Archivos de diario de marzo 2019

19 de marzo de 2019

Lennox Woods & A Possible New State Park

This weekend I went to Lennox Woods Preserve in Clarksville, TX. It's one of the precious few places in the state that has never been logged. https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/lennox-woods-preserve/

Things are starting to green up in Longview, but not quite yet in Clarksville. Since there was very little green, I focused on take pictures of tiny lichens with my camera extension tubes.

On the way home, I saw a sign pointing to Langford Lake Park. I didn't have time to stop and explore it, but I drove around the park. I spotted a nature trail and a fishing pier that were really calling my name. I saved the location on my GPS and plan to come back later when the spring birds arrive.

Clarksville is stop #13 on the 130-mile Northeast Texas Trail. This trail was once an abandoned rail line, and it was recently turned into a hiking/biking trail because the railroad was a big eyesore, covered in brush and piles of garbage. The trail runs from Farmersville to New Boston. I have walked a short portion of the New Boston end.

Speaking of the trail, there is a bill in the Texas legislator that could make the trail into one giant 130-mile state park! Wow! I hope this passes!

Coming up at the end of this week...if the weather cooperates, I hope to answer the question, "What fish are in Millwood State Park in Arkansas?"

Publicado el marzo 19, 2019 12:55 MAÑANA por cosmiccat cosmiccat | 2 observaciones | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

21 de marzo de 2019

Oklahoma Spring Bioblitz!

I got an email yesterday announcing the Oklahoma spring bioblitz! https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/spring-virtual-bioblitz-ok-2019

Anything wild documented during the month of April counts! There will be prizes and challenges, although what exactly they are haven't been announced yet. I challenge anyone who lives in Oklahoma or near its border to join in!

Publicado el marzo 21, 2019 01:32 MAÑANA por cosmiccat cosmiccat | 0 comentarios | Deja un comentario

26 de marzo de 2019

Official Announcement: Rattlesnake Ridge Bioblitz!

Rattlesnake Ridge Natural Area is a new park that opened last year. It's located a little north of Little Rock. I will be taking a week's vacation in Little Rock, and I want to use a day to hold a bioblitz in this new park so we can get some data!

The bioblitz will be held on Saturday, May 18, starting at 8:00 am, though you can come sooner or later if you like. The focus will be on documenting as many species as possible, although you are free to focus on anything you like, such as birds or insects.

Directions to the park here: http://www.naturalheritage.com/natural-areas/rattlesnake-ridge-natural-area

I hope to see you there!

Publicado el marzo 26, 2019 12:56 MAÑANA por cosmiccat cosmiccat | 2 comentarios | Deja un comentario

27 de marzo de 2019

April Bioblitz Plans!

April is here and there will be two bioblitzes I'm participating in---Oklahoma Spring Bioblitz and the City Nature Challenge Team DFW!

Here are some tentative plans that I'm excited about:

First weekend of April: Red Slough in Oklahoma, focusing on odonates since this park is a giant marsh.

Second weekend of April: Beaver's Bend State Park in Oklahoma.

Third weekend: Hochatown State Park in Oklahoma

Fourth weekend: Cedar Ridge Preserve in DFW

Publicado el marzo 27, 2019 12:24 MAÑANA por cosmiccat cosmiccat | 3 comentarios | Deja un comentario

31 de marzo de 2019

A Big Fish Story!

Last week I went to Millwood State Park in Arkansas, hoping to get my first Arkansas fish. The lake was packed with fishermen taking advantage of the warm weekend. Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything. Several fisherman asked me if I caught anything as they walked past, and they said they didn't get anything, either. I suppose the fish didn't want to bite.

Earlier this week I bought a "travel rod" that folds down small enough to fit in a backpack. I wanted it to take on my hikes with me. This morning I stuffed it in my pack to try it out, and I loaded my purple mountain bike onto my bike rack. I bought the bike last December just for peddling around the parks and doing iNaturalist while biking. It makes it easier and quicker to go long distances.

I drove to Mineola Nature Preserve this morning and tried a couple of ponds, but no luck. I pedaled on to the slough, which was a distance of a mile. At first I didn't catch anything but sticks. I cast the line out and it seemed to get stuck on another stick. Grumbling, I reeled in the "stick" which suddenly began moving, fast! It was a fish, and a big one! I fought the fish for a while, now and then bringing it close enough to see its silhouette. I guess ed that it was a grass carp until it got close enough to make out the details. It was a huge bowfin! I had almost landed the fish and it escaped. This was because my hook was too small. I had baited a very tiny hook with a piece of nightcrawler to catch little fish. The weight of the bowfin had bent the hook almost straight, and it slipped out of its mouth.

I put on a crankbait shaped like a black beetle and after three or four casts, I had the fish again! It fought really hard and even broke my rod! I had to finish landing it by pulling on the line with my hands. I took a photo of the bowfin with a ruler to document size (18 inches) and released it as quickly as I could.

I was so excited to get this fish because I have been wanting to catch one of these living fossils, which have been around since the Jurassic period. It was worth breaking the rod, which was only $10 anyway. ;p

If you catch a bowfin, remember not to stick your fingers in its mouth; they have sharp teeth like a piranha!

If you go to Mineola Nature Preserve, remember that the park is catch and release ONLY! This park is huge and there are miles of trails and lots of creeks and ponds to explore.

Publicado el marzo 31, 2019 02:35 MAÑANA por cosmiccat cosmiccat | 1 observación | 1 comentario | Deja un comentario