* On your registration, list your top three favorite choices. Register early for top choices.

Transcription

1 ODO-CON-17 FIELD TRIPS Important Notes: * On your registration, list your top three favorite choices. Register early for top choices. * Lists of all Odonata positively seen, photographed or collected by each participant should be forwarded with complete data to: Bob Glotzhober rcglotzhober@wowway.com or via mail at 3942 Millstone Road, Columbus, Ohio Reporting this is important both for the survey, but also as required by each managing agency for the field trip sites. * Collecting: At most sites, permission to capture/temporarily hold/photograph and release. No permanent collecting. The exceptions to this are the public Harpersfield Bridge site and the Rock Creek Rotary Park site, which are open to limited collecting. Dave McShaffrey

2 1 MORGAN SWAMP/GRCC - A 2 MORGAN SWAMP/GRCC - B (There will likely be two different groups, switching specific locations throughout the afternoon.) Location: At the GRCC, and adjacent areas. Short drive time to some portions of preserve. Description: This is a 1600 acre preserve with several different segments. Habitats include hardwood swamps, hemlock swamps, bogs, beaver ponds and vernal pools, the more "formal" Bliss Pond near the central campus area, and the State Scenic Grand River. Areas near the main campus easily accessible by trails (total trail distance 1.5 miles, but several areas require less distance). Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1 2 (both sites). Some walking, could be wading in river, no brushbusting. Field and pond edges at GRCC easy, open fields with tall grass and herbaceous growth. Grand River is a State Scenic River - easily wadable in spots if not high water. Wet hardwood and hemlock swamp forests somewhat more challenging. Grand River Conservation Campus Trails at Morgan Swamp Preserve: Bliss Pond Trail - an easy 0.2 mile trail with overlooks of the Grand River and the Conservation Campus. Grand River Trail - an easy 0.3 mile trail along the Grand River that connects with the Hemlock Swamp & Bliss Pond trails. Hemlock Swamp Trail - a moderate, 1-mile trail that starts from the Grand River Trail, winds through a unique hemlock yellow birch forest and overlooks a beaver pond. Long Pond Trail at Morgan Swamp Preserve: Length: 1.25 miles (0.25 miles trail from parking lot to observation deck, 1 mile primitive trail extension to and from observation deck). Difficulty: Parking lot to observation deck - Easy. Primitive trail extension - Moderate. Species Potential: Slaty Skimmer, Painted Skimmer, Racket-tailed Emerald, Harlequin Darner, Chalkfronted Corporal, Mocha Emerald, Slender Spreadwing, Eastern Pondhawk, Ashy Clubtail and many others. 2

3 3 RIVERVIEW PARK-HIDDEN VALLEY PARK Location: 4895 Bailey Rd, Madison Twp., Lake County. Distance from GRCC approx. 21 miles. Description: These two adjacent Lake County Metro Parks are on the State Scenic Grand River, and they also contain numerous created wetlands. If the river is too high, these wetlands and surrounding fields contain their own interesting species as well as occasional Clubtails from off the river. Knee high boots recommended. This area of the Grand River is well known for clubtail diversity. On June 22, 2015 nine species of Clubtails were found along this stretch of river. Clubtails on the Grand River follow a two-year cycle and on odd numbered years they have the larger hatches. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1-2. River wadable except in high water. Adjacent wetlands and fields. Species Potential: Gray Petaltail, Springtime Darner, Splendid Clubtail, Green-faced Clubtail, Rapids Clubtail, Midland Clubtail, Dragonhunter, Black-shouldered Spinylegs, Rusty Snaketails, Lancet Clubtail, Ashy Clubtail, Least Clubtail, Swift River Cruiser, Spatterdock Darner and occasionally Comet Darner. John Pogacnic 3

4 4 HOLDEN ARBORETUM INTRODUCTORY DRAGONFLIERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Location: 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio About 25 miles (40 Min.) from GRCC. Description: The arboretum includes 3,600 acres, including 14 natural area, such as Pierson Creek Valley, Bole Woods, Carver's Pond, Little Mountain and Stebbins' Gulch. Some are open to the public, while others are closed without a special permit or guide. Lots of interesting dragons & damsels in a beautiful and easy accessible area. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1. The introductory and photography group will remain within the public access areas of the arboretum where there are mowed lawns, fields and ponds. Species Potential: Lancet Clubtail, Unicorn Clubtail, Lilypad Clubtail, Ocellated Darner, Spatterdock Darner, Clamp-tipped Emerald, Dot-tailed Whiteface, (9 species Spreadwings), Northern Bluet, Boreal Bluet, Hagen's Bluet, Rainbow Bluet (total 12 sp. Bluets), Sedge Sprite, Eastern Red Damsel. May be outside of flight dates for some of these. 5 HOLDEN ARBORETUM ADVANCED/RARE SPECIES Location: 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, Ohio About 25 miles (40 Min.) from GRCC. Note: The trip enters rare and sensitive habitats, and will be limited to 10 people. If you select this, add a note with your registration explaining your reasons for participation. Description: See Trip 4 above. This sites visited for this trip Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 2-3. Some rigorous hiking, no regular access trails Species Potential: Lancet Clubtail, Unicorn Clubtail, Lilypad Clubtail, Pygmy Clubtail, Ocellated Darner, Spatterdock Darner, Clamp-tipped Emerald, Dot-tailed Whiteface, (9 species Spreadwings), Northern Bluet, Boreal Bluet, Hagen's Bluet, Rainbow Bluet (total 12 sp. Bluets), Sedge Sprite, Eastern Red Damsel. There are no "modern" records for Northern, Boreal, Rainbow, or Hagen Bluets - so sightings of these would be especially interesting. May be outside of flight dates for some of these. 4

5 6 GRAND RIVER TERRACES & ROCK CREEK ROTARY PARK Location: Village of Rock Creek, north on SR 45; then north to Schweitzer Rd & west minute drive. Description: Grand River Terraces is an 880-acre nature preserve of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in Morgan Township north of the Morgan Swamp Center. We would start at the corner of Tote and Schweitzer Roads. Habitats include a small pond, large wet meadow, river corridor and open fields where species hunt and rest as they age into fully mature individuals. The Grand River Terraces part of trip would involve walking on uneven terrain and proper footwear is recommended. The Rock Creek Rotary Park is on the east side of SR-45 just south of Rock Creek town center. This park is well known for its Rainbow Bluet populations. Participants should expect to get wet as they traverse the stream at this site. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 2 Species Potential: Dependent upon seasonal timing: Cyrano Darner, Green Darner, Midland Clubtail, Unicorn Clubtail, Arrow Clubtail, Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Painted Skimmer, Slaty Skimmer, Black Saddlebags, Amberwing Spreadwing, Rainbow Bluet, Stream Bluet, Sedge Sprite and other common species. 5

6 7 MCCOY FEN/PYMATUNING CREEK FEN Location: Eastern part of county, about 5-6 miles west of Pymatuning Reservoir. About 30-minute drive from GRCC. Description: McCoy State Nature Preserve is a Cleveland Museum of Natural History site. It is a 200+acre parcel in Wayne Township southeast of the Morgan Swamp Center. We would meet at the small parking area on Creek Road just south of Woodworth Road. The approximate GPS , Hiking into this wetland is not for the faint of heart. Habitats include wet fen meadows, shrub zones, deeper ponds/wetlands and creek corridors. The footing is can be challenging in the fen meadow, but the odonates are sometimes spectacular. Expect to get wet feet and bring much water. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 2-3 depending upon where you walk. There are no trails. Species Potential: Possible species include lots of Darners and Skimmers. It may be a bit early for Emeralds, including the Brush-tipped Emerald. Eastern Red Damsel, Swamp Spreadwing, Elegant Spreadwing, possibly Sweetflag Spreadwing and both local Sprites may be found. 6

7 8 HARPERSFIELD BRIDGE Location: South off of SR307 in NE corner of Ashtabula County. About 15 minutes from GRCC. Description: This is an Ashtabula Co. public park with good access for walking the river and visiting small islands in the river. The large parking area is at the south end of the bridge on Harpersfield Road. This is a shoreline walk or a stream scramble for folks and if the sun is out can provide numerous individual and species diversity. Especially prevalent here are the Clubtails and Dancers. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1-2. Possibly a 3 in deeper water. Generally easy walking, unless there are high flood waters, the river is shallow and easily wadable. Species Potential: Swamp and Springtime Darners, any of up to 10 species of Clubtail, Swift River Cruiser (possibly a bit early), American Rubyspot, six Dancer species, Double-striped Bluet, Stream Bluet, Familiar Bluet. Less likely: Gray Petaltail, Splendid Clubtail, Green-faced Clubtail (rare) and Stream Cruiser. 7

8 9 HADLOCK PRESERVE Location: Along the Ashtabula River, in Kingsville Township east of SR-46, about 30 minutes away from GRCC. The parking area is on Hadlock Road off Rockwell Road just north of the Dewey Road Covered Bridge. Description: The Hadlock is a 54 acre Cleveland Museum of Natural History preserve along the Ashtabula River. The habitats include the riverine corridor, channel ponds, shrub meadows and a small farm pond. Walking is along paths and shorelines, but one can adventure into shrubby wet meadows if so inclined. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1-2, but with some elevation changes getting down to the river. Species Potential: Swamp Darner, Illinois River Cruiser, Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Unicorn Clubtail, Dragonhunter, Eastern Least Clubtail, Painted Skimmer, Dusky & other Dancers. Less likely: Gray Petaltail. 8

9 10 BLAKESLEE BARROW & BAUM PRESERVE Location: Kingsville Township east of SR-193 along the beautiful Conneaut Creek. About a 35-minute drive from the GRCC. The parking area for Blakeslee/Barrows Preserve is on Old Kingsbury Road. Approximate GPS ( , ). Description: Both sites are preserves of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Habitats include the riverine corridor, floodplains, a small pond and woodland areas with seeps along the creek. Walking is mostly along rough paths and shorelines, but one can adventure into the streambed if proper water shoes are worn. Conditions: Degree of Difficulty = 1-3 depending on where you walk. Areas of deeper water are a 3. There is a bit of a walk from Blakeslee to Baum if there is time. Species Potential: The Conneaut Creek is a prime area for clubtails and cruisers and with luck we may find a few. Possible species include Swamp Darner, Eastern Least Clubtail (probably best Ashtabula County site), Ashy Clubtail, Lancet Clubtail, Black-shouldered Spinyleg, Swift River Cruiser, Jewelwings, Dancers and Bluets. 9