Before the month of May slid into history, I did a little sliding of my own. The day after Julia and I visited Nerinx, I did a solo expedition to the western section of the Falls of the Ohio State Park. Now the sliding part has to do with mud! In places the earth was high and dry, but in key areas the mud remained slippery and sticky. Here’s a picture of what I mean.
It’s creamy and in places you could sink in over your ankles. To get things over with so I don’t have to obsess about this, well I just find some mud and step into it. After that there are no worries about remaining clean! The deed is done. I have a similar philosophy about the rain. Once I’m as wet as I can get…I can relax and do my thing as long as I don’t get too cold. The mud is more treacherous closer to the river’s edge and I decide not to flirt with it too much. There is afterall, much to see around here.
The willows are in maximum fluff production and there are drifts of the stuff on the ground. When the wind stirs then the willow seeds become air born and are carried away. With so much fluff, you would think willows would be even more common than they are. I have to say that so far, I haven’t seen any birds that have made my year. Last year’s signature bird was the Summer Tanager. This year hasn’t been the warbler fest that I experienced just two years a go. Still, I take what I can get and I always love American Goldfinches. Here’s a male taking a dip in some water. Small flocks cruise along the trees nearest the river.
I’m walking west along the river and I came across the only persona that I saw all day. We eye-balled each other, decided that neither was a threat and so we had a short conversation. Mostly, it was an opportunity to compare nature notes. I guess the feature that most stood out about my acquaintance is the bright pink hat she? is wearing. I said I was looking for birds and junk and “she” said that she was a Lepidopterist. Oddly, we didn’t introduce ourselves, but she let me take her picture for my blog. I guess she’s about five feet tall or so and walked with a cane.
After I asked if she had seen any interesting birds…she hadn’t. I was asked about what butterflies I had come across. Fortunately, I also like butterflies and try to take their pictures when both insect and camera cooperate. I really don’t like these autofocus cameras. Anyway, I noticed many species out on this day including Commas, Mourning Cloaks, Cabbage Whites and then I showed her images of the two butterflies that I did get decent pictures of and she seemed happy to identify them for me. Here is the more unusual of the two that I came across at the forest’s edge.
Quickly my new friend identified this as being Enodia anthedon or more commonly, the Northern Pearly Eye. It is a forest butterfly that does not come to flowers preferring instead the fermenting juices of fruits and tree saps. I reply that I had noticed that there were many butterflies around the fallen mulberries and on the sides of the willow trees.
I wonder if science has determined if a butterfly can get drunk off the fermented juice and if this is possible…do they experience hangovers? I know this does happen with birds like Cedar Waxwings that literally get tipsy. The second butterfly is one that many people know and it’s the pretty Red Admiral or Vanessa atalanta . Even its scientific name is charming. This is a people friendly butterfly and will often alight upon a person. I came across dozens of these today.
With the rising heat the promised threat of a late afternoon thunderstorm began to materialize. First there was the distant sound of thunder and since I had a hike to still make to reach my car…I said farewell to my butterfly friend whom I hope to see again. I asked before parting if she collected butterflies and she answered that once she had, but was now over that part of her interest in them. She no longer needed to possess them and instead grew flowers and plants to attract them.
I hope I run into the lady with the pink hat again. She seemed to share a reverence for the life that is out here in the park. I would welcome learning more about the butterflies that call this place their home. One last shot showing willows, the riverbank, fossil cliffs, and the dam in the far distance that keeps the river at bay…most of the time.
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