Reelfoot Lake and the land along the Mississippi levee are favorite places to go for bird-watching. While some birds live there year-round, others migrate in and out at various times of the year, so you never know what you’re going to see. Here are some which were spotted between January and April.
“Expect nothing. Live frugally on surprise.” ~Alice Walker
We often park across the road from this American Sycamore tree when visiting the lake. Over the years, I have gazed up at this grand tree and admired its beauty and stately manner. This made me want to learn more about the Sycamore.
The American Sycamore has many unique characteristics which set it apart from other trees. It is one of the tallest and most identifiable trees in our area. The thin bark of the Sycamore tree is grayish-brown. As this fast-growing tree expands, the bark sheds, exposing a patchy camouflage-colored layer beneath. The highest branches, with their wide canopy, are smooth and white and stand out strikingly against the blue sky.
The leaves of the Sycamore are serrated and flat and are made up of three to five lobes. They can grow to an impressive 4-10 inches in width.
The Sycamore is also known as the “buttonball” or “buttonwood” tree. It produces fruit which are about one inch in diameter, each of which hang from a single thin stem. When the balls ripen, they fall from the tree and break open, exposing seeds which are packed inside, along with a button-like woody core to which they are attached.
Some Sycamore trees live for hundreds of years due to the strength and durability of their trunk, which enables them to withstand harsh weather conditions. They are extremely adaptable to their environment. Their trunk, which can become hollow with age, has been known to provide shelter for wildlife and people alike.
Soak up the sun
Affirm life’s magic
Be graceful in the wind
Stand tall after a storm
Feel refreshed after it rains
Grow strong without notice
Be prepared for each season
Provide shelter to strangers
Hang tough through a cold spell
Emerge renewed at the first signs of spring
Stay deeply rooted while reaching for the sky
Be still long enough to
hear your own leaves rustling.
~Karen I. Shragg, Think Like a TreeSource | Warren Jacobs and Karen I. Shragg (editors), Tree Stories: a Collection of Extraordinary Encounters (Sunshine Press, 2002)
Turtles seem to be plentiful this year. Here are a few seen in May and June.
“Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.” ~William Shakespeare
Other than a gentle whir of wings, there is nothing to indicate that a flock of Double-crested Cormorants are quietly flying overhead. Shortly before sundown, they can be seen moving swiftly through the sky, perhaps heading for a nearby roosting sight.
While Double-crested Cormorants are interesting birds to watch,
their growing presence at Reelfoot Lake is having damaging and irreversible effects on the local habitat, including the Cypress trees, many of which have been around for hundreds of years.
These birds strip the bark off of the trees and, over time, their acidic droppings kill the trees and surrounding vegetation.
“A nuisance may be merely a right thing in the wrong place — like a pig in the parlor instead of the barnyard.” ~George Sutherland
Walking the trails and road in the wildlife refuge during the summer can be challenging due to heat, high humidity and a large number of mosquitoes which live there. It’s always nice when the weather cools down and the mosquitoes hibernate or die. Then, it is possible to walk at a slower pace and take the time to enjoy the sights.
“So you see, imagination needs moodling – long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering.” ~Brenda Ueland
While hiking a trail in the Reelfoot Wildlife Refuge, this Hermit Thrush caught my attention when it landed on the branch of a nearby tree. A winter visitor to our state, it spends a lot of its time foraging for insects under fallen leaves or searching for wild berries among the forest’s undergrowth.
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” ~Leo Tolstoy
It is common to see the great egret feeding along the edge of Reelfoot Lake, or in nearby seasonally flooded land, between March and October. Their beauty and stately manner continue to fascinate me. These photos were taken at various times over the past year.
“If you are always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in? ~Zig Ziglar
Taking advantage of the cooler fall temperatures and the delightful sunshine, we spent a peaceful afternoon on the lake at Reelfoot Wildlife Refuge. It was fun to hear the sounds of the crows and herons arguing, the screech of the eagles soaring overhead and the gentle sound of the wind blowing across the water.
“Be mindful of the peace and quiet. It is only when you keep silent that you allow the sounds of the forest to enter.” ~Unknown
The dragonflies seemed to know that the warm, sunny days are numbered and will soon be coming to an end. They were out enjoying the sunshine, patrolling their territory and, undoubtedly, taking advantage of the abundance of mosquitoes in the area. Occasionally they would rest on floating leaves or vegetation near the lake’s edge.
“Why are our days numbered and not, say, lettered?” ~Woody Allen
walking on a country road 