More stops were on the schedule. So we continued on.
Next a short stop at Clear Lake at the fishing pier. At the east end of the lake, the snags in the water often draw in egrets and cormorants in the winter season. However none were there that day. And no duck hunters were seen either. If any duck hunters had been there, they would have been at the other end or across the lake. However we did see one shore bird. And yes it was on the shore. 😉 Also across the lake, a person was walking their dogs. And now we moved on to the next location.
Eureka! A Greek word meaning “I have found it! Well that is the name, Eureka Lake. However, I never have considered the lake lost. ;-). A deer hunter was parked at the gate. The guy did say the duck hunters had been there earlier and snagged one duck. We saw a few dragonflies and some turtles. In the summer Mississippi Kites and herons can often be seen hanging around.
At the dam, there are two directions to head on the horse trail. So one leads through the woods and the other to an open field. We choose this direction.
Jerry and Susan were carefully observing the little stuff. I love the little stuff! The horse trail runs just above Jerry (near the edge).
Looking in the opposite direction, the erosion had exposed the different layers of soils.
Indeed the gayfeather (Liatris) had gained a foothold.
Jerry stopped to photograph the Little Bluestem. Thanks Jerry.
In the grassier area a couple of Nodding Ladies-tresses (Spiranthes cernua) made a home. So the spring leaves had either died back or had been eaten. Both are a possibility. Now only the small leaves hugged the stem in the fall. Furthermore these orchids are hard to locate in the grasses. Certainly it is cool that we have orchids right here in North Texas. In fact we have four species in North Texas! There are three in the fall and one in the spring. Keep your eyes open for these beauties.
Erosion shows the large root of an Arkansas Yucca.
Is this still scouting for bluebird box locations?
Still scouting but not for bluebirds. So I don’t want to spill the beans about their project; I will let Jeanne or Jerry answer that.
That soil difference is striking. Beautiful.
The photos of the pale soil are wonderfully eerie like from another world.
And is their a bewilderment cookbook on your future?
Definitely no cookbook. I just thought the renaissance of Indigenous foods was interesting. 😉
I love seeing home in all your pictures!
(I’ve finally cleared my browser cache so I can catch up, but prob won’t comment back but I read them!!)
👍🏼