Nature & Wildlife Thread

[JBtheExplorer]

Went for a hike this afternoon with my mom. We checked out River Bend Nature Center to see how high the water levels were. It was definitely up quite a bit. Part of the trail was flooded out, but nothing too crazy.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Last minute prairie hike tonight with a surprise rainbow.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Nice quick hike today. Having a hard time admitting to myself that the mid-summer blooms are just about gone and we're firmly entering goldenrod season already.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Following up on the "native seed areas" at a local park that I've mentioned on previous posts. I finally found native plants, and lots of them! But they're all grasses, and they've come in thick!

Canada wild rye

Virginia wild rye

Little bluestem

Side oats grama

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Not many photos from this evenings hike, but the trail was freshly mowed, temps were cooler than they have been lately, and it was a nice hike.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I've been seeing posts lately about a decent-sized family of turkeys seen around the prairie, so I went over to try to find them. No luck, but it was still a great evening.

Wild turkey feather

American toad

Evening primrose

Golden northern bumble bee

New England Aster

Goldenrod

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I'm not sure anyone here will understand my excitement right now. But this is amazing. I've been waiting 25 years to see another one of these. I kept telling myself this was going to be the year, and it actually was! Yellow garden spider seen on today's prairie hike. My favorite spider! I was looking at something else in the prairie and it happened to catch my eye. This is easily my favorite find of 2025.

 

[mrsclem]

Grew up in Ohio seeing these every year. Moved to Maryland and still saw a few. Haven't seen one in 3 years. Plenty of black widows and brown recluse unfortunately. Love the big garden spiders with the white Z in the web.

 

[BKHpondcritters]

I **totally** understand your excitement with this 'find'. I absolutely adore the black & yellow garden spiders. We have one show up on occasion, but it's been a few years since I've seen one.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I did see more things during yesterday's hike, too.

Cross orbweaver

Spotted orbweaver

Monarchs

Tall boneset, which was not on their list of species that they seeded in this restoration, but also not something I've ever seen occurring in the area, so it's a mystery how it wound up there.

Turkey feather

About 100 Green darners were resting on a row of willows along the prairie.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

I couldn't help myself. I had to go back over and visit the yellow garden spider this morning and get a few more photos.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

Had to revisit my spidey friend again.

 

[j.w]

Had to revisit my spidey friend again.

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How long does a spider live?

 

[JBtheExplorer]

How long does a spider live?

If it's anything like the European garden spiders I get in my garden it will die as soon as we have a hard frost.

 

[JBtheExplorer]

While hiking today, I found a trail that had been reclaimed. Machinery had cut through the area. While walking it, I found an unfortunate monarch chrysalis that was in the path of destruction. I'm assuming it's not alive, but I hung it up anyway to give it a chance. There was no external damage but I'm sure it still went through a lot. If it somehow emerges in the next couple days I'll update. Otherwise I'm not expecting much.

Also in the area is a small population of great plains lady tresses. Some of them were also taken out by the machinery, but I think most avoided the damage.

And then I followed it up with a visit to my favorite spider. Still there!