / 4, 7, 6, / 3, 3, / 2, 3, 2
Great Crested Flycatcher - 2, 0, / 0, 2, 0, / 0, 2, / 2, 1, 0
Eastern Kingbird - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
White-eyed Vireo - 9, 4, / 3, 13, 16, / 8, 10, / 6, 14, 7
 |
| young White-eyed Vireo -- 9/2 |
 |
| young White-eyed Vireo -- 9/2 |
Red-eyed Vireo - 8, 7, / 0, 6, 7, / 0, 3, / 2, 2, 1
Blue Jay - 1, 0, / 2, 5, 6, / 2, 3, / 4, 6, 7
American Crow - 7, 2, / 4, 5, 0, / 5, 2, / 4, 9, 2
Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 10, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0
Tree Swallow - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 1, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0
Purple Martin - 1, 0, / 1, 24, 0, / 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
Barn Swallow - 10, 0, / 0, 2, 2, / 3, 0, / 1, 0, 0
Cliff Swallow - 2, 0, / 0, 1, 6, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0
swallow sp. - 0, 0, / 0, 10, 0, / 2, 0, / 11, 0, 0
Carolina Chickadee - 15, 2, / 6, 9, 15, / 3, 0, / 2, 11, 5
Tufted Titmouse - 8, 2, / 6, 10, 13, / 4, 2, / 3, 7, 2
Carolina Wren - 15, 2, / 2, 16, 19, / 5, 10, / 9, 8, 8
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 10, 3, / 2, 3, 7, / 1, 1, / 2, 4, 3
Eastern Bluebird - 0, 0, / 3, 0, 5, / 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
European Starling - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 3, 0, 0
 |
| European Starlings -- 9/2 |
Lark Sparrow - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 1
Eastern Towhee - 0, 0, / 0, 1, 0, / 0, 1, / 0, 0, 0
Orchard Oriole - 4, 0, / 1, 3, 2, / 2, 0, / 0, 0, 0
Red-winged Blackbird - 10, 1, / 3, 3, 1, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 5
Brown-headed Cowbird - 8, 4, / 2, 5, 2, / 0, 0, / 0, 2, 0
Common Grackle - 20, 0, / 3, 7, 3, / 0, 33, / 43, 0, 0
blackbird sp. - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 20, 0
Prothonotary Warbler - 13, 5, / 2, 0, 0, / 2, 0, / 0, 0, 0
Common Yellowthroat - 0, 0, / 0, 1, 2, / 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0
Hooded Warbler - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 1, / 0, 0, 0
Northern Parula - 3, 4, / 1, 4, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 1, 0
 |
| Northern Parula -- 9/13 |
Yellow Warbler - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 1, 0, 0
Summer Tanager - 4, 2, / 2, 3, 3, / 1, 3, / 1, 3, 1
Northern Cardinal - 28, 7, / 8, 17, 29, / 13, 14, / 12, 14, 11
Blue Grosbeak - 1, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 1, / 1, 2, 0
Indigo Bunting - 13, 7, / 6, 13, 13, / 6, 4, / 1, 11, 1
Painted Bunting - 16, 8, / 6, 20, 16, / 3, 4, / 2, 7, 2
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| male Painted Bunting -- 7/21 |
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| female Painted Bunting -- 7/21 |
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| Painted Buntings -- 9/2 |
passerine sp. - 0, 0, / 0, 0, 0, / 0, 0, / 0, 4, 0
Birds - Willow Lake Unit:
Habitat Shots:
 |
| Willow Lake Road -- 6/11 |
 |
| ponds on Willow Lake Unit -- 6/16 |
11:12 a.m.; 56 min
1.4 miles; La Salle Parish
85 - 90 degrees F.; sunny/partly cloudy; light breeze
June 16 (birds detected during NABA Catahoula NWR Butterfly Count)
11:17 a.m.; 1 hr 10 minutes
La Salle Parish
birds detected by my party (Phillip Wallace, Brad Moon, Jonathan Clark). We traveled ~0.5 miles on foot along right-of-way that leads west from sign-in board, plus some along road south of board
hot, sunny
La Salle Parish
birds detected by my party (Phillip Wallace, Brad Moon, Jonathan Clark). We traveled ~0.5 miles on foot along right-of-way that leads west from sign-in board, plus some along road south of board
hot, sunny
July 6
10:38 a.m.; 51 min
1.4 miles; La Salle Parish
87 - 89 degrees F.; sunny or partly cloudy; light breeze
July 26
12:21 p.m. - 18 min, incidental -- hot, bird activity low; part of weedy field recently mowed
0. 9 miles; La Salle Parish
91 - 93 F.; sunny; some light breezeMourning Dove - 0, 0, 1, 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 3, 0, 3, 0
Chimney Swift - 0, 0, 1, 0
Anhinga - 4, 0, 0, 1
Great Blue Heron - 1, 0, 0, 0
Great Egret - 0, 0, 1, 1
Little Blue Heron - 2, 1, 1, 0
white egret sp. - 0, 0, 1, 0
Black Vulture - 2, 1, 0, 0
Turkey Vulture - 0, 1, 2, 1
Red-tailed Hawk - 0, 1, 0, 0
Downy Woodpecker - 0, 1, 0, 0
Acadian Flycatcher - 3, 0, 0, 0
Eastern Kingbird - 1, 0, 1, 1
White-eyed Vireo - 8, 0, 6, 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 2, 0, 0, 0
Blue Jay - 0, 0, 0, 2
Cliff Swallow - 2, 0, 6, 4
Carolina Chickadee - 0, 1, 0, 1
Tufted Titmouse - 0, 1, 0, 0
Carolina Wren - 2, 1, 3, 0
Eastern Towhee - 1, 1, 3, 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 8, 3, 4, 0
Red-winged Blackbird - 2, 0, 2, 0
Brown-headed Cowbird - 2, 0, 1, 0
Prothonotary Warbler - 2, 1, 0, 0
Swainson's Warbler - 1, 0, 1, 0
Kentucky Warbler - 1, 0, 0, 0
Common Yellowthroat - 7, 0, 5, 0
Hooded Warbler - 2, 0, 2, 0
Northern Parula - 1, 2, 0, 0
Prairie Warbler - 1, 0, 0, 0
Summer Tanager - 1, 1, 0, 0
Northern Cardinal - 6, 2, 10, 5
Blue Grosbeak - 2, 0, 1, 0
Indigo Bunting - 8, 1, 9, 4
Painted Bunting - 1, 1, 5, 1
Dickcissel - 0, 0, 1, 0
Birds - French Fork Unit:
Habitat Shots:
 |
| Muddy Bayou Road, 6/11 |
10:32 a.m.; 28 min
La Salle Parish
0.2 miles -- Muddy Bayou Road off LA-28
85 degrees F.; light breeze; mixed cloud and sun
June 16 (birds detected during NABA Catahoula NWR Butterfly Count)
2:27 p.m.; 57 minutes
La Salle Parish
0.2 miles on foot on Muddy Bayou Road
hot, sunny, not very good conditions for birding
The whole butterfly count group came here before parting for the day.
La Salle Parish
0.2 miles on foot on Muddy Bayou Road
hot, sunny, not very good conditions for birding
The whole butterfly count group came here before parting for the day.
Wood Duck - 0, 1
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 2, 1,
Common Gallinule - 7 (family - 2 adult, 5 juv.), 1,
 |
| family of Common Gallinules -- 6/11 |
Great Egret - 1, 0
Little Blue Heron - 1, 0
Turkey Vulture - 0, 2
Mississippi Kite - 0, 1
Red-shouldered Hawk - 0, 1
Eastern Kingbird - 1, 1
White-eyed Vireo - 2, 1
Red-eyed Vireo - 1, 0
Blue Jay - 0, 1
Cliff Swallow - 2, 0
Carolina Chickadee - 1, 0
Carolina Wren - 1, 2
Orchard Oriole - 1, 0
Brown-headed Cowbird - 1, 0
Prothonotary Warbler - 1, 0
Northern Parula - 1, 1
Summer Tanager - 1, 0
Northern Cardinal - 3, 1
Indigo Bunting - 2, 1
Painted Bunting - 1, 0
Birds - Bushley Bayou Unit:
Habitat Shots:
 |
| levee at impoundments by Minnow Ponds Rd -- 6/13 |
 |
| part of Flat Creek at Minnow Ponds Trail -- 8/13 |
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| Minnow Ponds Trail -- 8/13 |
 |
| Green's Creek -- 6/11 |
 |
| Dry Bayou Road -- 6/13 |
 |
| Bushley Bayou at end of road -- 6/13 |
6:38 a.m.; 3 hrs 12 min
Catahoula Parish
3.5 miles -- by vehicle, w/ numerous stops - the length of Minnow Ponds Road and Dry Bayou Road, from LA-8 to Bushley Bayou - plus 0.2 miles on foot at impoundment levees by MP Road and 1.5 miles on foot by Green's Creek on DB Road
73 - 84 degrees F.; partly cloudy; light breeze
June 16 (NABA Catahoula NWR butterfly count)
3:33 p.m.; 32 minutes
Catahoula Parish
1.8 miles -- driving Minnow Pond Rd and Dry Bayou Rd (with some stops) as far as Green's Creek bridge, plus time on foot at bridge.
92 degrees F., sunny; not the best time of day for birds, but still decent amount of bird activity.
10:08 a.m.; 2 hrs 52 min
Catahoula Parish
2.3 miles -- Birded driving, w/ numerous stops, Minnow Ponds Road and Dry Bayou Road, from LA-8 entrance to Green's Creek bridge (1.8 miles); plus walking parts of: levees at impoundments by MP RD, Minnow Ponds Trail to last fork of Flat Creek, and on road by Green's Creek.
82 - 90 degrees F.; sunny/partly cloudy; light breeze
duck sp. - 1, 0, 0
Pied-billed Grebe - 1, 0, 0
Mourning Dove - 1, 1, 2
Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 4, 2, 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2, 1, 0
Chimney Swift - 0, 0, 7
Wood Stork - 0, 0, 32
Anhinga - 0, 0, 5
Great Blue Heron - 1, 0, 4
Great Egret - 4, 1, 21
Snowy Egret - 1, 0, 29
Little Blue Heron - 1, 0, 1
Cattle Egret - 1, 0, 0
Green Heron - 0, 1, 1
Black Vulture - 1, 0, 4
Turkey Vulture - 0, 1, 10
Mississippi Kite - 0, 0, 2
Red-shouldered Hawk - 1, 0, 1
Buteo sp. - 0, 0, 1
Downy Woodpecker - 3, 1, 0
Pileated Woodpecker - 0, 0, 2
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 0, 0, 1
Acadian Flycatcher - 3, 2, 0
Great Crested Flycatcher - 1, 1, 0
Eastern Kingbird - 0, 0, 1
White-eyed Vireo - 12, 7, 11
Yellow-throated Vireo - 1, 0, 0
Red-eyed Vireo - 6, 3, 1
Blue Jay - 3, 0, 1
American Crow - 3, 6, 1
Barn Swallow - 2, 0, 1
Cliff Swallow - 1, 0, 0
swallow sp. - 0, 0, 14
Carolina Chickadee - 5, 3, 4
Tufted Titmouse - 4, 1, 2
Carolina Wren - 5, 3, 6
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 2, 1, 1
Wood Thrush - 2, 0, 0
Eastern Towhee - 6, 1, 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 13, 3, 0
Orchard Oriole - 2, 2, 0
Red-winged Blackbird - 7, 2, 3
Brown-headed Cowbird - 9, 0, 0
Common Grackle - 3, 0, 0
Prothonotary Warbler - 4, 2, 0
Swainson's Warbler - 1, 0, 0
Kentucky Warbler - 2, 0, 0
Common Yellowthroat - 7, 1, 3
Hooded Warbler - 3, 2, 1
Northern Parula - 1, 0, 0
Pine Warbler - 1, 0, 0
Prairie Warbler - 1, 0, 0
Summer Tanager - 3, 0, 0
Northern Cardinal - 10, 4, 11
Blue Grosbeak - 4, 2, 3
Indigo Bunting - 11, 5, 4
Painted Bunting - 5, 3, 0
(o,o)
[( / )]
~~,,~,,~ (o,o)
uuu {( / )}
~~-uuu-~~
(o,o)
__{(,, /,,)}__
uuu
-- Where were the Barred Owls on all these visits to the refuge?
-- Swainson's Warbler numbers on the NWR seemed way down compared to last year. Maybe the flooding going on around the time that species would have arrived in the spring discouraged many from breeding here this year?
The following lists combine sightings from across all four units during the date range of June 11 - September 21, 2018
Mammals:
rabbits (Eastern Cottontail and/or Swamp Rabbit), Virginia Opossum, Eastern Fox Squirrel, Northern Raccoon, White-tailed Deer
 |
| White-tailed Deer fawns |
-- There seemed to be very few squirrels compared to the last couple of years.
Herps:
Amphibians --
Fowler's Toad, Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Cope's Gray Treefrog, Green Treefrog, Squirrel Treefrog, Green (Bronze) Frog, American Bullfrog, Southern Leopard Frog
 |
| Southern Leopard Frog -- 7/21 |
American Alligator, Little Brown Skink, Plain-bellied Watersnake, Southern or Banded Watersnake...
 |
| Nerodia fasciata (Banded Watersnake or Southern Watersnake) -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
 |
| Western Milksnake -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
 |
| Western Milksnake -- B.B. Unit, 6/13 |
Fish:
gar sp., shad sp., *Freshwater Drum, Blacktail Shiner, Cyprinid (shiner/minnow) spp., Blackspotted/Blackstripe Topminnow, Western Mosquitofish, Orangespotted Sunfish, Longear Sunfish, Bluegill, Spotted Bass, *Largemouth Bass
*indicates fish that my brother reported catching in Bushley Bayou in late July that weren't already on my list
Butterflies:
Pipevine Swallowtail -
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail -
Zebra Swallowtail -
 |
| Zebra Swallowtail -- 7/26 -- I spotted this one on the HQ Unit as it was still quite high up (I was scanning sky for raptors). It came angling down, passing close by me, and I lost it in the bushes. Apparently it had been on the move, but stopped to take a break. This was the first time I'd seen this species on the NWR. I find them pretty regularly in certain upland locations in La Salle Parish, though. |
Spicebush Swallowtail -
Orange Sulphur -
 |
| Orange Sulphur -- HQ Unit, 6/16 |
Southern Dogface -
Little Yellow -
 |
| Little Yellows -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
 |
| Sleepy Orange nectaring on Hydrolea sp. ("waterpod") -- HQ Unit, 7/26 |
Red-banded Hairstreak -
Gray Hairstreak -
 |
| Gray Hairstreak nectaring on milkweed -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/16 |
American Snout -
 |
| American Snout -- HQ Unit, 6/16 |
 |
| Monarch -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
Gulf Fritillary -
 |
| Gulf Fritillary -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
Pearl Crescent -
 |
| Pearl Crescent -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
Red Admiral -
 |
| Red Admiral -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
 |
| Red Admiral -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
 |
| Question Mark, showing the namesake white '?' -- HQ Unit, 6/16 |
 |
| Question Mark -- HQ Unit, 6/16 |
'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple -
 |
| 'Astyanax' Red-spotted Purple -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
 |
| Hackberry Emperor -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
 |
| Hackberry Emperor -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
 |
| Tawny Emperor -- 7/26 |
 |
| Tawny Emperor -- 7/26 |
Carolina Satyr -
 |
| Carolina Satyr -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
Silver-spotted Skipper -
Long-tailed Skipper -
 |
| Long-tailed Skipper -- 8/11 |
Funereal Duskywing -
Common/White Checkered-Skipper -
 |
| Common/White Checkered-Skipper -- HQ Unit, 7/26 |
 |
| Common/White Checkered-Skipper -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
Least Skipper -
Fiery Skipper -
 |
| Fiery Skipper -- HQ Unit, 9/2 |
Southern Broken-Dash -
Ocola Skipper -
Moths:
Milky Urola...
 |
| Milky Urola -- HQ Unit, 6/11 |
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| possibly Virginian Tiger Moth -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
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| Lychnosea intermicata -- HQ Unit, 7/21 -- These are quite common, especially on the Headquarters Unit. |
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| Cross-lined Waved (Timandra amaturaria) -- HQ Unit, 6/11 -- These may be the most frequently encountered moths on this NWR. |
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| moth (TBD) -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
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| moth (TBD) -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| caterpillar (TBD) -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| caterpillar (TBD) -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
Damselflies:
Ebony Jewelwing -
Blue-fronted Dancer -
possible Familiar Bluet -
Fragile Forktail -
Citrine Forktail -
Dragonflies:
Swamp Darner -
Common Green Darner -
Jade Clubtail -
Prince Baskettail -
Halloween Pennant -
Four-spotted Pennant -
Eastern Pondhawk -
Little Blue Dragonlet -
Golden-winged Skimmer -
possibly Yellow-sided Skimmer -
Slaty Skimmer -
Great Blue Skimmer -
additional "skimmer" spp. -
Wandering Glider -
Blue Dasher -
Eastern Amberwing -
Common Whitetail -
Black Saddlebags -
Carolina Saddlebags -
Wildflowers:
Brazilian Verbena, milkweed spp. (Asclepias)...
waterpod sp. (Hydrolea), dayflower (Commelina) sp. ...
Lizard's Tail (Saururus cernuus), Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), Justicia...
sensitive-brier (Mimosa sp./spp.), frogfruit (Phyla sp.), White Morning-Glory (Ipomoea lacunosa),
Cotton Morning-Glory (Ipomoea cordatotriloba), Bigroot Morning-Glory (Ipomoea pandurata), Hairy Clustervine (Jacquemontia tamnifolia), Acmella, Diodia spp., Persicaria spp. ...
Sida sp. ...
Ebony Jewelwing -
Blue-fronted Dancer -
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| female Blue-fronted Dancer -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/16 |
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| male Blue-fronted Dancer -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/16 |
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| possibly Familiar Bluet (?) -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
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| tentative i.d.: female Fragile Forktail -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| tentative i.d.: female Fragile Forktail -- B.B. Unit, 8/13 |
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| tentative i.d.: male Fragile Forktail -- B.B. Unit, 8/13 |
Dragonflies:
Swamp Darner -
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| Swamp Darner -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/16 |
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| Common Green Darner -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
Prince Baskettail -
Halloween Pennant -
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| Halloween Pennant -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| Halloween Pennant -- B.B. Unit, 8/13 |
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| Four-spotted Pennant -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| male Eastern Pondhawk -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| Eastern Pond Hawk - male transitioning from green youngster to blue older adult -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/16 |
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| Little Blue Dragonlet female or young male -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
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| Golden-winged Skimmer (I'm pretty sure, but I'm not 100%) -- French Fork Unit, 6/13 |
Slaty Skimmer -
Great Blue Skimmer -
additional "skimmer" spp. -
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| tentative i.d.: Great Blue Skimmer -- Willow Lake Unit, 6/11 |
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| skimmer sp. -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 -- my guess is it's a young Slaty Skimmer |
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| tentative i.d.: Slaty Skimmer -- BB Unit, 6/13 |
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| tentative i.d.: skimmer sp. -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
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| tentative i.d.: young Great Blue Skimmer -- HQ Unit, 7/26 |
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| tentative i.d.: Slaty Skimmer -- BB Unit, 8/13 |
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| tentative i.d.: skimmer sp. -- BB Unit, 8/13 |
Blue Dasher -
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| female Blue Dasher -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 8/13 |
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| female Eastern Amberwing -- HQ Unit, 7/26 |
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| male Eastern Amberwing -- HQ Unit, 7/26 |
Black Saddlebags -
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| Black Saddlebags -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
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| Carolina Saddlebags -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
Wildflowers:
Brazilian Verbena, milkweed spp. (Asclepias)...
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| milkweed sp. -- Bushley Bayou Unit, 6/13 |
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| dayflower sp. (Commelina) -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
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| waterwillow sp. (Justicia) -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
Cotton Morning-Glory (Ipomoea cordatotriloba), Bigroot Morning-Glory (Ipomoea pandurata), Hairy Clustervine (Jacquemontia tamnifolia), Acmella, Diodia spp., Persicaria spp. ...
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| Persicaria sp. -- HQ Unti, 9/21 |
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| Sida -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
palmetto sp. ...
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| palmetto in bloom -- French Fork Unit, 6/16 |
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| Halbeardleaf Rosemallow (Hibiscus laevis) -- 9/21 |
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| Swamp Leatherflower -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
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| Hypericum sp. -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
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| some kind of Fabaceae -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
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| Lamiaceae sp. -- HQ Unit, 9/21 |
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| Lamiaceae sp. -- HQ Unit, 7/21 |
And, as always, there are many that I don't have a good idea of what they are. Below are a couple of examples.
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| HQ Unit, 6/11 -- Not sure what to call these. |
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| HQ Unit, 7/21 -- Take a wild guess? Spermacoce glabra? |
Here's to a productive Autumn on Catahoula NWR!
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