Swamp Sightings

Flora and Fauna that can be found Inhabiting
the Dragon Run Watershed this Month

Archival Index - Scroll down for past articles

Oct. 2023 Carolina Satyr, Poison Ivy Sept. 2023 Fungi Aug. 2023 Raccoons, Water Striders Jul. 2023 Lizard's Tail, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Dragonflies
Jun. 2023 Easter Tiger Swallowtail, Pickerelweed, Barred Owl, Ebony Jewelwing May 2023 Beaver, Mayapple, Turtles Apr. 2023 Marbled Salamander, Northern Water snake, Prothonotary Warbler Mar. 2023 Spring Beauty, Wood Duck, Bloodroot Feb. 2023 Christmas Fern, Bald Eagle, Round Lobed Hepatica Jan. 2023 Muskrat, Club mosses Dec. 2022 Northern Flicker, Cranefly Orchid, N. Amer. River Otter Nov. 2022 Swamp Tupelo, Smartweed Caterpillar, Common Persimmon Oct. 2022 White Turtlehead, Fowler's Toad, Winterberry Sept. 2022 Tiger Swallowtail, Horsemint, Great Black Digger Wasp, Beech Blight Aphid

November 2023

Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), by Jack Kauffman

Photo by James Vonesh

The Bald Cypress is a keystone species of the Dragon Run watershed. It is a beautiful deciduous conifer (family Cupressaceae); a tree with soft needles (feathers) that fall during the winter. In early November, the needles are a beautiful cinnamon color (transition initiated in early October).

Female spherical cone-lets are maturing at this time of year, turning from green to brownish-purple before dropping from the tree. Each cone contains 2-34 seeds. Squirrels eat bald cypress seeds, but usually drop several scales with undamaged seeds. In this way, the seeds are dispersed. Cones are often carried by spring floods. Germination requires a soil saturated but not flooded for a period of one to three months. Young seedlings can grow as much as 30 inches in the first year; but will die if submerged for long periods (2-4 weeks).

In the soft wet soils of the Dragon, the bald cypress forms a buttressed base and a strong, intertwined root system (knees). These features (not found when the tree is grown on dry soils) stabilize the tree. They are able to grow in these conditions to a very old age (oldest on record is in North Carolina at 2628 yrs) while other trees in the environment die at a younger age or are blown down by heavy winds. They provide a canopy that keeps the water temperature cooler, stabilize the banks to prevent erosion, and provide an environment where other plants can grow. Often maples and oaks will wrap their roots around those of the bald cypress in order to grow in the swamp or along the shore. They also provide nesting and perching locations for many of the bird species we find on the Dragon.

If you haven’t been able to join us on one of our paddle trips during the fall to see the changing colors of the bald cypress or touched one of their feathers, visit the Teta Kain Nature Preserve (2994 Farley Park Road (Rt 603) Mascot) and walk the trail along the Dragon to view these magnificent giants.

Eastern Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), by Robin Mathews

The ubiquitous squirrel family is at home virtually anywhere in the world where vegetation is found including our very own Dragon Run watershed. They are both essential and important to our ecosystem as you will learn in this article.

Native to eastern and midwestern North America, the Eastern Gray Squirrel prefers to live in a large canopy of hardwood trees. There they are safe from predators, going to the ground only when they need to. Their dreys, or nests, are usually built in the forks of trees consisting of sticks, leaves, and grasses. The average lifespan is 12 years with sexual maturity at 15 months. One or two litters consisting of two-eight young are born each year. While they primarily eat nuts and seeds, some are omnivorous eating insects, small amphibians, eggs, and small birds. Pregnant females are especially known to eat a more omnivorous diet due to increased protein and mineral needs.

Squirrels serve an essential role in our natural world. By “planting” numerous tree seeds and nuts (and then failing to dig them up) they help encourage diversity in our forests. They are cache-hoarders, maintaining about 1000 individual caches while burying literally 10,000 or so nuts and seeds in a given year for later consumption. They exhibit “theory of mind” thinking, in that they will “pretend” to bury an item if they are being watched to throw off a possible thief. They are known to hide behind vegetation when burying food. These are not innate behaviors. They are being devious on purpose!

The squirrel is important to our ecosystem not just because of its super seed and nut dispersal talents. They are also an important food source for coyotes, foxes, raptors, and other carnivores. However, they can be extremely frustrating to catch due to their agility when climbing and jumping from tree to tree. They are hosts for parasites such as lice, ticks, fleas, and roundworms.

The Eastern Gray Squirrel is truly an asset to the Dragon Run watershed contributing to the diversity and uniqueness of both the forest and wildlife found in the swamp.

October 2023

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), by Mike Grose

This little brown butterfly is often difficult to spot, unless you are specifically looking for a Carolina Satyr. Unlike larger and more colorful butterflies, the Carolina Satyr is often found flittering about, very close to the ground. Sometimes it is well hidden on leaf litter or situated in grasses.

The wingspan is only about 1.5 inches which is about half the size of an Eastern Tiger swallowtail. The unmarked upper side (dorsal) wings are a dull natural brown. While the underside (ventral) hind wing is rimmed with two dark lines and eyespots. The eyespots are believed by some to ward off predators. It is unusual to see their wings open when perching. The habitat description would include woodlands, swamps, and areas with moderate moisture. The small green caterpillars feed on grasses, while the adults feed on tree sap, animal scat and rotting fruits.

The Carolina Satyr can reproduce three broods each year. The small green caterpillars feed on the leaves of host plants. The invasive plant, Japanese stilt grass, is said to be one of many grasses that host the Carolina satyr.

Apparently, the Dragon Run forested swamp seems to provide an acceptable habitat. In August, of this year, the first ever butterfly count was launched in the Dragon Run watershed. The count area included Middlesex, Essex, and King & Queen Counties. Thirty-seven Carolina Satyrs were recorded in the August 2023 inaugural count, which gives us a benchmark for future counts.

Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), by Maeve Coker

When most people hear the words “Poison Ivy”, shuddering thoughts instantly come to mind of itchy, oozing rashes that can last for weeks. But other than the irritating qualities of this vine, did you know that Poison Ivy is a dream plant for wildlife?

Poison Ivy germinates and leaves-out early in the spring. These fresh young leaves are a favored food source for both large and small mammals like deer and rabbits. Once it blooms in late spring, the flowers are covered in numerous pollinators, ranging from bees to flies to beetles. When the berries ripen in late summer and early fall, it doesn’t take long for all sorts of wildlife to find them. Because of the timing of the ripening and their hardiness through winter, Poison Ivy berries are a critical food source. Neotropical migrating birds flock to the vines as a fuel source to aid them on their journey, and those that spend the winter in our area feast on them when other food sources are scarce. Woodpeckers, warblers, vireos, titmice, chickadees, and a wide assortment of other birds utilize their energy. It also isn’t unusual for arboreal mammals, like squirrels, chipmunks, and flying squirrels, to dine on them as well.

While we can’t ignore the rash-inducing compound urushiol that most humans have come to detest, maybe we should learn to admire the wonder and beauty of Poison Ivy from afar. There are few more exciting birding moments than watching a migrant or wintering group of birds fervently devouring the platter of berries in front of you! It is impossible to ignore the beautiful fall colors that its foliage bears, ranging from deep reds to fiery oranges! Leaving Poison Ivy to grow in an area that can be viewed from a distance is just asking for an exciting fall show of nature’s beauty. Be sure to look for it on the Dragon Run In the fall! This species thrives in disturbed sites, so the flowing water of the Dragon is always creating perfect spots for germination as the soil gets scoured frequently.

September 2023

“Flowers” of the Forest (Part 1) by Carol Kauffman and Kevin Howe

Just like the flowers in our gardens that bring beauty to our world, there are “flowers” in the forest. As you hike a trail, dots of color may pop into view near logs or along your path. These “flowers” are mushrooms! Most people think of mushrooms when they hear the word fungi. But mushrooms are just the fruiting body of the fungi, also known as sporophores; a small part of the fungus organism which produces spores for the next generation. Fungi are not plants, and have their very own kingdom. Instead of reproducing by seeds, fungi produce spores which form on, and are released from these fruiting bodies known as mushrooms.

And of the over 700,000 fungi known, only about 20,000 produce mushrooms; the rest reproduce in a myriad of ways. We all know that plants have roots and fungi have a similar root system called mycelium, consisting of many individual branching thread-like structures called hyphae. This is the growing portion of a fungus, growing in the soil or some other dead or live organic matter.

In our series of articles on fungi, we will be talking more about the fungus organism (mycelium), its role in ecosystems, the basic morphology, and some specific types of fungi.

August 2023

Water Striders, Gerridae, by Kevin Howe

Insects are quite fascinating, though chiggers, ticks and mosquitoes leave me bitten so I don’t like them much. I am particularly fascinated by Water Striders. Depending on where you grew up, you may know them as pond skaters, water skimmers, water scooters or, my favorite, Jesus Bugs, so called because of their ability to walk on water.

Water Striders are very common on the Dragon from Spring through Fall. These half inch long bugs float on the water’s surface like no other insect with their three pairs spread out to balance on the surface tension of the water. Their forelegs are short and made for rapidly grabbing prey, their long middle legs are for paddling to scoot them across the surface while their longest rear legs are used for steering and braking. In the photo you can see their legs lay on top of the water from what looks like their knee joint down to their foot (wrong terminology but gets the point across).

Water striders have evolved very well to balance and walk on water. While I often refer to them as aquatic insects, they are really not aquatic – they do not live in the water, just on top of it. And they are incapable of diving into the water.

All Water Striders are predaceous, feeding primarily on other surface invertebrates and any insects that happen to fall and float into the water. Using their piercing-sucking mouthparts, they inject dissolving enzymes and then suck up some nutrition.

For “walking” on water, their body is perfectly balanced on their legs which along with their entire body are covered with minute hairs, over 1,000 per millimeter which not only allows them to balance on the surface tension of water, but the dense hairs repel water better than any manmade material; no water or rain will weight them down. Research has shown they can move one hundred body lengths a second (equal to almost four feet) – the equivalent of a 6-foot-tall person swimming about 9 miles a second – another reason to call them a Jesus Bug. Great water legs but totally useless on land.

In our area, water striders can overwinter on the water and be somewhat active. If the water freezes, they die but their eggs, laid on aquatic vegetation, can survive until spring in which case the young hatch out as a minute adult without a larval stage. Check them out on the Dragon or a water feature near you. A few species of Water Striders are the only insect that can live in salt water; actually, on salt water but they do live far offshore.

Raccoons by Terry Skinner

Photo by Kerry Harlan

The Raccoon, Procyon lotor, prefers forested areas near a water source (both fresh and saltwater) and den in brush piles, hollow logs, holes in trees, and even wood duck nest boxes. They shelter in dens and move to a new one every few days unless they are raising young or riding out a winter storm, when several animals may den together.

With longer hind legs than front legs it looks like raccoons run hunched over, which along with their black eye mask, gives them a sneaky appearance. They have five dexterous toes on the front legs which allow them to grasp and manipulate their favorite foods – water creatures such as frogs, clams, crayfish, fish, snails, and insects. Their ability to rotate their hind feet 180 degrees to descend a tree headfirst also allows them to catch birds and eat eggs, but they really do more foraging than hunting. Adults can weigh 15-40 pounds with urban dwellers living on human food scraps growing even larger. A raccoon can run 15 mph and fall 40 feet without injury.

Male and female raccoons only live together very briefly to mate usually in March and April here in the Dragon Run watershed. After 65 days of gestation the female will deliver 2-4 kits which spend their first 7 weeks in the den and then begin to follow mom outside to learn to forage. Young will remain in their mother’s home territory through the winter and then move on to find their own range in the spring. Most raccoons live 2-3 years in the wild.

Photo by Terry Skinner

Photo by Kevin Howe

Raccoon tracks are easy to spot in the soft sand at the water’s edge, next to culvert pipe openings (which they use to cross roads), and muddy spots on human and wildlife created trails (near the new Boy Scout bridges on Swamp Trail). We enjoy watching them on our trail camera meticulously sort through the mud at water’s edge to find tasty treats.

Video: Click here.

July 2023

Dragonflies by Bob Diaz

Next to butterflies, dragonflies are some of the most beloved insects. Unlike butterflies and damselflies that flitter and glide through the air, dragonflies fly with purpose with their graceful, long bodies. They are on a mission either chasing food, chasing rivals, defending territory, or looking for love. They typically fly only when sunny, and when not flying they rest and keep watch. With heavy clouds or at night they perch. Extended periods of cloudiness can be life threatening as it reduces their feeding time.

In the hierarchy of insects, dragonflies are in the order Odonata that gets its name from the long teeth on its mouth parts (maxilla and labium). Dragonflies have aquatic larvae, called nymphs, that live much longer then adults, a trait know as neoteny (practiced to the extreme by Mayflies), some species will spend years (up to 5) as nymphs. Like adults, larval dragonflies are voracious predators, but much scarer looking.

Mosquitos comprise a significant portion of both adult and nymph diets, along with other insect pests. Adults catch mosquitos on the wing forming their spindly legs into a basket. Nymphs thrust out their jaw (labium) to capture mosquito larvae, or any aquatic animal of an appropriate size, either by ambush or hunting. Adults are considered beneficial predators. Nymphs, while also predators, are more important as links in the food chains of fish, aquatic birds, and other large predacious insects. In addition, nymphs serve as important indicators of water quality.

In Virginia, there are siting for about 140 dragonfly species with about 40 being common. Depending on the month (March to November) and sun, you should encounter several of the more common dragonflies in Dragon Run (Eastern Pondhawk, Blue Dasher, Eastern Amberwing, Springtime Darner).

Resources:
Great place to start is: https://www.odonatacentral.org/#/
For a list of all Virginia species of Odonata see:
https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/document/vainvertlist-odonates.pdf
Extra details for Virginia: Blakney, R.R. 2019. Norther Virginia Dragonflies and Damselflies: A Field Guide. ISBN 978-0578460536. 109 pp.

Lizard tail (Saururus cernus) by Anne Atkins
Drawings by Anne Atkins

The Latin name for lizard tail comes from the Greek word sauros which means lizard and oura which means tail. It is also known as American swamp lily and water dragon (more dragons!).

In Dragon Run, lizard tail begins blooming in May and continues to bloom through August. Tiny clusters of creamy white flowers line a stalk which almost always droops creating a lizard-tail shape. When you are close to lizard tail you will notice a citrus or sassafras smell which comes from the flowers, leaves and roots. The flowers fade to green nutlets that look like warts. In the winter, when the nutlets are fully matured, the stalks with the brown and gray nutlets, closely resemble a lizard’s mottled skin.

In the Dragon, lizard tail is robust and forms large colonies dense with rhizomes and stalks. It’s not only native to this area, but across the Eastern U.S. and is found in swamps, ponds, and areas of shallow water.

Lizard tail ensures its place in the ecosystem by using two methods of reproduction: seeds and rhizomes. In fact, its dense mats of rhizomes compete with other plants for resources. It is considered an emergent wetland plant meaning that the rhizomes and roots are underwater, but the stems and flowers are above water. It’s deciduous, grows rapidly, and needs little maintenance should you decide to grow some for yourself. Leaves are heart-shaped and alternate along the plant’s zig zag stem. It can grow to four feet tall and between one and two feet wide.

If all lizard tail colonies were removed from Dragon Run, the ecosystem would be significantly altered. Lizard tail provides numerous ecosystem services—food, water, and shelter for many plant and animal species. Wood ducks take cover within the lizard tail. Beavers and other animals eat the leaves. Fish, frogs, salamanders, turtles, and aquatic insects hide underwater in its stems. It’s the favorite food of turtles and attracts pollinators and beneficial insects.

The thick mat of roots and rhizomes help stabilize the soil and curb erosion. In addition to beaver dams and ponds, lizard tail roots and rhizomes slow water flow through the Dragon. Plus, it’s a valuable tool for humans to use to restore and create wetlands.

Lizard tail is another example of how everything within the Dragon Run ecosystem is interconnected. Change one thing, and many things are impacted.

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) by Maeve Coker

The Yellow-billed Cuckoo is a large perching bird often heard but seldom seen. They are inhabitants of dense woodlands with an abundance of cover often near water sources, including thickets along streams and low scrub along marshes. Their primal vocalizations can be heard echoing through the woods, a simple “Coo-, coo-, coo-“, or their more jarring rattling clucks.

Different from their Eurasian counterparts, Yellow-billed Cuckoo pairs build their own nests. They usually choose large shrubs about 10 feet in the air to adorn a lateral branch with their stick nests. Rather than “egg dumping” into other species’ nests for them to raise their young, the cuckoos will lay 1-5 eggs asynchronously. Each of their chicks hatch at different times, and they take less than a week to leave the nest. Chicks will spend the next few weeks of their lives crawling along limbs and branches until they can sustain flight. Nesting is often timed with the abundance (or lack thereof) of food. In years with excessive food, the cuckoos will parasitize the nests of other species, as well as other cuckoos, by laying extra eggs.

The diet of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo is largely lepidopteran, especially hairy species. They consume an incredible amount of caterpillars, easily thousands in one season and even up to a hundred in one meal! They are most famous for their control of tent caterpillars and fall webworms, and they are even known to eat gypsy moth larvae. Yellow-billed Cuckoos will not turn down an opportunity though to snack on frogs, lizards, cicadas, or even small fruit and seeds. Typically in winter their diet tends to shift more plant-based compared to summer and migration seasons.

This species is a neotropical migrant, working its way south through Central America to spend the winter in South America, east of the Andes Mountains. In the eastern part of their North American range, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo population is still secure but declining. The western subspecies, however, is a candidate for review to be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Because Cuckoos have an affinity for nesting near water, the destruction of wetlands out West for agriculture has decimated their population. Fortunately, the subspecies has responded positively to habitat restoration efforts, but they still have a long way to go.

Keep an ear out for the booming call of a Yellow-billed Cuckoo the next time you’re in the Dragon, or better yet, stake out a tent caterpillar nest; you never know who may show up for a meal!

June 2023

Barred Owl (Strix varia) by Jack Kauffman

I love hearing the call of the barred owl. I hear it often when I arrive at the Dragon during paddle seasons or walk in the forest near my home. The sound is so recognizable “who cooks for you”. Barred owls hunt both at night and during the day, so it’s not uncommon to hear or see them in daylight. Their diet consists mostly of small mammals including: mice, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and shrews. They also eat birds, frogs, salamanders, snakes, lizards, crayfish, fish, and insects.

Barred owls are monogamous and mate for life. Breeding season runs from December through March. To attract a mate, males “display” by swaying back and forth, raising their wings and sliding along a branch. They are mostly cavity nesters but will often use an abandoned hawk or squirrel nest. The pair will raise one brood each year.

Beginning in March, the female lays two or three white eggs, which hatch in 28 to 33 days. The female will stay with the young at first while the male hunts and provides food for its mate and young. Young barred owls leave the nest four to five weeks after hatching and can fly in six weeks. On May 20th, we were paddling the Dragon around 6pm and heard an odd sound and rustling in the tree. What we saw was an adult barred owl dropping off food for its two very large babies. The parent left and the two young stared down at us from their perch on a bald cypress branch. They bobbed their heads and made screeching sounds for a long time before we continued on our way. Here is an example of the sounds the young made. Sometimes the conversation between two barred owls can get rather interesting. I’ve heard something like this in the woods at our house.

These owls favor mostly dense and thick woods with only scattered clearings, especially in low-lying and swampy areas. They will live in one location for their whole life. Still widespread and common, their numbers have declined in parts of the south with loss of swamp habitat. Just one more good reason to save the Dragon!!

Bee-Dazzled by Pickerelweed by Betsy Washington

Photo by Betsy Washington

Pickerelweed, Pontaderia cordata, is a highlight of any summer paddle on the Dragon when its lavender-blue flowers punctuate the emergent vegetation along the shores. Pickerelweed grows in shallow water along the edges of the swamp where its thick rhizomes spread into large colonies. The large, arrowhead-shaped leaves are held upright on tall stalks and can reach up to 10” with a heart-shaped base and pointed tip.

Beginning in June, tall showy spikes of lavender-blue tubular flowers are held 1 – 2’ above the water surface delighting us and attracting a multitude of pollinators and butterflies to their nectar. The small tubular flowers are densely packed flower spikes held upright on tall stems and make a spectacular summer-long show. Flowers open from the bottom to the top of the spike and often continue to flower into October. Although their main pollinators are bees, including at least two species of specialist bees that rely on the pollen of Pickerelweed to feed their young, numerous butterflies are often seen nectaring on the flowers.

After flowering oblong green fruits ripen, each with a single starchy seed with distinctive toothed ridges. The stems droop towards the water so that the seeds can be dispersed downstream or readily eaten by birds and waterfowl.

Many aquatic animals and fish find shelter in the dense colonies of Pickerelweed growing along the shores, giving rise to the common name, “pickerel”weed. In fact, we often see Wood Duck ducklings with Mama surrounded by a protective camouflage of Pickerelweed. Some dragonflies and damselflies lay their eggs on the stems of Pickerelweed which drop into the water, develop into the aquatic larval stage and months later, crawl up the pickerelweed stem to emerge as the adult we see flying while we kayak.

It is well worth pausing to admire the seasons-long beauty and the abundance of wildlife this stunning plant supports!

Photo by Kevin Howe

Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly by Kevin Howe

There is a “tale” that Dragon Run is named because of all the Dragonflies that are seen in the summer-fall along Dragon Run – that just might be true; then again, maybe just a tale but a plausible one.

Indeed, Dragonflies are quite abundant here in summer along with their little cousin, the Damselflies. Dragonflies are typically larger than Damselflies and they are easily distinguished from each other by the way they hold their wings at rest – Dragonflies hold their wings open and perpendicular to their body while the smaller Damselflies hold their wings closed and over their body. Both are voracious carnivores, mostly on other insects and can be cannibalistic. These predaceous insects belong to an insect group (Order) named Odonata.

On every non-winter visit to Dragon Run waters, there is one Damselfly that you are guaranteed to see - the Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculate). Active from April to around October, this Damselfly is super abundant and “friendly”, if you can call an insect that. Not unusual to see one or more flying around and even landing on your kayak or you!

The Ebony Jewelwing is rather small, about two to three inches long and is found in much of the Eastern North America. It is a brilliant metallic green which often appears blue depending upon the light and, like all Dragonflies and Damselflies, they are mostly seen around freshwater. The eggs must be laid in water or on material close to water (rocks, vegetation, etc.) and the female will lay several hundred eggs in an area protected by the male. The eggs hatch into carnivorous crawling larva, called naiads, live in the water for up to a year after which they will crawl up something (plant, stick) out of the water and transform into the flying adult. The adult lives only long enough to breed which is about two-three weeks. Interesting note, the female differs from the male by possessing a white mark on the upper rear portion of the forewings.

Virginia has over 200 species of Dragonflies and Damselflies with about 76 species identified as a “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” by Virginia’s Division of Natural Heritage. As with most of our native flora and fauna, the loss of quality habitat is the most significant threat. In the Coastal Plain, about 41 species of Damselflies have the potential to occur although the number that have been verified is much less.

But the high natural quality of Dragon Run certainly is a haven for all of our Dragonflies and Damselflies and more study of these fascinating creatures is needed. I am sure your Dragon Run guides will be pointing out the Ebony Jewelwing Damselfly on your next kayak trip down the Dragon – they are stunning!

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) by Robin Mathews

One of the most exciting moments each spring happens when you spot your first Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. I happened to be walking one of the trails on the Big Island property in March when I spotted my first of 2023. These butterflies are most commonly found in deciduous woodlands and in fields where there are flowers for nectar.

The Tiger swallowtail is easily identified. It is one of our largest butterflies. The bright yellow and black “tiger” stripes are distinctive and can be seen from far away. The undersides of the hindwings have bright blue spots around the margins. Some female tiger swallowtails, especially in the southern part of its range, are a dark color. One theory is that this makes the female resemble a Pipevine swallowtail which gets protection from the toxic pipevine sap that its caterpillar eats.

Female tigers lay eggs on the leaves of various host plants including tulip poplars and black cherry trees. In the southeast there are often 3 broods. The last brood of the season overwinters as chrysalises on tree trunks or in the leaf litter. As the caterpillar matures, it becomes bright green with eyespots on either side of its head. The caterpillars have an organ called an osmeterium, which is an orange-red forked gland that the caterpillar can pop out if threatened. It looks a lot like a snake's tongue and is bad smelling. This may have evolved to help keep predators away.

One interesting phenomenon associated mostly with male Tiger swallowtail is ”puddling.” They can be seen in groups on moist dirt, scat, or shallow puddles, drinking the salts and minerals. I had the good fortune to see it twice while paddling on the Dragon this spring.

The next time you walk where there are wildflowers, take your camera. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is one of the most abundant and easily spotted butterflies in our area. You might just get a beautiful photo of one of these amazing insects as it drinks nectar and pollinates the flower.

May 2023

Turtles by Kevin Howe

Eastern Painted Turtle, Chrysemys picta

Woodland Box Turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina

Turtles are a fascinating group of reptiles which we see with some regularity on our hikes or kayak cruises in and around Dragon Run. Somewhat prehistoric looking, the group is easily recognized by just about anyone over the age of three.

We have seven different species in and around the Dragon Run watershed – one species, the
Woodland Box Turtle is entirely terrestrial while six other species prowl the waters of Dragon Run with a few of them, spending some time out of the water (mud turtles). All 356 species of turtles worldwide lay their eggs on land with one exception, an Australian Snake-headed Turtle which will lay the eggs in a wetland, but the wetland (Billabong) dries up before the eggs hatch.

On our hikes, we occasionally see a Box Turtle and they are easily recognized as they crawl at a snail’s pace along woodland floor. Their dark brown shell is patterned with orange and yellow markings which camouflage it amazingly well against the forest floor; many a time I have almost stepped on them only recognizing them at the last instant.

Southeastern Mud Turtle, Kinosternon subrubrum subrubrum

Southeastern Mud Turtle eggs

Eastern Painted Turtle baby, just hatched, April 2023

The most numerous aquatic species we see are the Eastern Painted Turtle followed by the Southeastern Mud Turtle and the Red-bellied Cooter. On one of our early morning spring hikes, we were absolutely amazed to find a female Southeastern Mud Turtle laying eggs, a rare and lucky sighting indeed! Our most usual encounters happen when we are on the water. We usually see them in one of three ways – sunning themselves on a log, floating just beneath the surface of the water with their snouts sticking out of the water or while they are just floating along mostly submerged. We most frequently we see them sunning themselves on a log but if you have sharp observation skills, you may spot the snout more often.

Snapping Turtle floating on the water for a breath

The month of May is often peak time to see turtles as they are just coming out of their winter hibernation state (called brumation in reptiles, hibernation in mammals) and being cold blooded, they get out of the water to absorb the springtime heat of the sun. Although we see them with regularity, they are skittish and are easily startled and quickly slide into the water. So often, a turtle sighting is a fleeting but exciting observation.

Red-bellied Cooters both enjoying the sun’s warmth

Beaver by Carol Kauffman

Our FODR volunteers have been busy leading guests on trips down Dragon Run. Another species that has been busy is the Beaver, Castor canadensis, the largest rodent in North America (typically 35 to 70 pounds and three to four feet in length.). Spring is the time when females give birth. The kits stay close to their mother during their first 6 weeks, remain with their parents for two years, and help raise the next year’s offspring. Kits are preyed upon by fox, otters, mink, eagles, owls, and large fish. The lodge, built of sticks, mud, and plant matter, is home to this multi-generational family and can house other species like muskrat, frogs and turtles. The beavers’ lodge entrance is underwater to provide safety from predators. Their signature flat tail is slapped on the water to signal danger. It serves as a rudder for swimming and for balance when on land. Fat is stored in the tail for when food supply is low.

The beaver is a keystone species; a species that has a disproportionately large impact on its environment, holds ecosystems together, and supports biodiversity. The pools the beaver make from building dams, create new habitat for many other species. Fish, ducks, frogs, turtles, and aquatic plants utilize the pools that are created by the beaver dams. On our paddles we often see eagles, kingfishers, and herons feeding in these pools, and we have seen signs of raccoons who leave their prints along the banks.

Some consider the beaver an engineer because of their ability to build sturdy lodges and dams; but I like to think of them as farmers because the pools they create become great habitat for the plants the beaver uses for food and for building. Beavers are nocturnal, but are occasionally active during the day. They do not hibernate, but are less active during winter, spending most of their time in the lodge or den. It’s rare, but occasionally we see a beaver on our paddle trips. A special treat is to be sprayed by the water that splashes when one slaps his tail next to your boat. 

Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) by Adrienne Frank

In the spring, plants such as the Mayapple emerge and flower on the forest floor of the Dragon Run Watershed. These plants die back, and are not visible late in the summer, fall, or winter months.

Mayapples grow in colonies, covering an area with their umbrella-like form. The plants spread by rhizomes under the ground, sometimes covering large areas. They like forest floors with rich, moist soil and are in bloom March through May throughout Virginia.

Mayapple leaves are deeply lobed at the top of a stem. The nodding white flower and yellowish fruit hang below the leaves and are concealed from view. The egg-shaped fruit can be 2 inches long. When ripe, the little apples are edible and eaten by raccoons, box turtles, opossums, and skunks.

Leaves and stems of Mayapples are toxic, containing podophyllotoxin which is an ingredient in some prescription drugs (including anti-cancer agents and laxative). Native Americans used the plant as an insecticide and the roots were used as worm expellants, for jaundice, constipation, hepatitis, fevers and syphilis.
The Virginia Native Plant Society describes the historical names for the plant, which include: the Cherokee name means “it wears a hat”; the Osage Indian name “it pains the bowels”; the English, thought this plant resembled

the European mandrake plant, and called it American Mandrake; a French botanist named the genus, Anapodophyllum, meaning “duck’s foot leaf”. Over the years, Mayapple was placed in several families of plants and now, after DNA analysis, it is placed in the Barberry family (Berberidaceae).

https://vnps.org/princewilliamwildflowersociety/botanizing-with-marion/history-of-the-naming-of-the-mayapple/
Hamilton, H. & Hall, G. (2013). Wildflowers & Grasses of Virginia’s Coastal Plain. Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press.

April 2023

Prothonotary Warbler’s – the challenges of a habitat specialist by Jeffrey Wright
Photos by Teta Kain

April marks the return of the Prothonotary Warbler. This gorgeous large warbler is bright yellow with an olive back and grayish wings. It is also called the Swamp Warbler or Swamp Canary in the Southeast but as proud Virginians, we will stick with Prothonotary Warbler. It breeds in swamps, flooded bottomland forests, and forests near streams. It eats insects and occasionally snails and mollusks. It nests in holes created by woodpeckers, natural holes in standing dead trees, and in nest boxes. It is a treat for guests to see on our spring paddles as the bird flies near our kayaks or perches on a branch or a bald cypress knee.

FODR is passionate about the breeding success of this migratory bird. The bird breeds in the US and winters in areas of South America and in particular Columbia where over 90% spend their winters. Over twenty nesting boxes for this bird are along the Dragon Run. These boxes are cared for, and data is collected about nest building, eggs, chicks, and fledglings by FODR’s Gary Driscole. 2022 was not a particularly good year for breeding success in the nest boxes along the Dragon – fewer occupied nests and reduced breeding success in terms of eggs and fledglings.

The bird is in trouble. Its population has declined about 40% since the 1960s. It is of high conservation concern. As habitat specialist, these birds are vulnerable to the alteration or loss of their breeding grounds. But a new problem is facing this species: the loss of or alteration of suitable habitat in its wintering grounds along the coast of Mexico, and Central and South America. In 2016 a decades old civil war ended between a rebel group known as the FARC and the Government of Columbia. The armed conflict basically kept miners, farmers, and loggers out of the strongholds of the FARC which included forests and mangrove forests - the winter homes of these birds. With the end of the war these commercial interests rushed in. “Our bird” is now wintering in an area with Columbia’s second-highest rate of deforestation and least remaining tree cover. It will take an effort by many people and many nations to protect this amazing avian citizen of the Dragon and the Americas.

Northern Water Snake by Terry Skinner

Northern Water Snakes, Nerodia sipedo, are non-venomous reptiles, and can often be spotted basking on logs or tree branches hanging over the water or swimming while on the hunt for fish and amphibians which they swallow alive. They have a chunky looking body which is round on cross-section and grows up to 54 inches long. Coloration is mostly brown and gray, but they can have varying amounts of red, yellow, white, and blotches and crossbands. To add to the ambiguity, their patterns are much more visible when the scales are wet. As they dry, they look more uniform and the colors more muted. Young snakes are often more vividly colored than adults. No matter the snake’s age, their scales are keeled (have a ridge down the center).

These snakes live across Virginia in and around fresh water ponds, streams, ditches, and wetlands like the Dragon Run. Social only during the fall and spring, northern water snakes can sometimes be spotted coiled together basking in the sun. They aggregate in the winter as well and brumate (are awake but inactive, unlike hibernation’s torpor). Winter den sites include beaver dams and lodges, muskrat burrows, and vole tunnels.

They mate after coming out of brumation in late March or early April and females give birth after a 58-day gestation to 12-36 live young between late August and early October. We may have encountered a northern water snake leaving brumation on March 24 on the banks of the Dragon near the Mascot Bridge.

Because these snakes live near the water and adults often have dark bands, people often mistake them for cottonmouths or copperheads and kill them. Even though the northern water snake is non-venomous, they are not exactly harmless, and if agitated they will bite and even chew on an enemy and emit a strong musk if handled. Nevertheless, the northern water snake is an exciting animal to spot on a warm day on the Dragon. They look like the Loch Ness monster swimming along!

Marbled Salamander by Denise Deckert

The marbled salamander, Ambystoma opacum, is found throughout the southeast. They are easily identified by their black/dark brown body with light white (male) or gray/silvery (female) crossbands on the back (dorsum). Occurring in a variety of habitats which can range from low-lying floodplains to wooded hillsides, the adult marbled salamander spends most of its life underground and out of sight. They are most often encountered when they migrate to wetlands to breed on rainy nights in September and October. Females will lay about 30-100 eggs in a depression on land (usually beneath a log or leaf litter). The female stays with her developing eggs until rain fills the wetland and triggers the eggs to hatch. Winter precipitation will turn the little depression into a springtime pool where salamander eggs can develop underwater. Such an ephemeral pool lacks fish that might eat the eggs.

By springtime, marbled salamander larvae swim around the pool, hunting zooplankton and invertebrates. They like to eat mosquito larvae. Where they occur with other salamander species that lay eggs in spring, they can eat the smaller larvae of those salamander species. The feathery external gills of the marbled salamander larvae continue to be an obvious feature as they grow legs, feet, and all of their cute salamander toes. Like all salamanders, they grow their front legs first, and then their hind legs. In April, they can often be seen standing on submerged leaf litter, about two inches long and speckly black. It's a race to finish developing into terrestrial adults before the ephemeral pool dries up.

Since the marbled salamander relies on temporary wetlands in forested habitats, mature forest loss is a major conservation concern for the species. Master Naturalists from the Middle Peninsula are currently studying ephemeral pools in the Dragon Run Watershed and have identified the species. With conservation measures the species can be conserved here for future generations.

March 2023

Bloodroot by Betsy Washington

Photos by Betsy Washington

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, is one of our earliest wildflowers and a cherished harbinger of spring. It is found throughout Eastern North America in moist to dry upland forests, in calcareous forests, and on well-drained floodplains. In the Coastal Plain of Virginia it is infrequent and found mainly on calcium-rich soils associated with ancient fossil shell deposits. This diminutive wildflower is named for the “blood red” sap that exudes from all parts of the plant, but especially from the knobby orange rhizomes (roots) when cut or broken. Although toxic, this sap has long been used for several medicinal remedies and Native American face paint and rouge.

Bloodroot reaches only 8” high, however the 2-inch-wide flowers are drop-dead gorgeous but fleeting – often lasting only a few days. Snow-white buds typically emerge in early to mid-March. Each erect flower bud is enfolded in a single leaf that curls around it revealing the intricately veined undersides of the leaf. Eight to sixteen crystalline white petals open to reveal a central burst of golden stamens and single green pistil. The waxy blue-green leaves are orbicular or kidney shape with five to seven deep lobes along the margin. The fruit is a green capsule that splits open to expel the small brown seeds that are dispersed by ants that seek out the nutritious fatty bundle (an eliasome) attached to each seed and take it back to their nests. They eagerly eat the eliasome and discard the seeds in their “compost” pile, dispersing the seeds.

Like several early wildflowers, Bloodroots do not produce nectar. Instead, pollinators, such as small miner bees, sweat bees and bee flies, are attracted to the rich pollen and pollinate them as they move from flower to flower. Bloodroot flowers open wide on warm sunny days but close at night and on cold, rainy days when their pollinators are not flying; a handy adaptation for a wildflower that blooms at a time when pollinators can be scarce. And they have yet another adaptation up their sleeves - if not pollinated within three days, the anthers bend over brushing against the stigma to pollinate themselves.
Look for this beautiful wildflower along the trail at Mascot and other locations with base rich soils.

Wood Duck by Maeve Coker

The Wood Duck, Aix sponsa , is a beautifully ornate species of waterfowl that makes the Dragon Run its home. Males are a bright patchwork of colors with a distinct red eye and bill, and females are appropriately camouflaged in grayish brown with a bold white teardrop over the eye. Rebounded from a near-decimated population 100 years ago, the combination of the implementation of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, a 20-year moratorium on hunting, and strong efforts to conserve habitat, the Wood Duck population has recovered immensely thanks to the efforts put in place in the early 1900s.
Appropriately named, the Wood Duck prefers to inhabit flooded bottomland forests, swamps, scrub-shrub wetlands, and emergent marshes. The Dragon Run is ideal habitat, providing all its needs in every season. In early spring, pairs of Wood Ducks, or “woodies” as birders and hunters call them, seek out cavities in large trees.

Although nests over water are preferred, Wood Ducks will choose sites up to a half mile away from water! Females will lay anywhere from 10-15 eggs on average and incubate for about a month. When the chicks hatch, they climb out of the nest and plummet to the ground unharmed. Once out of the nest, the chicks will feed mostly on aquatic invertebrates and some plant material. Adults eat almost exclusively seeds, with acorns, smartweed, buttonbush, and pickerelweed being some of their main food sources – all very abundant on the Dragon!

When not in the nest, woodies prefer to spend their time in wetlands with at least 70% emergent vegetation. They like to stay hidden in the plants that will eventually be their food source. They spend the winter on the Dragon Run, and many of our winter residents are migrants from up north. Pairs will begin to form over the winter, and in late February and early March the breeding season starts again! Pairs will utilize human-made duck boxes for nesting in the absence of natural cavities, so be sure to look out for them when in the Dragon!

Spring Beauty by Jan Towne

One of the most aptly named harbinger-of-spring wildflowers is the spring beauty, Claytonia virginica. Typically growing 6-10 inches tall, this dainty plant sends up several slender, grass-like leaves in very early spring. The inflorescence that follows has five white or pink petals with darker pink veins. The pink stripes resemble peppermint candies and serve as nectar lines for pollinators. The spring beauty is an important native plant for bees, since it is one of the earliest nectar sources. These lovely flowers close at night and on overcast days, which protects their pollen. Some Native elders used this plant behavior as a barometer to predict approaching storms.

A spring beauty grows from an underground corm where it stores the energy it made the previous season to fuel its early spring growth. The starchy tuber is edible and quite tasty; hence, the moniker "wild potato" is sometimes used. Consumed either raw or cooked like potatoes, the corm has a pleasant nutty flavor. Leaves or stems can also be eaten raw or cooked; they have a mild taste.

These charming, true spring ephemerals are common in Virginia's deciduous forests and throughout the eastern United States. Fortunately, the beauties found on FODR properties are protected from foragers. Nevertheless, it's worthwhile to know they not only provide delight for the eyes, but can provide sustenance to the belly, if ever needed. Look for these enchanting beauties now in our woods!

February 2023

Round-Lobed Hepatica or Liverleaf by Betsy Washington

One of the earliest signs of spring in our “neck” of the woods are the blooms of the Round-lobed Hepatica or Liverleaf, Hepatica americana. The lovely small flowers of this woodland wildflower look delicate but this hardy perennial blooms in the face of winter in February and March. The delicate white, blue, lavender or even pink flowers are only 1” in diameter but are stunning and will stop you in your tracks and warm your floral heart on even the coldest spring day. The distinctive leathery leaves are 3” across with three rounded lobes and are often mottled with burgundy reminiscent of a liver, thus the common name, Liverleaf. They remain green all winter long but are often partially hidden under a blanket of insulating forest duff. The delicate flowers emerge through this duff on slender stems covered in silky hairs often before mid-February.

Although early pollinators (solitary bees and flies) seek pollen from Hepaticas, the flowers themselves lack nectar. To hedge their bets, they sometimes rely on self-pollination; an amazing adaptation that saves energy and guarantees pollination in the fickle early spring weather when pollinators are often scarce. Further, the flowers close during the night and on rainy days thereby preserving their pollen, opening only when pollinators are flying. Their seeds have a nutritious fatty bundle (an eliasome) attached to them that ants love; the ants eagerly take the nutritious bundles back to their nest (along with the seeds), effectively dispersing and ‘planting’ the seeds. What a marvelous web of adaptations and relationships!

Round-lobed Hepaticas are found throughout Virginia in upland forests and rich wooded slopes. They are common in in the Mountains and Piedmont but are infrequent in the Coastal Plain, making them that much more exciting to find. Look for Hepaticas in rich forests along Dragon Run on ravine slopes and along moist seeps and prepare to fall in love with this beautiful February valentine!

Bald Eagle by Kevin Howe

Everyone knows the Nation’s national emblematic bird, the Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Recognized by Congress as the national bird in 1782 despite Ben Franklin’s opinion that it was a poor choice – he liked the Turkey.

Our volunteers are out in Dragon Run every month of the year, scouting for new kayak trips, surveying the flora and fauna, etc. and we see Baldies (as birders call them) on many visits along Dragon Run no matter what month.

Found throughout the US, Canada and northern Mexico, populations of Baldies north of 40th parallel (New York north) are migratory. While we in Virginia have resident Baldies, we also have large number of migrants from the north in the winter. In fact, the Chesapeake Bay and its drainages, especially the Rappahannock River from Tappahannock north to Port Royal (about 25 miles) are migratory “hot spots” because of the very large numbers of migrant Baldies (hundreds) spend their winter. And they spill over into areas of Dragon Run and mix with our resident Baldies.

Our resident Virginia Baldies typically are among our earliest nesting birds, starting to build or rebuild the nest in November and peaking in mid-winter. We often see pair formation in early winter and in most, but not all, years we see an occupied nest. Bald eagles will mate for life. In Virginia, eggs are laid between mid-January and late March, hatching in mid-March to early May. Eaglets will stay in the nest 11 to 12 weeks. We have been lucky in years past – for about 16 years until five years ago, we had a pair nest in the same tree year and year. Then they disappeared – perhaps a mate died or, who knows? But two years later another pair built a nest about a quarter mile away and then a year later the new nest was abandoned and the first nest was “reoccupied”.

This past November a crew of us saw a pair for a week or two appearing to scout for some nest sites. We have not been out recently but we hopeful they choose the Dragon for a home. Given our large trees, access to the Bay and abundant food sources, the Dragon watershed definitely is an attractive home for Bald Eagles. We are lucky to have such a treasure.

Christmas Fern by Kevin Howe

Winter in the forest is rather drab – mostly filled with brownish colors. Very little greenery is around to catch the eye but two of nature’s wonders always jump out of the brown – lichens and the Christmas Fern, Polystichum acrostichoides. A future sighting article will cover Lichens but herein I want to enlighten you on the Christmas Fern.

While Christmas ferns do not grow in the swamp wetlands, we see it abundantly throughout the Dragon Run Forest, standing green and tall much of the year, although sometimes in winter it lays its fronds down like it is taking a snooze. I am sure most of you know, ferns are not flowering plants, having evolved more than 200 million years before flowering plants. Like many flowering plants, the vast majority of ferns die off when winter sets in. Christmas fern is an exception – it remains evergreen through our winter. Found throughout Eastern North America, it is common in moist and shady habitats in our eastern forests and is recorded from every county in Virginia.

Christmas Ferns are so named for two reasons. First, it is green at Christmas and used liberally in holiday decorations; and, second, its individual leaf (pinnae) is shaped like Santa’s boot or a Christmas stocking (see photo).

Although it does remain green in winter, it will lay its fronds down on the ground when real cold set in. This is likely to be an adaptation to protect from freezing as laying on the ground is “warmer” than “standing” and if covered with snow, that too is warmer than “standing”.

So on your next foray in the winter woods, look for the green Christmas Fern and while it may be laying down taking a winter nap, look closely for that Christmas stocking shaped leaf. And join us this year for a nature walk or kayak paddle and we will show you a Christmas fern – among lots of other wonders of nature.

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.

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!

The Muskrat by Carol Kauffman

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Photos by Tom Crockett

November 2022

**The Common Persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, the Fruit of the Gods**
by Betsy Washington

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!

Smartweed Caterpillar by Meo Curtis

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

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!

Winterberry by Kevin Howe

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

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.

White Turtlehead by Betsy Washington

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

The Beech Blight Aphid by Carol Kauffman

Grylloprociphilus 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.

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.