{"id":2515,"date":"2012-11-19T23:08:11","date_gmt":"2012-11-20T04:08:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/?p=2515"},"modified":"2012-11-19T23:11:17","modified_gmt":"2012-11-20T04:11:17","slug":"a-year-in-pictures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glenprovidencepark.org\/2012\/11\/19\/a-year-in-pictures\/","title":{"rendered":"A Year in Pictures"},"content":{"rendered":"

For one year, we kept a monthly photojournal of Glen Providence Park<\/strong>– walking through the park a few times a week looking for wildlife and changing plantlife.\u00a0 We regularly posted photographs on facebook<\/a>,<\/strong> and compiled them here in our photojournal.\u00a0 We wanted to document what is in Glen Providence Park, and share all these discoveries with others!<\/p>\n

It was a wonderful way to observe and learn about the park’s array of plants, fungi and wildlife.<\/strong> Having completed a year, we will transition to a more manageable seasonal photojournal. Here’s an overview of what we observed, with links to each month’s photojournal!<\/p>\n

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A Year in Pictures: August 2011 – July 2012<\/h3>\n

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August – Turtles on fallen Oak after Hurricane Irene<\/p><\/div>\n

Our photo-exploration started out in August<\/a><\/strong> with an abundance of wildlife- with frogs, snakes,<\/strong>\u00a0and so many turtles!<\/strong>\u00a0 A\u00a0Green Heron\u00a0<\/strong>was frequently seen fishing at the pond. \u00a0Hurricane Irene’s damage<\/strong> changed the landscape, including felling a large oak, which was enjoyed by the resident turtle colony until the tree was removed!<\/p>\n

In September<\/a><\/strong> we discovered the Common Muskrat<\/strong> living in the pond, and so many fungi throughout the park! We spotted the lovely Wood Thrush<\/strong> before it left for the winter, and a pair of Great Blue Heron<\/strong> visited the pond.<\/p>\n

Of course the foliage in October<\/a><\/strong> was spectacular, and there were so many bird species<\/strong>, it prompted us to document all of our sightings (and historical sightings) on eBird… creating a\u00a0Park Bird List<\/a>!<\/p>\n

I discovered that November<\/a><\/strong> is possibly my favorite month in the park, with the more muted beauty of late fall foliage, and the structure of the trees and landscape visible.\u00a0 I was startled by a Sharp-shinned Hawk<\/strong>, and snapped my first White-tailed Deer<\/strong> photograph in the park.\u00a0 The blooming American Witch Hazel<\/strong> and a positively luminous dragonfly<\/strong> added to the enchantment!<\/p>\n

With all the leaves down in December<\/a><\/strong>, we discovered more old structures in the park, including an original drinking well with a hand pump. \u00a0Variations of fog and ice<\/strong> gave the park a new look with every visit.<\/p>\n

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Red Fox & Ostrich Fern<\/p><\/div>\n

January<\/a><\/strong> was magical with an encounter with a Red Fox<\/strong>, and I learned to pay attention to American Crows<\/strong>: their raucous calls led me to a magnificent Great Horned Owl<\/strong> they were pestering, and I watched them chase a Red-tailed Hawk<\/strong>. We learned how remarkable the park’s abundant Skunk Cabbage<\/strong><\/a> is as it melted its way through the frozen ground.<\/p>\n

February<\/a><\/strong> brought a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers<\/strong>, the tiny flowers of the Skunk Cabbage<\/strong>, and early buds on trees including the\u00a0Silver Maple<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In March<\/a><\/strong>, the pond exploded with sound on first day of spring, as the comical American Toads<\/strong> started their startlingly loud mating call. \u00a0And with the warming weather the snakes and turtles emerged<\/strong>, along with the lovely ephemeral Bloodroot!<\/strong><\/p>\n

April<\/a><\/strong> was magnificent with so many flowering trees<\/strong>, and the ever-entertaining Common Muskrat<\/strong> re-emerged at the pond.\u00a0 And there were oodles of American Toad tadpoles!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right on cue on the first of May<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0we heard the ethereal song of the Wood Thrush<\/strong><\/a>, returned from wintering in Central America- and later that month we saw it on its nest! Glen Providence Park was in bloom with elegant Waterlilies<\/strong>\u00a0in the pond, Mountain Laurel<\/strong> on the eastern hill, and\u00a0Jack in the Pulpit <\/strong>in the woods.<\/p>\n

June<\/a><\/strong> brought gorgeous iridescent damselflies, dragonflies,<\/strong> and more muskrat antics<\/strong>. \u00a0The abundance of birds included a striking Scarlet Tanager<\/strong>, an especially blue Great Blue Heron<\/strong>, an endearing juvenile\u00a0Eastern Phoebe<\/strong>, and a Canada Goose family<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In July<\/a><\/strong> we wound up our monthly photojournals with butterflies<\/strong>, fungi<\/strong>, a pair of White-tailed Deer<\/strong>, a Green Frog<\/strong>\u00a0by the pond’s island, and a Skipper<\/strong> on the Echinacea in bloom<\/strong> from our Earth Day Plantings<\/a>!<\/p>\n

There is a photo for each month below, and you can click on any month above to see all of its photographs.\u00a0 Enjoy the park- you just never know what you will see!<\/p>\n\n\t\t