St. Catherine Creek NWR

Charlie and I got away for a short trip last Saturday to St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge near Natchez, Mississippi.  The refuge is located on 25,000 acres which provide essential habitats for various species of birds.  It is a designated "Important Bird Area" by the National Audubon Society. Bounded by the Mississippi River and loess bluffs, birds are drawn to the area as they follow the river and bluffs during migration or in search of a suitable habitat.

We had a brief but wonderful visit to the refuge.  The weather was near perfect with plenty of sunshine and an occasional breeze.  There were plenty of photo opportunities and I took more than my fair share of them.  We observed scores of butterflies and dragonflies in the open fields but I didn't get but a few photos of them because they were constantly on the move. 

The autumn colors were gorgeous, especially in the open fields of wildflowers. I intend to share some of the better wildlife photos in upcoming posts.  I hope you'll enjoy them.  Have a great week!

Fall Migration of Hummingbirds

The first arrivals of fall migrants appeared September 26th this year.  Days later, there were scores of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds competing for sugar water at our feeders.  It seems though they used most of their energy fighting with each other- such territorial little things they are.  

My family and I have all enjoyed watching their show of speed and acrobatic skills.  They've been our morning and evening entertainment on the back porch.  

Our little friends have moved on now.  There'll be a straggler or two passing through for a couple of weeks so I'll leave the feeders up for now.  I wish them a safe journey to their wintering grounds and look forward to their spring return.

Monarch Butterfly

I finally had the opportunity to get close enough to a Monarch butterfly to snap a few shots. There were dozens of them flying among the autumn wildflowers in the fields surrounding St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge located southwest of Natchez, Mississippi.  I observed several different species of butterflies but had difficulty shooting photos because they were constantly on the move.  

Such beautiful creatures...

A Disagreement of Sorts

Disagreements are a reality of life. Immature people always want to win an argument, even at the cost of a relationship. Mature people understand that it's always better to lose an argument and win a relationship.

"If you were right, I'd agree with you".
~

If by "Let's agree to disagree", you really mean "Let's each continue to think the other person
is an idiot", then yeah, sure.

"Rather than us agreeing to disagree, why don't you just be quiet?"
~

Don't you agree?  :)

Have a great Friday and wonderful weekend!

Slithering Visitor

The second slithering visitor we've seen in back yard this year...

I think this one is an Eastern Yellow Rat Snake, which is non-venomous.

He quietly went along his way and hasn't been seen since.

Busy Bumblebee

It's not so much how busy you are,

but WHY you are busy.

The bee is praised.

The mosquito is swatted.

~ Mary Flannery O'Connor ~

Pokeberry

A couple weeks ago I noticed several shaggy looking plants had grown within the underbrush of our back yard.  What particularly attracted my attention was the scattering of purple berries hanging from them.  I wondered if they were edible and could be used to make jelly.  So I googled them.  I'm glad I did- turns out that the plants are Pokeberry, aka pokeweed and in its raw form can make us humans very sick.  

Pokeberry is a perennial herb that generally grows from 4 to 12 feet tall and is a host for the stunning giant leopard moth (I'd love to see one- they're quite beautiful).  Ruby-throated hummingbirds are attracted to the plant's tiny greenish white blossoms.  During August and September when the berries start ripening, many year-round resident birds may be seen dining on them.  Northern mockingbirds, brown thrashers, eastern bluebirds, American crows, cardinals, starlings, mourning doves and red-bellied woodpeckers are attracted to the purple berries. In preparation for and during their fall migration, birds that nest in our backyards and elsewhere in North America will also gobble up pokeberries to help fuel the hazardous journey to their wintering grounds in the Caribbean and Central and South America. The list of migrants include the gray catbird, eastern kingbird, wood thrush, Swainson’s thrush, veery, summer tanager and hooded warbler.  Eating pokeberries can pose a risk for birds, particularly late in the year. It seems that pokeberries will sometimes ferment, intoxicating birds that eat them.

I had no idea that this plant is actually a part of age-old traditions in many areas of North America. Some places have annual "Poke Salad" Festivals that serve up recipes featuring the plant (in cooked form, of course).   It is said the taste is similar to asparagus.  I don't like asparagus so I doubt I'll ever dine on pokeweed.  

Pokeweed has long been thought to have medicinal value. At one time it was employed to cure everything from boils to acne. Today, pokeberry is being researched as a possible treatment for cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, a chemical found in pokeberry juice has been used to successfully treat cancerous tumors in laboratory mice. The chemical is also being tested to determine if it can protect cells from HIV and AIDS.  Wouldn't that be wonderful?!

It will be interesting to follow up on the research being done on this plant.