I've been hearing for a while now about a supposedly impressive waterfall hidden along Spruce Brook in the woods of Naugatuck State Forest. I say "hidden" because I've talked to people who know about it, and there are a few sources that mention it online, but it's not marked on any map I can find, and the written directions I've found are sketchy at best. So today, Paul and I decided to go on an adventure deep into the woods to try to hunt down this fabled waterfall. And while we didn't find the fall (probably because my directions hinged on taking a road that's currently closed, and we weren't sure exactly which paths we should follow coming from the other direction), we did see some other really lovely parts of Spruce Brook, and it was just a gorgeous day for a walk through some really beautiful woods.
A few woodland blooms greeted us on our way, including a large patch of Shinleaf (Pyrola elliptica):
And Poke Milkweed (Asclepias exaltata), which I don't think I've seen before:
Is it just me, or do these flowers look like they have fangs?
We walked along the brook for a while, which cut through a very pretty ravine with mossy cliffs, and reached a place where some small falls ran into a cute little pool (complete with minnows):
The rocks above these rivulets were mostly dry (although not exactly what I would call a path), and we were feeling adventuresome, so we clambered up the stream a little ways and ended up faced with some almost-falls coursing around big boulders -- it's difficult to get a sense of scale in this next picture, but the mature trees on the sides should help:
Surrounded by cliffs and rocks and running water, this would make a great place to sit and relax -- the only things marring the scenery were the empty beer bottles lying around. (Seriously, what is wrong with people? We picked up a few particularly offensive pieces of trash, but we couldn't clean up everything.)
It was fun exploring in the woods, and heartening that we didn't get lost! The road we were supposed to take should be open again in a few months (after the state finishes fixing a bridge), so we might come here again in the fall to see what we can find. I'm glad we took advantage of this beautiful, temperate day -- especially since I just glanced at the weather forecast and it's supposed to get really hot soon! Yay, summer. :P
This morning's visit to Southford Falls State Park brought some lovely sights. Orange Hawkweed (Hieracium aurantiacum, an introduced species) was sending its glorious firework-blooms up into the air, attracting many small insects:
Could there be a more perfect platform for this American Copper butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)?
I can't think of one!
Overhead, three Red-shouldered Hawks were calling and wheeling through the air. One of the hawks had secondary flight feathers that were strangely much shorter than its primaries -- is this the result of a normal molting pattern, or something else?
A nearby Common Grackle wasn't very happy about the hawks' presence, and proceeded to chase one of the larger birds (this one has more normal wing feathers):
I do have to admire the nerve of smaller birds when they take on big predator like that -- and this grackle was even getting the job done on its own. The situation doesn't look very fun for the hawk, though!
Let's have some more of these lovely sunny days, please! :)
Yes, you read right. There are wild parakeets in Connecticut. Apparently, in the 1960s or thereabouts, some Monk Parakeets -- originally from Argentina, but kept as pets -- escaped or were released in North America, and these temperate-climate birds have since made their homes in various northern coastal areas. I knew that these birds existed around here (and my parents even saw some outside their hotel in New Haven when they visited last summer), but I only saw them for the first time with my own eyes this morning, during my normal weekly visit to Silver Sands State Park.
Yep, those are parakeets all right!
These guys were fun to watch, but they weren't really interested in having their pictures taken. They spent a few seconds on the ground drinking from puddles, but then they were flying off into the trees where their green feathers blended perfectly with the leaves, and I would never have even known they were there if it weren't for the (loud, raucous) sounds they were making.
From what I've read online, there's been some sort of controversy surrounding these birds in Connecticut. A few years ago, the state and a major utility company started an initiative to kill the Monk Parakeets because they were building their large nests on utility poles and causing electrical problems. Then people protested. So the company started removing problematic nests instead of killing the birds outright, but it doesn't sound like that program was having much success. I'm not sure what the official policy about these birds is now. It's also interesting to see Monk Parakeets described as akin to European Starlings or House Sparrows (i.e., a kind of annoying introduced species) on the Connecticut Audubon Society blog. In any case, it seems like these colorful creatures have a strong foothold in the area and won't be leaving any time soon!
OK, but seriously, parakeets in Connecticut.... Pretty weird!
When I see an insect with a body-shape like this -- long abdomen, spindly legs, long thin wings suck out to the side -- my first thought is usually "crane fly"....
But this creature who showed up under my porch light last night isn't a crane fly. It's a moth! A Morning-glory Plume Moth (Emmelina monodactyla), to be precise.
What a totally weird moth! I think there must be more to this creature's wings than its resting position shows, otherwise I'm not sure how it would be able to fly. Then again, crane flies manage it, and their shape really is quite similar....
Anyway, I continue to be impressed by the sheer diversity of moths, both in color and shape. I'm glad this one stopped by to show off its weirdness. :)
Yesterday morning, I visited Southford Falls State Park, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite places. It's not large -- the loop through the entire park is only about a mile long -- but it is an extremely scenic place: There's a pond, waterfalls, a faux-antique covered bridge, deep deciduous forests with lots of huge rocks and impressive vistas... and plenty of interesting creatures, too.
Even the paths in this park are pretty. I loved walking across these tree roots cushioned in swathes of lime-green moss:
A tree had fallen across another part of the path, but that didn't stop the Indian Pipes from pushing up around it, both on one side...
And the other:
There were huge patches of Indian Pipes growing in this forest, actually, maybe more than I've ever seen at one time (those white blobs in the background of this next picture are even more of these ghostly plants):
Eastern Chipmunks were making good use of the many crevices in and around the big rocks along the path, and I saw quite a few of these little creatures during my walk. This chipmunk paused on its rocky throne to watch me warily, making a bright spot of rusty red among its gray and green surroundings:
How lucky are we, to have these adorable creatures living near us?
The woods echoed with bird calls all morning, with this Wood Thrush adding its voice from a branch directly above my head:
I regretted almost immediately, of course, that I didn't record a video of this bird singing its flute-y song (the Wood Thrush's call is one of my favorites), but the mob of mosquitoes chasing me at the time dissuaded me from stopping for more than a quick picture.
All in all, it was a lovely walk in a lovely woods. This is what summer days are for. :)
Side story: Today, I had one of those "aahh, why did I not bring my camera with me" experiences. I went with Paul to a 5K run (he ran, I watched), and we came across the most wonderful just-fledged Yellow Warbler baby, perched on a branch right at eye level, with its parent attending to the tree in general (and presumably feeding the baby and its siblings). I didn't get too close, for fear of startling the baby, and a zoom lens would have been really helpful! Oh well, that's what I get for leaving my camera at home. Anyway, trust me, it was adorable. :P
