COROLLA NORTH CAROLINA TRIP - 7TH DAY - 9-7-17 - PINE ISLAND AUDUBON NATURE TRAIL

Corolla, North Carolina Trip 

Seventh Day

Wednesday, September 7th, 2017
Pine Island Audubon Nature Trail



It is 12.14 p.m. and Gregg and I are walking along the Pine Island Audubon Nature Trail.  We come to a gate but it is closed.  We go down the road that is open to the left of the gate, and we come to a large building, which is the Pine Island Raquet Club and Fitness Center.  A little further on we find the trail.  It is lovely and quiet (I am recording today's journal to my note app on my phone while walking along.  It is easier remembering a few basics rather than wait until the end of the day, and then the photos jog my memory for the rest).

We encountered only one jogger as we began our walk, and he was heading  towards the gate we just came through. There was no one else, just us and the trail of butterflies.  I have never seen so many along the path.  There are a few wildflowers but I would not have thought there were enough for the many I see.  It is a butterfly rush-hour.   Very hard to get a decent photo because they are always on the move, fluttering over our heads, past our faces.  

But one or two settled for a while, not for long but it was enough to get a memory.

"Happiness - a butterfly, which when pursued, seems always just beyond your grasp, but if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you."

~A Chapter of Definitions~
Daily Cresent, June 23rd, 1848

One perched on my hat and stayed long enough for Gregg to take a photo.  It only moved when I continued walking.  

All different types and maybe some might actually be moths. I didn't recognize them.  

The trail is a little muddy in parts, it rained the night before.  I shouldn't have worn sandals.  My walking shoes are in the boot of the car.  I must remember to wear my walking shoes next time. Sandals are not good for this. I keep collecting tiny pebbles and my toes have been jabbed with small branches. I stopped a few times to jiggle my shoes free of these annoyances. Gregg was much more sensible with his footwear.

I have lost Gregg around the bend.  We go at our own pace and I have been fascinated by what I see and stop to take photos.  He is taking his own.  



We eventually catch up with each other.  At the end of the trail was a platform overlooking the Sound.

Gregg arrived first and he saw a Great Blue Heron, but on his approach it flew away.  He came back and yelled down to tell me he had found the water, and where he would be.  I was still taking photos of those wildflowers.

As far as I can tell from looking online, these are Leafy Elephants Foot Carolina Tobaccoweed, also called Devil's Grandmother!  Where do these names come from?  It belongs to the Aster family.  You can look here to see if you agree with me.  I would love to get a correct ID.

Below is Meadow Beauty.  On my online search I found this page.

We stayed for almost an hour on the platform.  It was very pleasant and peaceful.  There weren't any birds to see but I think the more experienced might know the best time of the year to view migrating birds.  It didn't detract from our enjoyment.  



There were two levels to the platform.  We were sitting at the top where there was seating.  One level down it was for the birder to stand behind cover, an open 'blind'.  There were slats on hinges which could be lifted for binoculars or camera lenses.

And the views were outstanding.

I could have stayed there for another hour but it was time to get moving.  This was the sign on the platform and I am adding it for the birders out there.

On our way back, not more than a hop, skip and a jump from the platform, pardon the pun, Gregg spotted a rabbit, bigger than the small cottontails I normally see.  On looking at its photo on my laptop later, I was surprised to see he had very small ears compared to other rabbits.  

He was a cute one!

Gregg took several photos before he scampered away.  

I took one of his footprint in the mud with my cell phone.  

(Those short ears intrigued me so I did a google search and found this.  Our little friend was a Short-eared Marsh Rabbit.  As you read down the page at the link, you will see that when alarmed, these marsh rabbits leap into the water.  It is said they can outswim a large dog.  They have been seen to swim strongly 700 yards from shore.  

They can also elude predators by floating motionless among water plants, ears tucked down, with only noses and faces above the water.  They will stay like that until the threat has gone away.  Or if they are seen they will swim away as fast as they can which, if they can outswim a dog, must be pretty fast.  Such a neat little guy, one we were both happy to come across.

We are making our way back to the car now and still walking the trail.  Gregg spotted something on the ground.  When I looked closely, it was a tiny turtle and it looked like a newborn, a hatchling.  It had a fine coating of sand all over it, so I don't think it had been out of the nest for very long.

It is a baby snapping turtle.  

Took our photos and left it in peace, to continue its journey to wherever.  A couple of paces along there was another tiny turtle. Took photos of that little darling and also left it in peace.  

We didn't see any more but now I am walking along looking at the ground, wondering if any more will be on the trail, but this was the only spot we found them.  

If you want to take a look at what they are like fully grown, you can go here.  If you ever decide to help one out, say if you saw one crossing a road, it is important to know how to pick them up, as mishandling can cause irreparable harm.  You might not want them to harm you either as they have a powerful bite. The following YouTube video will show you how. 

If the video doesn't open up for you, you can watch it here.  One last look at our turtle who has a very important message.

unless you are trying to outrun a predator that is!

The only other thing we found on the ground was this, and I gave him a wide berth.  He is a Bald-faced hornet.

One last look at the trail and we head to our car.

5.40 p.m. We have been home for a little while.  Our son and daughter-in-law called, and so did my niece in Germany.  Lovely catching up with them, as always.

6.10 p.m. Gregg and my brother-in-law left to pick up pizzas and a salad for dinner tonight.  We spent another pleasant evening with the family.