"If everyone in the world took care of each other the way folks do out on the trail, and if everyone approached each day with as much hope and optimism as hikers do, the world would be a better place."
― Jon Tullis
"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt."
― John Muir
The Pheasant Branch Creek Corridor is the best place near home to go out on a Bug Hunt, and also get a modest hike in. I love hiking, even when I'm not looking for anything in particular. Alas, July has come to a close and thoughts of the fall season are on my mind. There are tentative plans to help a few people get Splendid Tiger Beetle at Spring Green. I'll have at least one field trip at Pope Farm Conservancy. I may travel north to photograph Cow Path Tiger Beetles. Later on I will shift focus to migratory sparrows, which is a favorite thing as regular readers here know. Meanwhile, it hasn't gone unnoticed that insect populations seem to be a little on the low side this summer. On the positive, there haven't been many mosquitoes this summer, but when I struggle to find interesting subjects I can't help but think about warnings from the scientific community what's happening to insect populations.
Still, I don't let the anthropocine dictate my enjoyment of looking deep into Nature ― it's my healing time and I don't necessarily want to tarnish it with something I have virtually no control over. For now it's just me, my backpack, camera, and the amazing little critters.
I found a decent variety of treehoppers, like Two-horned (Stictocephala diceros) and Wide-footed (Enchenopa latipes). There were decent numbers of Buffalo Treehoppers on Cup plant once again, so I spent some time obtaining more images of them. I came upon 4 or more Two-horned, but those dang things are skittish and I was lucky to get the one good shot.
Here are a couple of interesting moths. Above we have Reticulated Fruitworm (Cenopis reticulatana) and below an Omnivorous Leafroller (Archips purpurana). Both are quite small and easily missed, but I was taking my time along the corridor trail. Walking from one spot to another is essential, as there are certain areas I like to check every visit. However, one could choose a spot, sit down, and likely find a variety of things to study and photograph.
I sat down along the creek and listened to the running water for several minutes. It was still early enough that other trail users were probably still eating breakfast, at church, or perhaps even sleeping. I enjoyed the clam and quiet, with familiar birdsong registering identities in my mind: Black-capped Chickadee, Easter Wood-Pewee, House Wren, Carolina Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay American Robin, Northern Cardinal, and many more. They're all there ― the summer residents.
Check out this Eastern Gray Treefrog ― it still has a nub of a tail:
And just a few other sights ... some small ...
Some even smaller ...
All images © 2022 Mike McDowell