Rusty Blackbirds!

Last week, Tanner and I were helping our advisor demonstrate vegetation sampling techniques to one of his wetland classes at Duncannon Swamp in Madison county. After actually getting into the swamp, we noticed some bird movement, particularly, a few larger blackbirds. After we did our demonstration, we went back to grab a pair of binoculars and search for these birds. Almost immediately, we found one of these mystery birds flying around the canopy. We ruled out Red-winged Blackbird and Common Grackle immediately, but still couldn't determine which species of blackbird this was at such a height. After searching the edges of the inundated swamp, we noticed multiple birds foraging around the edges. With better looks at these birds, it was evident what we had. Rusty Blackbirds! Twelve of them!

One of twelve Rusty Blackbirds found at Duncannon Swamp.  4/15/13

One of twelve Rusty Blackbirds found at Duncannon Swamp.  4/15/13

One of twelve Rusty Blackbirds found at Duncannon Swamp.  4/15/13

This was by far one of the most interesting finds this spring. Rusty Blackbirds are a major species of concern. It is estimated that Rusty Blackbirds have undergone an 85-99% population decrease! It is still unknown why these birds have undergone such declines. Loss of habitat to their breeding grounds, wintering grounds and migration stops are thought to play a large role in these declines. Their decline is unfortunately what makes seeing this species such a rare event. They breed in boreal forests of  Canada and winter here in the south. Their wintering habitat is in forested swamps of the south. They forage on mostly seeds and some remaining insect larve within the leaf litter and woody debris.

I've only ever seen one Rusty Blackbird before, so seeing this many at one time was certainly a treat. They are absolutely gorgeous birds in both winter and breeding plumage. Reporting when and where you find Rustys can be integral to understanding their population ecology and conservation of this awesome bird.

Spring Wildflowers at Anglin Falls State Nature Preserve

Spring is finally in full swing here in Kentucky and things are greening up rather quickly. Wooded hillsides are bursting with colors as numerous spring wildflowers begin to carpet the forest floors. Over the last few days, I've been frantically visiting all of my favorite wildflower spots around central Kentucky to catch as many of my favorites in bloom as I can. Yesterday I visited my favorite wildflower spot in south-central Kentucky, which is perhaps the best area in the region for spring wildflowers; John B. Stephenson Memorial Forest State Nature Preserve which is also known as Anglin Falls. Anglin Falls is located in Rockcastle County and is a 123 acre preserve that protects a forested gorge with two waterfalls and boasts an impressive and rich spring floral display. I try to visit this place around once every other week, as the community of wildflowers changes rapidly from week-to-week as spring progresses onward.

Red trilliums (Trillum erectum).

The most notable and abundant wildflowers were the red trilliums (Trillium erectum) that extensively carpet the wooded slopes at Anglin. This member of the lily family (Liliaceae) is quite large and showy, however the aroma they emit is pretty foul-smelling, hence why they are sometimes called stinking benjamins. The pungent smell is said to resemble that of a wet dog, and after taking a big whiff of one yesterday, I completely agree with the assessment...gross! The foul-smelling fragrance is used to entice pollinators such as flies and beetles that would normally feed on carrion to visit their flowers . But if you can tolerate the off-putting smell, the flowers are quite attractive and lovely when you examine them up close.

Red trillium (Trillium erectum). Red form.

Red trillium (Trillium erectum). White form.

Red trillium (Trillium erectum). White form.

T. erectum can also occur in a white-petaled form as shown above. In the population at Anglin Falls, the red form is much more dominant over the white form. I find both forms equally as attractive and it creates a nice compliment of colors when the white forms are mixed in with the red forms.

Virginia pennywort (Obolaria virginica).

A common but often overlooked spring wildflower is the Virginia pennywort (Oboloria virginica). This is a small perennial herb that blends in well with the leaf litter. The plant contains little chlorophyll and mainly gets its nutrients from mychorrhizal fungi.

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense).

These downy, heart-shaped leaves belong to wild ginger (Asarum canadense). The really interesting aspect of this abundant spring ephemeral is the flower, which has an urn-shaped maroon calyx that is often found lying prostrate on the leaf litter. Crawling insects such as ants and beetles are said to be the main pollinators for this species.

Wild ginger (Asarum canadense).

One of my favorite spring flowers is the dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), and it grows abundantly at Anglin Falls. I find the small white and yellowish flowers, which resemble the baggy pantaloons worn by "Dutchmen" hanging upside-down on a clothesline, to be quite intriguing.

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria).

Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria).

Another one of my favorite groups is the violets, and Kentucky is home to many different species of violets. It seems a violet exists for every different kind of habitat we have here in the Bluegrass State. A common one of mesic woodlands is the Canada violet (Viola canadensis). This species is distinguished from others by its white flowers with yellow centers and purple veins located on the base of each of the 5 petals. The violets are typically broken down into two major categories: the stemmed violets and the stemless violets. This species falls into the former category, as the alternating leaves arise from the stem as opposed to the base of the plant.

Canada violet (Viola canadensis).

Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora).

The pale yellow and drooping flowers in the photo above belong to the large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora). This species prefers to grow on calcareous soils on forested slopes and can be easy to overlook as the flowers remain twisted and in a closed position. The leaves of this species are called perfoliate, meaning they are pierced by the stem, but this is not to be confused another similar-looking species of the same genus, the small-flowered bellwort (Uvularia perfoliata). The small-flowered bellwort also has perfoliate leaves but differs from the large-flowered in that it is a much more delicate-looking plant and the leaves are smooth on the underside.

Three male eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies (Papilio glaucus).

As I was making my way back to the parking lot at Anglin, I came across this scene along the banks of the stream that runs through the middle of the preserve. This is a trio of eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies engaging in a behavior known as "puddling." Apparently the males will gather in moist areas to dabble for minerals that are necessary for reproduction.


Lastly, I will leave you with this teaser. These are the emerging leaves of the pink lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule) I found at Anglin Falls. In just a couple weeks, these beauties will be gracing the hillsides and ridgetops along select locations in eastern and southern Kentucky and you can be sure I will be eagerly awaiting their arrival and I'm looking forward to sharing their pictures with you!

Pink lady's slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule). Coming soon...

Early Spring Wildflowers at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary

Wow, what a difference a year makes! It is hard to believe that one year ago at this exact same time, most of the early spring wildflowers were nearly finished flowering, and JohnRyan and myself were admiring the spectacular floral displays of two of our native orchids, the showy orchis (Galearis spectabilis) and the pink lady slipper (Cypripedium acuale) down in southern Kentucky. These species typically bloom in the "middle" of spring. Of course last year we had a record-setting hot and dry spring that triggered many plants to flower at unprecedented times, and so far this spring we have endured temperatures well below-average. In fact, many of my botanist friends who have been tracking blooming periods since the '70s, had never seen such an early onset of the spring wildflower display as we had last year. Perhaps this year is back to a more "normal" spring cycle, but it's hard to know what is exactly "normal" now with the onset of global climate change.

I'll be the first to admit that I was rather spoiled by last year's early arrival of spring. I have grown increasingly eager and impatient for the arrival of the first major wave of spring wildflowers, especially as I look back through my old photos and realize what I was witnessing at this same time one year ago! However, last week we had a few warm and sunny days that I figured would trigger a few things to start flowering. Last Friday, I signed up to go on a guided hike at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary in central Kentucky in hopes of finding several new species for the year in flower. Floracliff Nature Sanctuary is a private state nature preserve located in the palisades region of the Kentucky River in southern Fayette County, which is around 15 minutes south of Lexington. Floracliff is renowned for its spring wildflower display, and is definitely one of the best that can be found in the region. The preserve was founded by Dr. Mary Wharton, who was a botanist and biologist at Georgetown College and a true visionary. She recognized the special features and the uniqueness of the Kentucky River palisades, so she started purchasing property along the river in the 1950s. In 1996, the area known as Floracliff was designated as a state nature preserve. Dr. Mary Wharton has since passed, but the preserve remains as a great testament to her vision and passion for the area.

The group of wildflowers enthusiasts admiring the swift and clear waters of Elk Lick Creek, which flows through the middle of the preserve.

Looking upstream of Elk Lick Creek. Wildflowers abound along the banks and wooded slopes of this creek.

One of the more abundant wildflowers at Floracliff were the sharp-lobed hepaticas (Hepatica nobilis), a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). The flower colors of hepatica can vary quite a bit, ranging from an all white to pink to a deep purple. These particularly deep purple ones caught my attention and demanded a few clicks of the shutter from my camera. However, with bright sunshine and considerable wind, conditions for wildflower photography were less than optimal on this day and it was difficult to get any decent shots.

Sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

Sharp-lobed hepatica (Hepatica nobilis).

Further along the trail we found one of my favorite spring wildflowers just opening up, Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virgnica). Virginia bluebells are a member of the borage family (Boraginaceae). They are a favorite for many wildflower enthusiasts and it's easy to see why with the creamy pastel colors this species exhibits. The unopened flowers buds typically have a pinkish hue then turn a baby blue color as they open up, but the flowers of the ones I found at Floracliff were all blue.

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).

Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica).

We spotted many sessile trilliums, a member of the lily family (Liliaceae), in bud along the banks of the creek but none had opened yet. As luck would have it, as we moved up the wooded slopes into drier and warmer microclimates we managed to find a few that had opened up. This species gets it name from the flowers that are without stalks (this term in botany lingo is referred to as being sessile). The maroon petals of sessile trillium never fully open up, and remain in a "closed" position. The leaves tend to be light green with some dark green mottling, and the flowers are foul-smelling. This is a common evolutionary tactic employed by various trillium species as a way of attracting a host of pollinators such as beetles and flies, that typically feed on rotting flesh.

Sessile trillium (Trillium sessile).

Sessile trillium (Trillium sessile).

Sessile trillium (Trillium sessile).

A few bloodroots (Sanguinaria canadensis) were just emerging along select points along the trail that cuts through the preserve. Bloodroot is a member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae). The plant gets its name from the red, blood-like juice that can be found in the stems. I always enjoy finding bloodroot in flower because the blooming period is very brief for this species. Immediately after pollination occurs, the petals are shed, therefore the flowering period may only last a day or two.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) flower still wrapped in its leaf.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) flower still wrapped in its leaf.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) flowers still wrapped in their leaves.

Among the limestone outcrops and ledges that run along the stream, we found quite a bit of early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis) in flower. As Beverly explained, the plant is covered in tiny dense pubescence (hairs) that deter ground-dwelling insects from reaching the flowers. Instead, this plant is pollinated by flying insects such as bees and wasps.

Early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis).

The real stars of the show on this wildflower hike were the white trout lilies (Erythronium albidum) that were flowering in abundance along the trails. Just like the aforementioned trilliums, these also belong to the lily family (Liliaceae).The leaves of trout lilies tend to carpet forest floors when present, but not all of them flower. However, the beautifully colored and trout-patterned leaves are just as impressive as the graceful and white nodding blooms of this species. We managed to see another species of trout lily in flower as well, the yellow trout lily (Erythronium americanum), but they were in a steep spot that made it difficult to get any photos.

White trout lily (Erythronium albidum).

White trout lily (Erythronium albidum).

The last feature of the hike was the famous tufa formation that can be found at the waterfall of Elk Lick Creek. The tufa resembles a frozen waterfall, and has been formed by the gradual deposition of travertine minerals from the dripping water, similar to the way stalactites and stalagmites are formed in caves. The tufa formation is over 60 feet tall, and is considered one of the best of its kind in the eastern United States.

Tufa formation at Elk Lick Falls.

I believe we tallied over 20 species in flower on the hike and many more will start blooming with the warming temperatures that are sure to arrive here soon, so stay tuned for more posts highlighting some of those species in the near future!


To view a list of upcoming guided hikes at Floracliff, you can visit their website here:

Floracliff Events

If you get the chance, I would highly recommend visiting the preserve to see the spring wildflower display!

Spring migration and a Cinnamon Teal

So far this spring, several rarities have been reported throughout the Midwest states. With huge movements of birds in the past few days alone, some of the major rarities have been a Spotted Redshank located in Southern Indiana and 2 Ruffs (one in Wisconsin and one now in Ohio). While these birds seem like a mini roadtrip, keep in mind that the European species, Spotted Redshank, has only been reported in the US 5 times in the last 20 years! 1 report from the west coast, 3 on the east coast and this bird is a first for the Midwest! Perhaps if I find some time and extra money I'll make the trek myself before it moves on...

Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) showing massive northward migration of birds during  the night.(http://www.aos.wisc.edu/weather/wx_obs/Nexrad.html)

Blue-winged Teals migrating north despite the dense fog (photo by JohnRyan Polascik) 

Lucky for us, Kentucky has been no stranger to rarities this year. In fact, one showed up right in our area! This past Sunday, Tanner and I spend the morning birding Lexington and some of the surrounding areas. Our goal for the morning was locating an adult male Cinnamon Teal reported on 3/28 by Jeff Sole. Being from the Midwest and east coast, both Tanner and I have never had the opportunity to seen a Cinnamon Teal (a primarily western waterfowl). We arrived at the pond where the bird was reported around 8:30 hoping the bird didn't move on. We received a storm the night before, so chances were good the bird was grounded for the night. Despite the foggy and rainy conditions, we located the bird within minutes. The striking overall red appearance of the bird is unmistakable. Even under the dimly lit conditions, the bird was easily spotted from the road. We found him foraging in the shallow part of the pond along with nearly two dozen male and female Blue-winged Teals. For most of our time there, he was displaying aggressively towards the other teals and attempting to court one of the female Blue-winged Teals. While this bird was no Ruff or Spotted Redshank. The luxury of having a rare bird show up just minutes from where we live somehow makes it even more satisfying.

An adult male Cinnamon Teal along with male and female Blue-winged Teals (photo by JohnRyan Polascik)

An adult male Cinnamon Teal along with male and female Blue-winged Teals (photo by JohnRyan Polascik)

After about an hour of watching this gorgeous bird, we decided to check a few other reservoirs while we were in the area. We decided to head back downtown to check up on the Lexington reservoirs. The only highlights were 5 common loons, several Savannah Sparrows, FOY Barn and Northern Rough-winged Swallows, 1 Red-breasted Merganser and a dozen Bonaparte's Gulls. 

A particularly difficult Savannah Sparrow (photo by JohnRyan Polascik)

First of Year Barn Swallow cruising along the Lexington reservoir (photo by JohnRyan Polascik)

Bonaparte's Gulls molting into their breeding plumage and resting up for their migration (photo by JohnRyan Polascik)

Overall, it was a great morning of birding despite the rainy conditions. We saw over 50 species in just a few hours and to top it off, Tanner and I both got the Cinnamon Teal lifer which puts me at 153 species for the year. I doubt this is the end of the rarities to show up in Kentucky and it certainly isn't the end of migration. Stay tuned.