Wabash River flood, high water marks of April 20, 2013

 This is the Wabash River at Williamsburg Pond the morning of April 21, 2013.  The river crested at about 25. 6 ft. in the evening of April 20 and here is receding.  The line of debris marks the high water point

Link to Wabash River levels:

High water mark visible on the lower beam of the wooden fence.  At its peak the river water reached just to the seat of the park bench.

The Wabash River gauge at Brown St. overlook, morning of April 21

 The Brown St. overlook and gauging station, looking from the Lafayette side of the Wabash, morning of April 21.

Trailhead at McAllister Park, Lafayette, very near N. 9th St.  Line in the parking lot marks the extent of the river flooding the night before, here the floodwaters are receding.  Afternoon of April 21, 2013.  Another foot higher and 9th St. would have been underwater. 

Wabash River floodwaters, evening of April 21, 2013, view of State Road 26 bridges from Tapawingo Park, West Lafayette.  The current at the middle of the channel is rapid enough to be clearly audible from the bank here.

Stellaria pubera

Stellaria pubera.  In woods in Lawrence County.  April 20, 2013.

Link to Stellaria pubera:

Link to Stellaria pubera:

Link to Stellaria pubera:

Link to Stellaria pubera:

If you get a chance look at any kind of Stellaria seeds under a magnifying glass, they have a distinctive look:

 http://extension.missouri.edu/p/IPM1023-17

Collinsia verna

Collinsia verna. A nice display, and by far the largest population I've ever seen.  This plant is an indicator of a high quality woodland.  Some call it Blue-eyed Mary.  Lawrence County, April 20, 2013.

Link to Collinsia verna:

Link to Collinsia verna:

Link to Collinsia verna:

Morchella

Morel mushrooms. In Lawrence County, April 20, 2013.   Morchella esculentoides. Or they could be cryptic.

Link to Morchella:

Link to Morchella:

Link to previous post on Morchella:

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Caulophyllum thalictroides, woods in Lawrence County, April 20, 2013.

Link to Caulophyllum thalictriodes:

Link to Caulophyllum thalictriodes:

Link to Caulophyllum thalictriodes:

Mertensia

A hillside of Mertensia virginica, Virginia bluebells.  In Lawrence County, April 20, 2013.

Link to 2011 post on Mertensia:


Link to 2009 post on Mertensia:

Link to 2008 post on Mertensia:

Wabash River April 20, 2013: approaching flood crest

The Wabash River on the morning of April 20, 2013.  This was higher than I have ever seen it.  Here the intersection of Catherwood Ave. with North River Road.  Mascouten Park is completely under water.

Here a great blue heron (Ardia herodia) is perched on the railing of the trail that goes by Williamsburg Pond.

 View of the gaging station at Brown St. at West Lafayette, downtown Lafayette is across the river.

The river level at the gaging station.  Link to Wabash River levels at Lafayette:

 View looking downstream from the pedestrian bridge.

View looking upstream from the pedestrian bridge.  All pictures taken between 8 and 8:30 am April 20, 2013.  At this point the river is still rising but nearing the crest. 

Painted turtle

 This painted turtle (Chrysomyxa picta marginata) was crossing the trail at Celery Bog Park. 

Previous post on Chrysomyxa picta marginata:

Previous post on Chrysomyxa picta marginata:

A look at the plastron.  This subspecies of painted turtle characteristically has a darker blotch along the central axis. 

Pictures taken April 7, 2013.

A painted turtle plastron:


Previous post on painted turtle:

Spring beauty

Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) in the woods at Cumberland Park, West Lafayette.

Picture taken April 7, 2013.  This is the first day spring beauty was blooming in the park, it wasn't blooming here the day before.

Link to Claytonia virginica:

Link to Claytonia virginica:

Link to Claytonia virginica:

Mallard ducks eating a dead fish

I didn't know that mallard ducks would eat dead fish but here they are trying to eat one floating in Williamsburg Pond.  There were a couple dozen seagulls close by and one was trying to snatch the fish away from the ducks.  Didn't see any bald eagles this time although they often roost in the trees here.

Picture taken April 6, 2013. 

Link to previous post on mallard ducks:

Harbinger of Spring

Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa) flowering at Cumberland Park woods (Michaud-Sinninger Nature Preserve) in West Lafayette.  Picture taken April 6, 2013.  The spring beauty was not yet flowering in the park. 

Link to previous photo of this plant in Cumberland Park:

http://lafayettereport.blogspot.com/2011/03/erigenia-bulbosa.html

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

A mourning cloak butterfly (Nymphalis antiopa).  This is at Wing Haven Nature Preserve, in Steuben County, March 31, 2013.  Near the old log cabin/art studio.  It was still too early for spring wildflowers here, but the mourning cloak served as another sign of spring.  Apparently the mourning cloak butterfly can survive the winter as an adult and become active in the late winter/early spring to feed on tree sap. 

http://www.sierrapotomac.org/W_Needham/MourningCloak_060319.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourning_cloak

http://www.acreslandtrust.org/winghaven

Turkey vultures roosting

Fourteen turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) roosting in a tree.  Picture taken March 3, 2013, west of West Lafayette.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_Vulture