life at the lake

New Home

2011-05-29T17:38:00.001-04:00

The lake is in the same geographical location as it has been for the past 40-50 years, but this blog has moved to a new address. More lake life and updated information can now be found at http://hortonspond.blogspot.com

Peacock Moth caterpillar

2010-07-11T17:13:00.001-04:00

I love the little racing stripes.

Eastern gartersnake (take two)

2010-07-09T20:59:00.001-04:00

some more pics of an Eastern gartersnake this time near the entrance to its home in an abandoned beaver house.

taken 30 May 2009

Red-osier Dogwood

2010-07-09T20:43:00.001-04:00

taken 21 September 2008

weekend ritual

2010-07-09T19:42:00.002-04:00

if I am to be found on a Sunday afternoon,
this is a good place to look…..

taken 3 July 2010

4th of July

2010-07-05T08:50:00.001-04:00

we didn’t do any fireworks this year, but we did have fire

(and roasted marshmallows too).

taken 4 July 2010

Gray Catbird

2010-07-04T22:32:00.001-04:00

taken 13 June 2010

Starflower

2010-07-04T22:29:00.001-04:00

taken 22 May 2009

Black Bear

2010-07-04T22:12:00.002-04:00

Someone came to inspect our garbage receptacles. I was not present, but my sister was able to get to her camera (after the bear walked within 30 feet of her, looked at her and my mom, then continued on to where the trash cans are located), but the bear was not interested in photo-ops.

The best visual proof we have of our visitor.

taken 25 June 2010

Rough Green Snake

2010-07-04T22:05:00.001-04:00

First time I’ve seen this type of snake.

taken 30 June 2010

Great Blue Heron

2010-07-04T21:53:00.003-04:00

The first time I got a picture of this bird, I was not real certain regarding its identity. But one or more of its kind makes a visit to the lake each year and I look forward to sighting them. Today I happened to get lucky to see three of them at once, though they weren’t close enough together for me to get a picture of all of them at the same time.

taken 4 July 2010

it was cool to see them land atop the trees and just sit there seemingly out of place

Yellow Warbler

2010-07-04T19:28:00.001-04:00

taken 19 June 2010

White Admiral butterfly

2010-06-19T14:20:00.001-04:00

taken 19 June 2010

Cabbage White butterfly

2010-06-19T13:57:00.001-04:00

or Small White. This one is a female. The two dots on each fore wing make the distinction. Males only have one.

taken 19 June 2010

Closed Gentian

2010-06-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

taken 30 August 2009

Birdsfoot Trefoil

2010-06-19T13:40:00.001-04:00

I wondered about this plant’s name until I discovered it’s based on the appearance of the seed pods, not the flower.

taken 4 August 2009

Bittersweet Nightshade

2010-06-19T13:18:00.001-04:00

Also known as Climbing Nightshade or Deadly Nightshade

taken 19 June 2010

Moneywort

2010-06-19T13:04:00.001-04:00

taken 19 June 2010

American Robin

2010-06-19T11:27:00.001-04:00

There is no shortage of this bird around the lake, but they don’t stay in one place long at all and rarely do I get a chance to get close enough to get a decent picture. Today, though, after I had just mowed some lawn and was sitting at a nearby picnic table one came by looking for some freshly stirred up bugs. I don’t think he realized I was there.

taken 19 June 2010

Common St. John’s Wort

2010-06-13T19:37:00.001-04:00

taken 4 August 2009

Painted Trillium

2010-06-13T19:26:00.001-04:00

taken 21 May 2009

Blue Vervain

2010-06-13T19:20:00.001-04:00

taken 4 August 2009

Redberry Elder

2010-06-13T19:01:00.002-04:00

taken 13 June 2010

Spreading Dogbane

2010-06-13T18:36:00.001-04:00

taken 13 June 2010

Yellow Sweet Clover

2010-06-13T18:17:00.001-04:00

taken 13 June 2010

Cedar Waxwing

2010-06-11T23:48:00.002-04:00

These pictures aren’t the best, but show enough detail for identification. The pictures also represent the first time (and only time so far) that I had ever seen this particular bird.

taken 8 August 2009

Eastern Tent Caterpillar Moth

2010-06-11T23:14:00.002-04:00

taken 25 May 2009

Great Spangled Fritillary

2010-06-11T22:49:00.002-04:00

taken 19 September 2009

Tiger Swallowtail

2010-06-11T22:00:00.002-04:00

taken 20 May 2009

Tree Swallow

2010-06-11T21:32:00.004-04:00

every year a group of these birds make their home at the lake. this one was a ham.

taken 31 May 2009

Brownish-gray Fishing Spider

2010-06-09T22:38:00.003-04:00

taken 31 May 2010

Black-and-yellow Argiope

2010-06-09T22:15:00.002-04:00

I’m not sure what creeps me out more - snakes or spiders. I actually have no problem with little, tiny spiders. But I think I could learn to love snakes much sooner than spiders like this one *shuddering* – yuck.

taken 8 August 2009

Eastern gartersnake

2010-06-09T22:01:00.002-04:00

Almost ran over this snake as it was traveling through a parking area.

taken 30 May 2009

Northern Slimy Salamander

2010-06-09T21:00:00.002-04:00

unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a clear shot.

taken 21 May 2009

Green Frog

2010-06-08T10:11:00.002-04:00

taken 25 May 2009

Identification issues

2010-06-08T10:04:00.001-04:00

Part of my serious backlog of photos and rather inconsistent posts can be blamed on my difficulty identifying what’s in my pictures. I go through the field guides and find possible identities, but often these identities are so similar I can’t tell which is accurate if any. This weekend, however, I found a website - Pennsylvania Wildlife, and am completely excited about how much information is there along with loads of pics. Adding the site info to what I’ve learned in field guides and I’m feeling rather confident in labeling many more of my photographs. How did any amateur figure out anything before the internet?!

Northern Ringneck snake

2010-06-08T08:57:00.001-04:00

Moving rocks around in May 2009 led to uncovering this snake. Took me a while to figure out where its head was until I realized that yellow stripe at the right of its main body is also part of the snake.

Worm Millipede

2010-06-08T08:42:00.002-04:00

While digging out and rebuilding a stone fire ring at one of our campsites last week, I found a couple of these millipedes.

Canadian Geese

2010-06-07T19:36:00.003-04:00

We often have flocks of these geese stop by on their way north or south during the spring or fall.

These guys visited us in the fall of 2008 before moving on. But sometimes a pair decides to take up residence at the lake. Last year one such pair had 5 goslings that began their lives here. Unfortunately, a predator apparently ended their lives early as every few days the brood dwindled until only the parents were left. This year another couple (or perhaps the same one) had three goslings and they have survived to be 3-4 weeks old which is twice as long as the goslings last year. They just might make it to adulthood.

Northern Water Snake

2010-06-07T14:53:00.002-04:00

Ok, I am not a fan of snakes. They kind of creep me out and when I come across them unexpectedly (which is pretty much the only way I find them), they startle me greatly. However, I am also fascinated by nearly all living creatures so if I have my camera handy and once my adrenaline has settled from the initial scare, I will do what I can to document my find. Thank heavens for digital zoom ;)

Discovery of the dude below resulted in an expletive being vocalized while I jumped back. I had just pushed my boat into the water, was still bent over with my hand on the boat’s edge when I looked down and saw what had curled up under my boat now just three feet (or less) from my face. The thing did not move at all during my startled reaction, my minute or two of regrouping, and the first couple minutes of taking pictures (I had my camera in my boat). It flinched just enough to poke its head out of the grass after I tapped it with a stick in hopes of getting it to stretch out. I was not brave enough to interact with it any further. Perhaps after taking enough pictures, one day I will overcome my snake fears. I’m not holding my breath.

taken 6 June 2010

Easter eagle

2010-06-07T11:39:00.001-04:00

With an unseasonably and quite pleasantly warm Easter weekend and nieces in town for the holiday, we held the traditional egg hunt at the lake this year.

The youngest working hard to fill her basket.

Just as we arrived and headed towards the eggs, a bald eagle swooped in not more than 100 feet from us with its wings fully spread and looking majestic as the species almost always does in pictures. I think the bird was as surprised to see us as we were to see it. With a graceful u-turn, the eagle headed away without any encore fly-overs. I had my camera in hand, but in turning it on some setup screen showed up that I couldn’t get rid of in time to take a picture. Argh. I had heard of this bird being sighted a couple times last summer, but I never caught a glimpse. This is actually the first time I’ve seen an eagle of any kind in the wild. Maybe someday it will show itself again when my camera and I are ready. I can at least hope…

Muskrat

2009-08-08T10:36:00.001-04:00

Prior to taking these pictures I did not know that this animal resided at the lake. Originally, I thought I was seeing young beaver (they were within a couple feet of an actively used beaver house). However, the absence of the obvious beaver tail led me to discovering their actual identity.

Little Black Ant

2009-08-08T10:18:00.001-04:00

No, I did not make up that name. Not too often is an animal’s given name so simple. I think I will be able to remember this one.

Toxomerus Hover Fly

2009-08-08T10:06:00.000-04:00

or “Flower Fly”

Hop Clover

2009-08-08T09:48:00.000-04:00

Alby

2009-08-08T09:30:00.000-04:00

The family cat, Alabastar (Alby for short), is just over a year old and I do believe he considers the lake his home.

Marsh St. John’s Wort

2009-08-07T22:22:00.000-04:00

Indian Pipe

2009-08-07T22:15:00.000-04:00

Wild Basil

2009-08-07T22:08:00.001-04:00

Teasel

2009-08-07T21:44:00.000-04:00

Red Clover

2009-08-07T21:28:00.000-04:00

Purple-flowering Raspberry

2009-08-07T21:17:00.000-04:00

Bull Thistle

2009-08-03T23:02:00.000-04:00

This 6 foot tall plant is not one to mess with, at least not with any skin exposed.

Virgin’s Bower

2009-08-03T22:25:00.000-04:00

Steeplebush

2009-08-02T22:47:00.000-04:00

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

2009-08-02T22:26:00.002-04:00

named after a Native American

who reportedly used the plant to cure fevers

Monarch caterpillar

2009-08-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

Pennsylvania Leather-wing beetle

2009-08-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

Widow dragonfly

2009-08-02T15:33:00.001-04:00

I thought this guy looked like the Widow pictured in my field guide, except the one in the book did not have the white areas on the wing. Thanks to Valerie’s Austin Blog Collection I figured out that what I had pictured was in fact a young, male Widow dragonfly and that, except for the white on the wings, young males are colored identical to female Widows.

Honey Bee

2009-07-31T00:10:00.000-04:00

Orange Hawkweed

2009-07-30T22:40:00.000-04:00

This flower is one my favorites. The leafless stem topped by clusters of buds produces an interesting look. Since it was seen as an annoying weed, farmers called this the Devil’s Paintbrush.

Jack-in-the-pulpit

2009-07-30T22:15:00.004-04:00

also known as an India Turnip (parts of the plant were used for food).

This one had particularly huge leaves.

after the bloom has fallen off

Carpenter Ants

2009-07-30T21:12:00.000-04:00

Early in the season I laid out some recycled old fence boards along a path where I intended to install a simple, decorative type fence. By the time I got to putting up the fence, I found others were already using my boards.

Gypsy Moth caterpillar

2009-07-30T18:44:00.001-04:00

this poor dude was not looking well, out in the open, atop a stone wall in direct summer afternoon sunlight. After water was dribbled over him, and pictures taken, I set the little guy in some shaded, tall grass/weeds behind the wall.

Violet Tail Damselfly

2009-07-29T22:18:00.000-04:00

anyone up for a stare down?

Swamp Milkweed

2009-07-28T21:29:00.002-04:00

This is the third different title I've given this post. I think I have the plant correctly identified this time (thanks to help from my youngest sis).

Drone Fly

2009-07-27T00:44:00.000-04:00

prior to looking up this insect, I was completely unaware that there are different types of flies that mimic the appearance and flight patterns of bees, such as this guy. Interesting.

Nursery-web spider

2009-07-20T18:41:00.000-04:00

This spider only makes a web to serve as a home for the baby spiders from birth until they wander off on their own.

serenity

2009-07-19T21:25:00.000-04:00

I forgot how long it takes me to try to figure out exactly what kind of bud, bug, bee or tree I have photographed. So while I am spending time consulting various field guides, I can at least upload some recent scenery shots. It’s not hard to identify nice views.

meeting up with Summer

2009-07-12T19:48:00.002-04:00

Winter was supposed to be a time to catch up on indoor projects like identifying and posting pictures of lake inhabitants; however, winter dissappeared right along with spring and here I am a couple weeks into summer with dozens of new pictures waiting for their chance to be posted.

In this picture, I was trying to get a shot of the dragonfly that had landed on my oar. Not until I looked at the picture after it was taken did I notice a damselfy had flown into the picture as well.

winter scenes

2008-12-21T20:37:00.002-05:00

went to the lake to pick up some old photos that I want to eventually scan and include in this blog regarding the history of the lake. We just had a half foot of fresh snow.

where did fall go?

2008-11-23T19:49:00.003-05:00

this was taken a few short weeks ago lying in a row boat looking, basically straight up. with the currently, unseasonably cold weather (highs around freezing, lows in the teens), I am missing the fall weather.

English Yew

2008-10-19T22:24:00.005-04:00

While moving rocks around this weekend, I noticed a twig of needles on the ground. They were similar in appearance to the Eastern Hemlock I had identified last weekend, but, without doubt, different. I looked up to find the source of the needles and to my surprise saw these cool red "berries" all over. The seed is inside the red aril (no cones on this evergreen) and except for that red skin, all parts of the tree are poisonous to both human and animal. I tasted the aril and as the book says, it's kind of sweet (trusting soul aren't I?). This little find just fascinates me. We have two rows of 5 trees each of this particular evergreen. They are behind my sister's backyard and my mom has always referred to them as hemlocks.

They had to have been planted at some point as they are certainly not native and in fact, our area is colder than that where these trees are known to survive, but they've been there for a least 50 years. It's like I just got to know a long time neighbor.

Eastern Hemlock

2008-10-19T21:39:00.008-04:00

One success I did have in tree identification last weekend, was the Eastern or Canada Hemlock.

The inverted, row of needles on the twigs was very helpful. I like when nature provides an obvious, differentiating characteristic that even an amateur could notice :)

woodwork

2008-10-19T21:17:00.002-04:00

Sometime after its' creation, the lake became known as Beaver Lake. Here is some evidence of the appropriateness of the name. While, as a nature lover, I don't like the idea of intentionally killing animals, I have little problem knowing that beaver trappers are allowed on the property given the increase in the beaver population and the damage they've been doing to some beautiful trees.

Deptford Pink

2008-10-19T21:01:00.001-04:00

As I was attempting to identify some trees, I came across a few of these flowers hanging in there for just a little longer. Also known as Grass Pink. Deptford is a location in England where these flowers were abundantly found.

Half-bonded Toper

2008-10-19T20:31:00.002-04:00

Probably the last dragonfly sighting of the year. This type is known to fly until late October. I'm not 100% certain on this identification as my field guide says this kind of dragonfly has become scarce. Pollution is given as a possible reason for the scarcity. I got lucky as this guy landed on the back of a seat of a row boat a little after I had pulled the boat onto the shore. He nicely stayed right there while I walked back into the house to get my camera and came back. Perhaps he was just looking for a photo-op since he stayed on that seat back as I took numerous pictures from different angles trying to get a good view and in focus with my basic digital camera. A short few seconds after I decided I was done, he flew off. I'm glad he stopped by and introduced himself.

tree frustration

2008-10-19T17:20:00.003-04:00

with the bright, tree leave colors, I felt inspired to specifically identify some trees. Around our pond, I know we have evergreens of the spruce, fir, and hemlock varities. We also have plenty of non-evergreen varieties - maples, birches, elms. However, I've never attempted to differentiate between the types of maples or spruces, etc. So last weekend I took some pics and got out my guide. The next day, I took my guide with me and hiked around to the trees of which I had taken pictures. After pouring over pages of tree info, the only thing I definitively achieved was a headache. Ugh. Judging on mostly the leave appearance alone, I'm thinking we have at least three different types of maples, but with the foreign language that is tree anatomy, I'm not even sure what the guide is telling me about the different tree types. I think I'm gonna have to study up on the language over the winter and try some identification again in the spring.

fall masterpieces

2008-10-12T22:16:00.003-04:00

when the temperatures get cooler the colors get brighter

I love when the lake is still enough for reflection.

Plated Millipede

2008-10-05T22:58:00.005-04:00

Arthropods is a grouping of animals that includes insects, spiders, and millipedes (and other things), but millipedes are not an insect and therefore are not found in my insect and spiders field guide. One on-line source states there are 10,000 described species of millipedes, but I don't know a single one and hence can't begin to specify what species this is, but on-line sources also state millipedes have four kinds of body types - cylindrical, bristly, plated, and pill. This is definitely a plated variety. I'm just happy I was able to figure out it is a millipede.

Squash Bug

2008-10-05T22:34:00.001-04:00

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

2008-10-05T22:21:00.003-04:00

Yesterday I came across near a dozen different salamanders in different places as I was moving rocks around. This kind of salamander doesn't spend any time in water. The salamander pictured was found with a large number of egg clusters (pictured below), but it is way late for this salamander's eggs to be around and the eggs did not look like ones I've seen before, so I'm not sure what to make of the eggs. I'll have to go back and take a look in a week and see if the eggs have developed any.

Eastern Pondhawk

2008-09-25T23:25:00.005-04:00

- an adult male. I very much like dragonflies, but not sure I like this species as they prey on other dragonflies.

Hickory Tussock Moth

2008-09-25T22:17:00.002-04:00

those black whisker-like hairs can "sting" or cause skin irritation in some people so be careful :)

Musk mallow

2008-09-25T21:17:00.001-04:00

another delicate flower...

Short-winged Blister Beetle

2008-09-21T14:54:00.002-04:00

Though the picture doesn't show it too well, this guy is a cool metallic blue color. I attempted to take a couple pictures holding the beetle on my finger tips. Turns out it was a good thing I was wearing gloves as apparently this kind of beetle has leg joints that exude a type of liquid that causes blisters on skin. Yucky.

Cormorant sighting

2008-09-14T21:19:00.004-04:00

over the past couple weeks some of the regulars at the lake have repeatedly seen a lone bird swimming in the lake who periodically dives underneath for many seconds before resurfacing. Finally today I got a good chance to get a look at the dude. Using my binoculars, I patiently followed the back and forth swimming for 15 or so minutes, but couldn't get a decent look at anything below the neck as the bird stayed immersed. However, the bird eventually climbed out of the water and onto some driftwood and apparently decided to dry his wings. Thus, I was provided a wonderful view of the whole bird. Man I wish my binoculars could take pictures. After consulting the all knowing field guide (backed up with some internet searching), I'm saying I got my first look at a young, Double-crested Cormorant. Cool.

Junior

2008-09-14T20:56:00.001-04:00

Apparently our cat, Junior, has mastered the art of relaxing at the lake. She was out cold.

Moth Mullein

2008-09-08T20:57:00.004-04:00

these petals are the most delicate I've seen. They were nearly transparent when wet with rain. I love the purple haired filaments. The shape of bud is pretty cool too.

tropical storm hanna

2008-09-06T23:18:00.003-04:00

hanna brought a ton of rain throughout the majority of today, but towards sunset the clouds broke enough to provide rainbow conditions. light rain continued to fall as I took some pics.

not the blue heron or maybe...

2008-08-25T18:39:00.008-04:00

got in my boat yesterday, rowed to a "corner" of the lake a couple hundred feet from shore, anchored down, and began to relax, eating popcorn and drinking lemonade. While glancing at the shoreline, I noticed the bobbing head of what I thought was one of our Great Blue Herons. It was walking, stealth like, on the shoreline. It came out and stood on a large rock (the one on the right pictured below) and I couldn't get my camera out fast enough before it had moved back into the wooded area of shore and continued on. Dang it! That would have been a cool shot.

Periodically I would see the dude a little farther and farther up the shoreline. When I was done relaxing and was ready to head back in, I decided to row up the shoreline some and see if I could drift along quietly and perhaps get another chance at taking a picture. I did find the bird again, but he/she did not make getting a picture easy. When I was near, it partially hid behind a pine tree (with its rump sticking out), was close enough I could practically sneeze on the bird, but was hidden behind dead tree limbs, and did come into a clearing occasionally, but only when I was farther away and unable to get a good picture.

This pursuit continued for a half hour or so and then I got an incredibly, lucky break. While going after stuff to eat (I presume), something spooked the big bird (perhaps one of our water snakes?), it let out a squawk, jumped back, and flew out into the lake straight at me (now that would have been a cool picture). When the bird saw me, he made a hard right and landed on the nearest driftwood. Apparently my presence at that point wasn't nearly as spooky as the bird's most recent encounter and I was able to get the following pictures:

And my favorite:

I still haven't figured out which bird exactly this is other than to be fairly certain it is a heron. Blue Heron's are suppose to have dark legs. But whatever the dude is, he/she sure was fun to watch.

pond scum

2008-08-20T20:56:00.001-04:00

no this is not some impressionistic painting and no color editing has been done. This is exactly what was on top of the water around the edges of the lake about a week ago. Apparently the lake is "working". A day or two later after some wind and a bit of run-off there was no longer any sign of this icky looking film over the water. Thank goodness.

weekend getaway

2008-08-17T21:13:00.006-04:00

Went to the lake friday evening and didn't leave for the next 48 hours. Lots of critters and plant life seen and I'm thinking it will take me all winter to catch up with posting pics from here. A pair of Great Blue Herons were very active today. Someday I'll get a good shot of one. Someone had caught a 19" Pickerel and left it along the shore. While taking pictures an unidentified frog showed up on the scene.

Sunday flowers

2008-08-03T23:15:00.006-04:00

The weather was a bit windy and actually a bit chilly today so I didn't spend any time in a row boat. I decided to take a second look at a flower I saw last week, but was having trouble identifying. Of course, that particular flower was nowhere to be found today. But I then proceeded to take pictures of a number of other flowers for the next 30-45 minutes which resulted in at least another 3 hours of picture editing and flower identifying (much thanks to my sister who did a lot of the field guide searching). In the end, I had pics of Speedwell, Primrose, Touch-me-not, Heal-all, Black-eyed Susan, Wild Basil, Sorrel, Buttercup, Indian Tobacco, Chickweed, and the flower below that maybe is a Speedwell variety, but I can't find any similar pictures that have me convinced. Of the flowers of which I took pictures today, all were growing wild, within a 60 second walk of my sister's home, and all but the Touch-me-nots and the Black-eyed Susans have blossoms smaller than my pinky finger nail. Amazing what you miss, when you're not looking. In the future, however, I am only taking pictures of three to four different unknown flowers (or any other kind of life) at a time. This is suppose to be a hobby, not full-time work! Sheesh ;)

Primrose

2008-08-03T22:56:00.001-04:00

Perhaps a (dysfunctional) Showy Evening Primrose. Evening Primroses are suppose to open in the evening and close by noon. The ones growing on their own in my sister's backyard are open all day and close after sunset.

Common Buttercup

2008-08-03T21:00:00.002-04:00

Mouse-ear Chickweed

2008-08-03T20:54:00.001-04:00

Spotted Blue-eyed Grass

2008-08-03T20:35:00.002-04:00

took this photo over a week ago, before acquiring my field guides. Once I had a guide to consult, the only thing I could find with the requisite petals and the pointed tips was Blue-eyed Grass. However, the flower pictured didn't look terribly like this one. Quite by chance I came across a picture on the internet that is dead on with my pic and that picture was labeled Spotted Blue-eyed Grass. My field guide makes no mention of such a variety. ::shrug shoulders:: The flower does not grow out of the clover-like leaves as it appears to do so here.

Indian Tobacco

2008-08-03T20:33:00.001-04:00

Common Speedwell

2008-08-03T20:10:00.001-04:00