2016 Midwest Roadtrip - Part III

After staying the night in St. Louis we were in Normal, Illinois for the 24th North American Prairie Conference.  Over the course of 3 days I enjoyed numerous talks and workshops which vary in topics from prairie management (lessons learned), insects, birds, art, soils, restoration, poster presentations, etc. 

Typically the conference will host a selection of field trips on one of the days.  I chose to attend the Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve which is located near Bath, Illinois in Mason County.  Mason County is known for it's sandy glacial outwash soils which have in turn facilitated some interesting prairie-savannah-woodland communities and the wildlife which prefer/depend on them.

The dry prairie is dominated by Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), Virginia Goat's Rue (Tephrosia virginiana) and Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa).  This assemblage alone makes the site really quite interesting, but there was lots more to be found.  Notable wildlife at the site (which weren't seen/heard) include nesting Lark Sparrow, Barn Owl, American Badger, Pocket Gophers and Western Hognosed Snake.

Stepping off the bus I was greeted by Purple Poppy Mallow (Callirhoe involucrata) growing in the ditch.

Also in the ditch, Dayflower (Commelina erecta) or Asiatic Dayflower (C. communis) - not sure which one this was.

Starry Campion (Silene stellata) is aptly named with is frilly petals.

I was excited to see Illinois Tick-trefoil (Desmodium illinoense) which was once known from a prairie remnant in Komoka here in Ontario, but o longer occurs in the province.

Prickly Pear Cactus (Optunia humifusa).  My ankles would later burn with the microscopic red prickles and the soles of my hiking boots were chock full of the larger white prickles.  This species has beautiful yellow-orange flowers which last for a few days before withering away.

I spotted a few Monarch caterpillars, most feeding on the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).  Sand Milkweed (A. amplexicaulis), Butterfly Milkweed (A. tuberosa) and Whorled Milkweed (A. verticillata) are also present on site.

A Hairstreak, Edwards, Coral, Striped and Banded are known from the site.

Blowout areas where sand has become mobile and eroded out support their own unique species including Three-awn Grass (Aristida spp.), Mohlenbrock's Sedge (Cyperus grayoides) and.Sand Reed Grass (Calamovilfa longifolia) - pictured below. 

The sand blowouts seemed to be preferred habitat for Six-lined Racerunner, a lizard, which I was barely able to capture in the photo below.

I found a large snakeskin, maybe 1.2m in length, which I was told would belong to either a Prairie Kingsnake or Bullsnake.

 

Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha)

Blackjack Oak (Quercus marilandica) was a lifer tree.  The wooded areas also contained Mockernut Hickory (Carya tomentosa) and Black Hickory (Carya texana).

Rough Blazingstar (Liatris aspera), not quite in bloom.

Horsemint (Monarda punctata) is a paler, shorter, sand-loving version of Wild Bergamot (M. fistulosa).  This species can be found in sandy areas in the Carolinian Zone of Ontario, especially the Long Point/St. Williams area.

This strange-looking plant is Large Cottonweed (Froelichia floridana).  This annual prefers disturbed sandy areas.  As it turns out, this brutally dry prairie had a history of agriculture and the prairie we see today has regenerated naturally from a history of grazing and cultivation.

In the heat of mid-day Regal Fritillary butterflies take refuge in the shade of the scrubby trees and shrubs.  It was quite difficult to get anywhere near one although they constantly zipped past as we walked about the site.

 

Katydid

Golden Aster (Heterotheca camporum)

Next stop, Missouri!