In The Mean Time

Partridge pea waiting for sulphur butterflies to come along.
Partridge pea waiting for sulphur butterflies to come along.

While we wait for fall to arrive (we’ve already passed a turning point in the seasons) I thought I’d show you some images of what’s happening now. The partridge pea above has been groomed and readied for cloudless sulphur butterflies to come along and lay their eggs on the plant. So far I’ve seen not a one of the large yellow butterflies. I will keep looking.

Speaking of butterflies, I spotted a least skipper flying about the smartweed in Explore the Wild. This is a very small butterfly with about a 1 inch wingspan, but it’s surprisingly noticeable as it skips about the wet grasses along the edge of the water, which is were it’s usually found.

Least skipper alights on a smartweed leaf in Explore the Wild.
Least skipper alights on a smartweed leaf in Explore the Wild.

I spied a green tree frog tucked up under one of the umbrellas at the Red Wolf Enclosure.

At times green tree frog can be quite dark. This one is almost chocolate brown.
At times, green tree frogs can be quite dark. I’ve seen them chocolate brown in color.

Speaking of frogs, while standing next to the vending area in Explore the Wild checking the weather radar on the iPhone, I saw what looked like a pickerel frog hop across the pavement and into the tall grass at the edge of the wetlands. Seconds later a black racer, in hot pursuit, followed the frog’s trail. As the snake’s head entered the grass, it paused, then quickly moved forward, disappearing into the grass. Not more than a minute later the snake emerged from the grass and back to where it had come from. I could not discern a bulge in the snake’s profile, so I don’t think it caught what it was after.

Racer heads back from the hunt, apparently to start a new hunt.
Racer heads back from the hunt, apparently to start a new hunt.

While on the subject of snakes, on the other side of the path, and twenty feet or so beyond the racer in the above photo, there lies a favorite resting spot for water snakes. They can be difficult to see as they coil up in the tall grass, but if you persist you may spot one or two.

Can you spot the water snake?
Can you spot the water snake?
A closer view.
A closer view.

If you had trouble locating the snake in the photo, the head can be seen dead center in the above photo and the photo at your right.

On the other side of the Wetlands, under the redwoods and cypress trees that line the boardwalk, another northern water snake peeks out of a hole at the base of one of the redwoods. The snakes seem to spend much time cooling off underground among the roots of the trees.

A northern water snake pops up for a view of the surrounding area.
A northern water snake pops up for a view of the surrounding area.

Finally, the next photo was taken about two weeks ago but is still relavent. Although many birds are beyond the fledgling stage and are actually preparing for migration (some are already on their way south) the catbirds will be here for at least another month.

This gray catbird waits in the grass for instruction from its parent.
This gray catbird waits in the grass for instruction from its parent.

As you’re walking around the outdoor loop through Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind, keep an eye out for these and other critters along the way. There’s much going on around you, but you won’t see it if you don’t look.

Have fun!

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