A pair of Bald Eagles have fledged two young in a communications tower of some sort behind an industrial building across the street from the preserve.
The nest site, if I recall correctly, was formerly occupied by Ospreys.
Today when I was checking it out, an Osprey flew by, touching off vocalization by an adult perched near the nest.
I was told by someone who works nearby that this is not one of the nests that is monitored by the EagleWatch program.
A small piece of scrub north of the south tract's fence line has dramatically changed recently.
About 100 feet of fence has been heavily damaged as a result of the upturned scrub habitat that's in clear view toward the industrial plant on the other side of the rail spur that serves the property.
The owner is KSW LLC, a corporation registered in Tampa, but based in Michigan, according to public records.
The most obvious question , which will be up to regulatory officials to answer, is whether there was any attempt to monitor the site for Sand Skinks, a federally protected species. before work began.
This is based on surveys on the site that revealed their presence on our side of the former fence line.
Meanwhile, the lock on a nearby gate was cut. FWC officials have been notified.
I visited the planting areas today to see if any lupine seedlings had emerged yet.
I found a couple.
In addition, at least one of the plants protected by cages to prevent being devoured by bunnies--saw some scat nearby--appears large enough to bloom this year.
The cages also contained some dead plants and some plants that may not be ready to bloom until next year
I also picked up some trash, including another golf ball, one of the most perplexing pieces of litter I fnd here.
After a few years' apparent absence, Indian Pipes are emerging again in the pinewoods in the southern tract, which is where I have encountered them more often.
It seems they are just beginning to emerge and I will have to return to see how widespread they are this time.
Several years ago this plant was rife. Perhaps there will be a recurrence.
It has been never clear why there has been so little wild hog activity at the preserve.
This is not a complaint, just an observation.
It may be that the property is surrounded by so many residents and their barking dogs, which may be a deterrent.
The site also appears to be visited by coyotes, so that may take care of the problem.
I have not found any evidence of rooting. All I've seen are tracks.
ADDENDUM: Spoke with a neighboring property owner and learned the tracks belong to some Pot-bellied Pigs that someone released recently.
I peeked into the small bayhead in one corner of the preserve to see whether the Habenaria floribunda were coming up. They were..
However, when I turned around to look at the fence line I spotted what I hope is only the beginning of a Lydodium infestation. I have plans to go back with some bags to see if I can collect it before it takes over.
This is the first time I've seen this pest plant here, though a couple of years ago I did observe a Lygodium Defoliator Moth at my light in another section of the preserve and was wondering how far it had flown from its host plant.
The colors in the preserve this year are stunning. Although most of the Liatris has gone to seed, the Balduina, Carphephorous and Blue Curls are rife in places as is the Lopsided Indian Grass. The Scrub Blazing Star has declined, but is doing well in one remaining isolated patch. Mechanical management apparently took a toll on the other populations here. I also found a striking metallic wood-boring beetle.
