Flora and Fauna that can be found Inhabiting
the Dragon Run Watershed this Month
January 2023
Clubmosses in the Dragon Forest by Robin Mathews
Some of the oldest vascular plants on earth can be found along the trails of the Revere and Williams property managed by FODR. Running Ground Cedar, Diphasiastrum digitatum, and Princess Pine, Dendrolycopodium obscurum, can both be found on the forest floor of the moist woods surrounding the Dragon. Because they are perennial evergreens, they provide a welcome bit of green in the winter months along with the more abundant Christmas ferns.
Clubmosses, Lycopodiaceae, evolved over 400 million years ago and there is fossil evidence of them attaining tree size (100 feet!) some 300 million years ago. It’s hard to imagine these little insignificant looking ground-hugging plants as gigantic trees!
Clubmosses reproduce via spores rather than seeds - which is the way most vascular plants pass their genetic information to the next generation. The spores are contained in the club-like strobilus which protrudes from the top of the plant. In late summer or early fall, the “club” releases spores which can become new plants given the right conditions. These spores were once collected by early photographers and magicians to be used as “flash powder” because they ignite easily and produce a bright flash effect.
Clubmosses were also often collected as Christmas decorations and wreaths in the past. Because these plants can take years to reach maturity, picking Clubmosses threatens their survival. Unfortunately, this practice does persist in some areas. At least we know our FODR property Clubmosses are safe from harvesting.
Clubmosses, Lycopodiaceae, evolved over 400 million years ago and there is fossil evidence of them attaining tree size (100 feet!) some 300 million years ago. It’s hard to imagine these little insignificant looking ground-hugging plants as gigantic trees!
Clubmosses reproduce via spores rather than seeds - which is the way most vascular plants pass their genetic information to the next generation. The spores are contained in the club-like strobilus which protrudes from the top of the plant. In late summer or early fall, the “club” releases spores which can become new plants given the right conditions. These spores were once collected by early photographers and magicians to be used as “flash powder” because they ignite easily and produce a bright flash effect.
Clubmosses were also often collected as Christmas decorations and wreaths in the past. Because these plants can take years to reach maturity, picking Clubmosses threatens their survival. Unfortunately, this practice does persist in some areas. At least we know our FODR property Clubmosses are safe from harvesting.
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Running Cedar Princess Pine
When observing Clubmosses near the Dragon you will notice that some look vine-like and appear in long strands. These are the Running Cedar also called Ground Cedar, Crow's Claw, and Fan Clubmoss. The other Clubmoss you will see along the trail look like little trees. These are the Princess Pine also called Prince’s Pine, Rare Clubmoss, and Ground Pine. They appear to be individual little plants but they are connected underground via rhizomes.
These are the two Clubmosses I have observed on the Dragon trails, however, there are 12 species known to exist in Virginia. Could there be more? Keep your eyes open. You might find another species of Clubmoss in the Dragon watershed!
These are the two Clubmosses I have observed on the Dragon trails, however, there are 12 species known to exist in Virginia. Could there be more? Keep your eyes open. You might find another species of Clubmoss in the Dragon watershed!
The Muskrat by Carol Kauffman
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An unusual occurrence when paddling down the Dragon, is catching sight of a small semi-aquatic mammal swimming across the water. I have seen this animal only twice during the numerous times I have kayaked Dragon Run.
This elusive mammal inhabiting Dragon Run is the muskrat, Ondatra zibethicus. Some confuse the muskrat with the beaver, but they are different in many ways. Both are semi-aquatic and live in wetlands and waterways of North America. Both can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes and have lodges near water. But the muskrat is much smaller in size; averaging 2 lbs compared to the 40 lb plus beaver. Muskrats have partially webbed feet, whereas the beaver’s feet are fully webbed. Their tails are laterally compressed and hairless, not flat, with scaly skin. They are primarily crepuscular, most active during twilight and dawn. The muskrat has special musk glands, hence their name, that produce a substance that they deposit along destination routes and near their bank lodges. This is widely believed to be a form of communication used especially during the breeding season which lasts from spring though summer. A muskrat usually has 5 to 10 offspring in a litter, with 2-3 litters a year, the young becoming independent at 6 weeks. Muskrats usually only live 3 or 4 years |
The muskrat is primarily an herbivore. A unique characteristic of the muskrat is their specially evolved teeth. A large space exists between the muskrat’s front incisors and premolars (a set of flat chewing teeth at the back of the mouth). This gap between these teeth is called diastema. The muskrat can fit plant matter into these openings if it widely expands its jaw. As the incisors protrude outside the mouth, water cannot enter the mouth because the lips seal behind them; a similar adaptation exists in the beaver. This allows them to chew on stems and roots under water without opening their mouth! All aquatic plants are eaten by muskrats ranging from cattails to wild rice to pickerelweed and sometimes even small fish, frogs, turtles and invertebrates when vegetation (winter) is scarce.
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Muskrats are in many ways well adapted to survive the winter. Dense waterproof fur traps air and serves as insulation and a lifejacket. They do not hibernate nor store food in their lodges, so they must find food even in the winter. Muskrats can find food under a meter of ice and snow because of their large hind feet that act like paddles. They use their teeth to cut holes in the ice around their lodge, covering up the hole with mud and plant material creating a little hut called a pushup. This allows the muskrat to breathe, rest, and eat.
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Join us for a paddle down Dragon Run and get a tour of the muskrats' fine homes on the banks of Dragon Run! |
December 2022
Chatting with a River Otter by Jeff Wright
Following the Friends of Dragon Run trash pick-up on 19 November, I went to FODR’s Wares Bridge Complex in King and Queen County to see the new trail signage and boundary markings. It was a beautiful, sunny, and crisp day so I also planned to do some birding. I was on FODR property upstream from Wares Bridge at the site where, on the previous day, we hosted the recording of soundscapes along the Dragon. While observing a winter wren working around the base of several trees, I was shocked to see two river otters close by in the water. My heartbeat immediately shot skyward!
I soon lost sight of the otters as they meandered downstream toward the bridge, obscured by vegetation along the bank. I moved to the bridge in hopes I would see them again. At the bridge I scanned the water and edge habitats for a few minutes and did not see them. So, I reverted to scanning the trees and sky for birds. But then something caught my eye moving (and rolling) along FODR’s property at the bridge. Yikes! The otters were frolicking just below me about 30 feet away. Yes, birders need to look down as well as up. I took pictures and a short video of the pair before they slipped back into the water, my heart still racing.
As we exchanged glances, I sensed one of the two cavorting otters was mouthing a thank you to FODR’s Mark Alling for managing trash pickups that keep a lot of bad stuff from getting into Dragon Run. I was speechless but nodded my head in agreement.
As we exchanged glances, I sensed one of the two cavorting otters was mouthing a thank you to FODR’s Mark Alling for managing trash pickups that keep a lot of bad stuff from getting into Dragon Run. I was speechless but nodded my head in agreement.
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The North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) is a semi-aquatic mammal that only lives in North America. Their range has been significantly reduced by habitat loss since colonial times. River otters are also very susceptible to the effects of environmental pollution. Pollution of the waters they depend on is a likely factor in the continued decline of their numbers. Preserving and protecting the waters of Dragon Run is one of FODR’s missions on their behalf.
River otters love crayfish, freshwater clams, mussels, snails, other aquatic invertebrates, fishes, frogs, salamanders, and small turtles. They probably appreciate the Dragon as they do not (hopefully) have to dodge and sort through trash in their quest for food. |
River otters have a high metabolic rate which requires a lot of food for maintaining body heat. Body heat as well as the otter’s thick water-repellent fur was needed on this frigid fall day. River otters eat 15% or more of their body weight each day to sustain themselves. Wow. My estimate is that the two river otters each weighed about 15 pounds.
Although I had seen river otters in a prior year a mile or so below the Mascot Bridge, this was the first time I saw them on FODR land and was able to get a picture. I doubt I will ever forget seeing these otters in the Dragon. These incredible animals, I hope, earn a place on the flora and fauna charts provided to guests who paddle with the Friends of Dragon Run. River otters – another reason to treasure the Dragon.
Although I had seen river otters in a prior year a mile or so below the Mascot Bridge, this was the first time I saw them on FODR land and was able to get a picture. I doubt I will ever forget seeing these otters in the Dragon. These incredible animals, I hope, earn a place on the flora and fauna charts provided to guests who paddle with the Friends of Dragon Run. River otters – another reason to treasure the Dragon.
Cranefly Orchid, Tipularia discolor, by Jack Kauffman
It’s always a great time to take a walk in the woods! Hiking the upland deciduous forest around the Dragon Run in December is especially enjoyable to me in the early mornings and late afternoons. That’s because the sun shines beautifully through the trees and onto the carpet of fresh leaves. At this time of the year there is very little greenery on the floor of the forest. One special exception, peeking up through the leaf litter, is the leaf of our woodland cranefly orchid. This plant has evolved to leaf out and photosynthesize during the winter months when the sun can get to the forest floor and allow the plant to store nourishment for its summer blooming flower – after its single leaf has died off. Amazingly it forms a single leaf in September or October that disappears in the late Spring. The leaf top is dark green (with some dark purple spots) while the underside is strikingly purple in color.
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As summer arrives, the plant sends up a single stalk on which flowers bloom around mid-July to late August. The inflorescence can bear up to 55 small green, greenish yellow, or greenish purple blossoms that are said to resemble a group of craneflies hovering, though personally I don’t see the resemblance. The flowers have a long spur coming out of the base of the petals that may be up to an inch long. A dominant pollinator is the nocturnal armyworm moth (Pseudaletia unipuncta). If pollinated, seeds will be distributed by the wind or eaten by animals. As mentioned above, a plant forms a single leaf so when you see multiple leaves, you are seeing a group or colony of cranefly orchids. The roots will form a series of tuber-like storage organs called corms; therein contains the nourishment for the flowers. These corms are said to be edible and starchy, almost potato-like. So, take a walk now, find the leaves and check back during the summer for the flowers.
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Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus, by Susan Crockett
Photos by Tom Crockett
Woodpeckers (including sapsuckers and flickers) delight me as much as any other bird – they are often seen, easy to recognize and their calls are pretty easy to recognize. Of the eight types in Virginia, all but one, the Red-cockaded Woodpecker does not occur in the Dragon Run Watershed.
While all the woodpeckers are similar in life history, they all exhibit some differences – size, color pattern and ecology. For example, one of our upland Dragon Run species, the Northern Flicker, is my favorite, and it differs from other woodpeckers by feeding, not in trees but on the ground. It eats mostly ants by probing with their beak and using a long-barbed tongue to lap up the ants. Their tongue is the longest of all North American birds extending about two inches past the bill tip. The formic acid from the ants assists in preening helping to get rid the bird of parasites. It does eat berries and such during the winter when ants and other insects are inactive.
The Northern Flicker is a common grayish brown woodpecker native to most of North America and parts of Central America. The “Flicker”, as we call it, is a year-round resident in our area. It requires some open ground for foraging but can be found in almost any habitat with trees .
The Northern Flicker is our second largest woodpecker and with its spotted breast, red crescent on the back of its head, black crescent in its chest and the white rump, it is easy to ID. When you see a woodpecker on the ground or up flying off the ground, its undulating flight and white rump are definitive. Flickers are monogamous and research suggest about 75% mate for life. The males are strongly territorial. There is typically one brood per year but some evidence of a second brood if first is destroyed, with the female producing 6-8 white eggs per brood. They usually return to the same nesting area and, like all woodpeckers, are cavity nesters.
While all the woodpeckers are similar in life history, they all exhibit some differences – size, color pattern and ecology. For example, one of our upland Dragon Run species, the Northern Flicker, is my favorite, and it differs from other woodpeckers by feeding, not in trees but on the ground. It eats mostly ants by probing with their beak and using a long-barbed tongue to lap up the ants. Their tongue is the longest of all North American birds extending about two inches past the bill tip. The formic acid from the ants assists in preening helping to get rid the bird of parasites. It does eat berries and such during the winter when ants and other insects are inactive.
The Northern Flicker is a common grayish brown woodpecker native to most of North America and parts of Central America. The “Flicker”, as we call it, is a year-round resident in our area. It requires some open ground for foraging but can be found in almost any habitat with trees .
The Northern Flicker is our second largest woodpecker and with its spotted breast, red crescent on the back of its head, black crescent in its chest and the white rump, it is easy to ID. When you see a woodpecker on the ground or up flying off the ground, its undulating flight and white rump are definitive. Flickers are monogamous and research suggest about 75% mate for life. The males are strongly territorial. There is typically one brood per year but some evidence of a second brood if first is destroyed, with the female producing 6-8 white eggs per brood. They usually return to the same nesting area and, like all woodpeckers, are cavity nesters.
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Photos by Tom Crockett
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November 2022
The Common Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, the Fruit of the Gods
by Betsy Washington
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Each fall I look forward to the ripening of persimmons and the many charms of this mid-sized tree. Everything about this tree is distinctive and picturesque but especially so in fall. Common Persimmons have an oval crown composed of artistically crooked branches that make each tree look like an ancient bonsai. The lustrous oblong leaves turn variable colors in fall from yellow-green to bright gold, orange, and rich burgundy-purple. Common Persimmons are a member of the Ebony Family, and have nearly black bark broken into distinctive chunky, square blocks, divided by deep furrows - sometimes described as ‘alligator hide’. It is easy to recognize this tree just by the dark, blocky bark alone but in fall the female trees put on an unforgettable show. The ripening fruit turn a rich orange blushed with red and are magnificent silhouetted against the deep blue sky.
The 1 – 1.5” diameter round fruits have a soft sweet flesh; when ripe they can be eaten right from the tree! In fact, the botanical name, Dispyros, means “fruit of the gods”. But beware, unripe fruits are unforgettably astringent and mouth-puckering. Humans are not the only “wild” life that loves the fruit. It is eagerly eaten by birds and small mammals such as foxes, opossums, raccoons, white-tailed deer, and even black bears giving rise to common names such as ‘Possumwood or Sugar Plum’. The foliage of the lovely persimmon hosts the stunning Luna Moth, and the equally astonishing Hickory Horned Devil caterpillars that metamorphose into 6” wide Regal Moths. As you enjoy a paddle down the Dragon Run this fall, look for the distinctive dark blocky bark and the eye-catching persimmons that sometimes hangs low over the water. Pucker up and taste the fruit of the gods! |
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Smartweed Caterpillar by Meo Curtis
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On a recent fall paddle, I noticed a peculiar caterpillar on aquatic plants in two different places—one of which was by a gate. It was black and yellow with clumps of hairs-spines all along its back. But I couldn’t get a picture. Next day, the caterpillar was amazingly still by the gate and photos were captured by guide, Andy Lacatell.
Using a team effort, we solved a caterpillar mystery that began in the spring on the Dragon Run. Turns out that nature guide, Kevin Howe, had spotted this same caterpillar in the spring but couldn’t get a photograph. He identified it as a smartweed caterpillar, which can be found on plants in wetlands and swamps throughout the eastern to central United States. The caterpillar is very colorful, advertising itself and its stinging spines - so don’t touch it! Anyone who has been on a paddle with us, knows the abundance of smartweed which is featured in Streamside Attractions in this month’s newsletter.
This caterpillar becomes a Smeared Dagger Moth. This moth is a member of the family Noctuideae – a very large group of moths (about 2,900 species in the United States). Most are mottled dull and hairy like the picture shown. Adults feed on the nectar of flowers. There can be more than one brood per year, so the caterpillars may be found in both spring and then again in fall. They overwinter as pupa rolled up in a leaf. In addition to smartweed, the caterpillars also feed on apple and other fruit trees, clover, corn, cotton, elms, grasses, pines, oaks, strawberry plants, and willows. Since they feed on some crop plants, they may be considered pests. You can find all sorts of photos of adults and caterpillars at: https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Acronicta-oblinita |
October 2022
Swamp Tupelo - Early Sign of Fall By Jack Kauffman
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Nyssa biflora
I love autumn on the Dragon and the woodlands of the Dragon Swamp. My favorite sign that the season has arrived is the coloring of swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora) leaves. Also referred to as the swamp black gum, it is a native to southeastern regions of North America. On the Dragon, our guides describe the swamp as a bald cypress -tupelo swamp. You can often stump them by asking them to point you to a tupelo. In spring, summer, and winter, the tupelo trees are hard to identify along the edges of the Dragon. If you paddle the Dragon or walk near the swamp in late September, the swamp tupelo trees are hard to miss. They are always the first to color and their leaves turn bright red. In early fall, leaves will be many shades of yellow, orange, and red (picture taken September 27th). Later, the leaves will be bright red, purple and scarlet. But there is more to the swamp tupelo than just the autumn color. In spring, the trees flower and produce an abundance of bluish-black berries which ripen early in the fall. The spring flowers attract insects, and birds feed on those insects. The fall fruits are highly prized as a food source to many southward migratory birds. Help us save this precious bald cypress-tupelo swamp and enjoy the many fall colors! |
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Winterberry by Kevin Howe
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Ilex verticillata A real treat during our fall kayak trips in Dragon Run is the sunlit colors of this ecosystem. Autumn sun makes the changing colors of the leaves glow against the blue sky of fall - swamp tupelo with burgundy-red leaves, red maple with bright scarlet leaves and bald cypress with their russet-colored needles. Against this amazing backdrop of leaf colors are the fruits-berries of our native shrubs with the brilliant red berries of winterberry getting the persistent award. Most of the various berries/fruits in Dragon Run get eaten by the mass of migratory birds heading south. Winterberry, Ilex verticillata, is an exception and aptly named because its berries usually persist long into winter. Why, you ask? – well, they are low in fats compared to many other native plants fruits/berries whose high fat content are extremely important food for migratory birds and become available early in the fall. Winterberries may be more palatable after some freezing and thawing, long after the migratory birds have passed through and fed on other high fat fruits. In the dead of winter, when food gets scarce, our resident birds will begin to supplement their diet with winterberries. As humans we benefit too in the delight of seeing this palette of colors while passing on down Dragon Run at this time of year. |
Fowler's Toad by Mike Grose
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Anaxyrus fowleri
As you can see, the Fowler’s toad is well camouflaged with brown, grey, green, and darkened spots. This small 2” to 3” toad is found throughout the temperate eastern United States. During the summer months they come to the water’s edge to feed, cool off and absorb water. With the cooler weather, the Fowler’s toad will begin to move inland, hibernating about 3 feet under sand for 8 months, emerging in late spring. |
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White Turtlehead by Betsy Washington
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The lovely white to pink-blushed flowers of the White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra, bloom through October along Dragon Run. Showy flower clusters open from bottom to top on tall stems that emerge from low hummocks along Dragon Run Swamp. Look closely and you can see that the tubular flowers are inflated with two lips at the end. The upper lip forms a hood that arches over the lower lip resembling a turtle head. In fact, the botanical name Chelone is from the Greek word for turtle alluding to the turtle-head shaped flowers. This uncommon native perennial occurs across Virginia in wetlands, swamps, and marshes.
The late blooming, tubular flowers are pollinated by bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies. If you are lucky, you might observe a large Bumblebee squeezing between the closed lips to reach the nectar at the bottom of the flower tube, dusting their backs with pollen in the process and then carrying it off to other flowers. Hummingbirds with their long tongues also feed on the nectar deep inside the tubular flowers and pollinate them. And the butterflies … The Baltimore Checkerspot, one of our most beautiful and increasingly rare butterflies, has evolved with White Turtlehead and depends on it as a host plant for its caterpillars. The caterpillars sequester a bitter toxin contained in the leaves, that in turn protects them, well as adult butterflies, from hungry predators. White Turtlehead also support caterpillars of the Common Buckeye butterfly. White Turtleheads have become increasingly uncommon as their habitat has diminished due to elimination of wetlands and swamps. They do not tolerate pollution and are an indicator of exceptional water quality – this speaks to the water quality in Dragon Run –and why we protect it. Of further note, a closely related and extremely rare species Red Turtlehead, Chelone obliqua, has been reported from Dragon Run Swamp and is known from only a few locations in Virginia. |
September 2022
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The Beech Blight Aphid by Carol KauffmanGrylloprociphilus imbricator
Have you ever seen a patch of shadowed spots underneath beech trees? Look up and on the branches you may see something amazing! The beech blight aphid, Grylloprociphilus imbricator, or wooly aphid, gathers in large colonies that can cover the branches with what looks like snow. Their “wool” is actually wax filaments that stick out from the abdomen. The beech blight aphid is found from Maine to Florida, feeding on plant sap of the beech tree. Depending on their location, this aphid species can also be found on bald cypress roots. The aphid produces sticky honeydew which is expelled onto foliage, plants, the ground, and branches. The shadowed spots on the ground are Sooty molds, Scorias spongiosa fungus, which colonize the aphid's honeydew and convert it into a black color. The aphids do not cause much damage to the overall tree health. What is fantastical is that these creatures appear to be dancing. Aka boogie-woogie aphid! The beech blight aphid will raise its hind end and sway! When disturbed, the whole colony will produce this action which creates a dance-like movement. 
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Observations by Virginia Master Naturalist Mike Grose
The last days of summer provide enjoyable weather for a walk along the Dragon Run. One of my delights is to find eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies, Papilio glaucus, congregating in a behavior called “puddling” along the banks of the swamp. While flower nectar provides a carbohydrate for energy and a little moisture, the wet soil and sand on the swamp banks furnish abundant moisture and nutrients, so essential for the butterfly’s short adult life. The life span of the eastern swallowtail is about two weeks which during this short period the adult must find a suitable and willing partner to mate – and if female, find a suitable host plant such as the black cherry, sweet bay and tulip poplar upon which to lay their eggs. Ahh, the wonder of life continues. Horsemint (Monarda punctata) or spotted bee balm is a native member of our Virginia flora. I often see it growing along the sunny dry upper banks of Dragon Run where it attracts numerous pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and various other insects. While somewhat common in our Coastal Plain, infrequent or rare elsewhere in Virginia. This great black digger wasp, Sphex pensylvanicus,is an active pollinator and lives in many areas across North America. The females nest underground and are natural hunters. The wasp brings paralyzed prey to their nest, for the larvae to feed on. When the wasp is feeding on the nectar of a flower, the flower’s pollen-laden anthers discharge pollen onto the back of the insect. The wasp moves to the next flower where the pollen becomes attached to the stigma, completing the transfer of gametes. |
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