That does it for me (probably)...
Sixty seven. I don't think I'll get a Stream Bluet or 12 spots worth of fishing spider and tiger beetle.
Sixty seven. I don't think I'll get a Stream Bluet or 12 spots worth of fishing spider and tiger beetle.
A Fox Squirrel was seen in the park today. This is another infrequent species on the challenge list. Also, a lot of the insects and migrant birds are starting to show up. Be on the lookout. It's starting to get busy with wildlife.
There is another Pied-billed Grebe on the lake today. This bird will be rare in summer. Fall, winter, and spring are the best times to see it, but it is infrequent.
Also, Jack in the Pulpit will likely be blooming any time now. Although it can usually be identified by the leaves most of the time.
There is another Pied-billed Grebe on the lake today. Seen near the Nature Center. Grebes are diving birds and can swim pretty long distances under water and pop up out of sight. Photographing them can sometimes be a challenge. Pied-billed Grebes are typically only here in the winter.
Some spring wildlfowers are beginning to bloom now. Many should be blooming in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out in the woods and forest edges for those on the list. Most flowers on the list can be easily identified by leaves only, so a photo of the bloom is not necessary, but can be helpful. Fire Pink is the only flower on the list that will require a photo of the bloom. It typically blooms in April and May, so don't miss it. Check out some previous observations on iNat to see when and where Fire Pink has been seen in the park or feel free to call or come by the Nature Center to ask the naturalists.
There is a Pied-billed Grebe on the lake today. This has turned out to be a difficult species to get so far. It is the first one seen this year at the park. The species is typically fairly regular in the winter here.
On another note, it is starting to warm up quickly. Warm weather brings migrants and insects. Migratory birds and some insects will begin to pop up pretty soon, so be on the look out for those on the list. We even had a Fragile Forktail damselfly and some butterflies this week, which means some insects will start to become active soon. Good luck!
Follow Steele Creek Park's recent sightings blog to keep up with the interesting wildlife we are seeing. We often post many of the species on the challenge list. This is a good way to find out the times these species are in the park. You can also search the blog for specific species to see when they have been seen in the past. Plus you can do the same here on iNat. And if you come to the park, one of the naturalists might even help you locate some species.
Link to blog: https://steelecreekfan.wordpress.com/
Challenge yourself in 2022 to see how many of these species you can find within Steele Creek Park in one year. All of these species listed are commonly seen in the park, but it will take some effort (or sometimes luck) to find and photograph each one. Note that some of these species are only seen at certain times of the year. You will need to be in the park each season to get all of these species. Prizes will be awarded to participants who complete the challenge at the end of the year. The rules and list of species are below. Good luck!
Rules:
• Find, photograph, and post all 70 species on iNaturalist within Steele Creek Park between January 1 and December 31, 2022.
• Observations must be of wild organisms within Steele Creek Park during the calendar year 2022.
• Captive/domestic/planted organisms will not count. In some cases it is unknown whether something has been planted or not, but that is ok.
• All observations must be submitted with a verifiable photo, video, or sound and become “research grade” status to count.
• The scientific names in the list below follow what is currently listed on iNaturalist.
• For flowers/plants: A few only bloom for a short period of time (a couple weeks in some cases), but all except Fire Pink can easily be identified by foliage when not in bloom. You will likely need a photo of Fire Pink in bloom.
• If you have any questions about the challenge or any of the species listed, feel free to reach out to the park naturalists or stop by the Nature Center any day of the week. Nature Center phone number: 423-989-5616
Species List (observations must become “research grade” status)