Today on the LBJ Grasslands we went looking for drowned vertebrates in the water troughs. Specifically for drowned bats. So I had read a paper that said bats sometimes drowned in water troughs out west. Well, this needed to be checked out. There were 8 troughs to be surveyed. Though we only did 6 today.
The first water trough used to be fed by the windmill. However no longer.
The water was clear with a lot of algae under the surface. We used rakes to scape the bottom.
The algae was thick!
Besides the algae, a lot of blackish muck came up as well.
And what we thought was a plant, I now believe it to be an algae called Muskgrass or Stonewort (Chara)!
A Yellowjacket (Vespula) had stopped for a drink.
One carabiner, large pieces of gravel, and a few sticks were also found in the trough.
Growing along side of the trough was Western Ironweed (Vernonia baldwinii). So the more exciting thing at the first water trough was the Long-tailed Skipper (Urbanus proteus)! I certainly didn’t realize at the time how long it had been since I had seen one. In fact 2013 was the last time. They stray northward especially in the late summer according to Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North American.
What an interesting project! I remember from an aquatic field trip from long ago that Chara is a desirable algae, and is an indicator of good water quality. It was a target species of good management for the field trip leaders.
Interesting. The Chara was thick and the water was clear. I read it would help with nitrogen fixing. Though Im not sure how much more nitrogen would be needed in a water trough. 😂
These particular resource managers were trying to clear excess nitrates and other runoff pollutants from a wetland in an agricultural area. So Chara was just the ticket!
A long tailed skipper. Wow!
What an interesting project! I remember from an aquatic field trip from long ago that Chara is a desirable algae, and is an indicator of good water quality. It was a target species of good management for the field trip leaders.
Interesting. The Chara was thick and the water was clear. I read it would help with nitrogen fixing. Though Im not sure how much more nitrogen would be needed in a water trough. 😂
These particular resource managers were trying to clear excess nitrates and other runoff pollutants from a wetland in an agricultural area. So Chara was just the ticket!
Nature is great if we would just let it take care of stuff. Thanks for sharing that!
The skipper almost looks like a hummer
Wow, a Long tailed Skipper. Nice find. I have seen pictures but never seen one.
Now that I had seen one this year, it’s your turn. 😉
You always find interesting things in places everybody else would bypass.
😊
The airplane glory is maybe like Gracie’s aura??
Yes I think you are right😉