Special Places: Bass Lake

 Hello Everyone!

It has been a long time since I last posted a nature blog. I thought it would be fun to write another one sharing about one of my personal favorite places to explore. Before I do, I would like to honor a couple of people that had been a big part of my life and a big part of my love of nature and Bass Lake.

I want to dedicate this post in memory of my Dad, Mike Cecil whom passed away a few years ago. He was a big part of my life and encouraged me in my love of nature and was open to learning about and exploring it with me. We took a big trip to Big Bend National Park together and it was fun. We explored some nature trails too. I miss him. 

I also want to dedicate this post to my friend and former manager, Robert Eason. I worked under and with Robert at Bass Lake for 13 years. He loved that place and worked hard to maintain it and keep it nice. He cared about the wildlife there and often helped hurt animals. I am thankful I got to know Robert. 

Now, on to my special place!

Bass Lake Park in Holly Springs, NC is a great place to get out into nature to hike or fish or dabble in photography. During certain times of the year, you can rent a boat and go out onto the lake. There is a hiking trail that goes around the lake. Over the years I have enjoyed helping to maintain it and hike it. I have encountered some really cool wildlife! 

Mammals:

I have seen a variety of species of mammals. I have seen a few opossums, a few raccoons, white-tailed deer, a few beavers, and my personal favorite; river otters! Now, I haven't seen river otters that often, but I have a few times and every single time, it was exciting! Bass Lake is a great place for them to hangout. 

 

River Otters

River Otters

The river otters I often would see playing in the water or on one occasion, I observed an otter foraging for and capturing fish for food. 

The White-tailed deer, I saw out there all the time and still do see them when I go out there for a hike. Bass Lake is situated in a highly developed area, which is sad that they have left no forests at all in that town. Bass Lake is connected to a large track of farmland that is protected, for now anyway. I'm sure the town is hungry to develop it too. Anyway, the deer are pretty common. 

I want to make a point that it is important to preserve out natural resources and out wildlife. We need them. Bass Lake is a very special place that needs continued support and voices to advocate for it. 

I am getting off topic a little, so here are some of my interesting Reptile and Amphibian findings!

One of the things you will notice when you explore Bass Lake is that you will see a lot of turtles, at least on a bright, sunny and warm day you will. 

A group of Yellow-Bellied Sliders and River Cooters basking on a fallen tree. 

Juv. Yellow-bellied Slider

The lake offers some great opportunities to see and observe a variety of turtles out basking on fallen trees or even swimming in the water foraging for food. You never really know what you will run across out there! Which makes it fun and exciting for nature lovers. 

Other species I have run across out there include painted turtles, box turtles, musk turtles, mud turtles and quite a few snapping turtles. 

Eastern Musk Turtle 

Common Snapping Turtle

Pretty cool, huh? 

Next are the snakes! I know many reading this may not enjoy seeing snakes too much. Snakes are cool and play an important role in their ecosystems. They eat a variety smaller animals, including rodents which many people consider pests. They are also food to other and much larger animals too. 

Out at Bass Lake I primarily have seen northern water snakes. I would say they are the most common species of snake out there. I have also seen red-bellied water snakes, rough green snakes, rat snakes, black racers, eastern garter snakes, a couple of eastern ribbon snakes. I have also seen kingsnakes, brown snakes, ringneck snakes, and a few copperheads. Copperheads are some what common there at certain times of the day and year. They typically just want to be left alone but will defend themselves if stepped on or provoked. Give them some space. 

Eastern King Snake

Copperhead 

In regards to some basic safety while out on the trail it is important to be vigilant as you are in their ( the wildlife's) home. Watch your step, particularly at sunset. Have a flashlight on hand if you are on a trail at sunset or dark. Do not put your hands and feet in places you can't fully see such as tall grass. Do not pick up a snake that you are unable to identify.  

Red-bellied Watersnake

                                       

Northern Watersnake

Rough Green Snake

So, as you can see, there is a pretty cool diversity of snakes out at Bass Lake. As any other trail you hike, it is important to pay attention and remember that snakes are apart of nature. They want to be left alone as much as you do. 

As far as lizards go, there are anoles and five-lined skinks out there. I use to see Fence Lizards out there years ago on a pretty frequent basis, but I have sadly not seen one in years. Again, probably due to the habitat loss and houses being built up all around that space. It is sad. 

Southeastern Five-Lined or Five-Lined Skink

In regards to Arthropods, I really haven't taken a lot of time to identify a lot of the arthropods I have seen out at Bass Lake. There are lots of dragon and damsel flies, butterflies, moths, spiders, and other neat stuff. That is an aspect that needs more surveying. 

Dragonfly of some kind

Amphibian wise, I have run across some pretty cool stuff. The highlights for sure are an eastern spadefoot toad and a two-toed amphiuma, which is a species of salamander. I have also run across a few slimy salamanders but that is really it. I have managed to find spotted salamander egg masses on many occasions but still have yet to find an actual salamander. 

Eastern Spadefoot Toad

Two-toed Amphiuma

Earlier in the blog I briefly mentioned that you can fish at Bass Lake. I have really enjoyed it. I have caught some decent sized channel catfish as well as plenty of sunfish, some warmouth, shad, crappie, and a largemouth bass, although a small one.  

Channel Catfish 

Black Crappie

Largemouth Bass

Sunfish

Bass Lake is definitely a great place to go to be in nature.  

Beautiful sunset at Bass Lake. Please note that the floating dock is sadly no longer there. 

Birds are our final group of animals that I have taken quite a bit of interest in at Bass Lake and it has been neat. I have seen and continue to see quite a lot of bald eagles out there as well as osprey. Bass Lake is a great place for birding and nature photography. While as far as I know that the eagles and osprey have yet to build nests at Bass Lake, they do hunt for food there. 

Osprey

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

In addition to the eagles and ospreys, I have been pretty fortunate enough to observer quite a few number of barred owls; including some baby owls. One occasion, some park visitors reported seeing baby owls and so I went to check them out. One was in an owl box, another was on a tree. I believe it had tried to fly but did not succeed and so was climbing up a tree to get back to its home. The mama was there and would dive bomb if anyone got too close, so I stayed a fair distance back. It was a neat encounter. On another occasion, I saw two baby barred owls in a owl box. 

Baby Barred Owls

Adult Barred Owl

The bird diversity is stellar. During the winter months you see some neat birds that you typically would only see in the area in winter. Year around, you can find some neat birds. 

American Coot

Double-Crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-Crested Cormorants

Ruddy Duck

As I draw this blog to a close, I hope you are inspired to check out this park and enjoy it too! Or even go explore trails near you and be inspired to advocate for that trail. What land and trails that we have left needs to be protected. Nature is important. 

Enjoy some of these photos!

Bald Cypress

Eastern Rat Snake

Exploring The Outer Banks

Hello Friends!

I thought it would a good time for another blog. I thought it would cool to dive in and learn about the Outer Banks! It is a popular vacation and tourist place as well as a unique place for wildlife. I mostly will just share about my adventure there and hopefully you will learn something new. 

Photo by ME.

Now the outer banks is unique in not only in its history but what is is as well. In regards to history, the big historical events include the Lost Colony and the Wright Brothers Flight. I would encourage you to research these and other historical events from this region, it is interesting. I am not going into much depth than that for the historical part other than a neat quote I found about the wright brother's flight. "The biggest reasons the brothers chose Kitty Hawk, though, were steady winds and, believe it or not, the Outer Banks' proximity to Dayton." ( Dulaney, Todd. "Wright Proud." Our State Sep. 2014: 128-142.)

In regards to what the outer banks are, well they are barrier islands. What are barrier islands you ask? Well, according to Exploring Geology, authors Stephen J. Reynolds, Julia K. Johnson, Michael M. Kelly, Paul J. Morin, and Charles M. Carter writes: "Barrier Island- Offshore of many shorelines are low islands that act as barriers, partially protecting the coast from large waves and rough seas. Many barrier islands are barely above sea level and consist of loose sand, including sand dunes, and salt-water marshes." So, they are what the name says; Barrier Islands.


My adventures began one early morning at a large dune habitat. We hiked around and explored it for awhile. 

Photo by ME.

We found various animal tracks and signs and some various plants. We did find some critters too!

Below are some Toad tracks!

Photo by ME.

Some more animal tracks as well as various shrubs on the dunes we explored.

Photo by ME.

A rather active snail 

Photo by ME.

The next interesting habitat of the Outer Banks I got to explore, was a maritime forest called Nags Head Woods. A maritime forest is well a forest, that is inland from the ocean but close enough to it that they are "pruned by salt spray" (North Carolina Wildlife Viewing Guide by Charles E. Roe)  So, I am going to go a little more scientific here than usual, but bare with me.

According to The Nature Handbook: A Guide To Observing The Great Outdoors, author Ernest H. Williams writes: "Salt spray creates smooth contours on coastal trees, As the wind blows droplets of ocean water inland, the high salt concentration kills buds on the windward side of growing tips of the coastal vegetation, but buds on the leeward side are sheltered. As the first stems survive, they block the salt spray, allowing the next next stems and trees downwind to grow a little higher." He goes on write about how parts of the forest is shaped and it is called a sculptured forest.

Below is Nags Head Woods and an example of a maritime forest.

Photo by ME.

Below is a freshwater pond in the maritime forest, On the fallen tree is an Eastern Cottonmouth (a.k.a the water moccasin). So, there is life within the forest. 

Photo by ME.

Below is a Baby ( the term is"Neonate" in the herp community) Black Racer found in the forest.

Photo by ME.

Below is another Eastern Cottonmouth seen on the trip. This was at Nags Head Woods too.

Photo by ME.

So, it's a pretty neat habitat!

The next leg of the adventure in this workshop took me to a sound estuary to do some dip netting and such. Now, an estuary is "a river valley that has been flooded by the sea, allowing freshwater from the land to interact with salt water from the sea." (Exploring Geology)

Below is an estuary we dip netted in. Note: There were rangers from either Wildlife or Jockey Ridge State Park there that helped. Need permission of some kind to do this. Rangers are willing to work with and help out groups if anyone is interested in doing this. 

Photo by ME.

Below are some neat sea animals we captured and eventually released.

Some shrimp and a fish

Photo by ME.

Comb Jellies

Photo by ME.

A pig fish I believe and a pipefish

Photo by ME.

We also caught a needle fish, and some jellyfish among other things. It was neat!

Next we explored around a primary dune habitat which is pretty much the dunes on the beach, close to the ocean, so we explored the beach too.

Below is a beach we explored. Also there is a Sanderling ( bird).

Photo by ME.

I found a bunch of Skate cases. They are sometimes called Mermaid Purses. 

Photo by ME.

One of the leaders of the workshop captured this Ghost Crab. 

Photo by ME.

The next trek was a real treat! I got to go explore at Jockey Ridge State Park which is known for all of its dunes, which can be quite tall. In fact, one of the many unique things North Carolina is known for, nature wise is "the tallest sand dunes in eastern America, the highest of which is the 140 foot Jockey's Ridge dune found on the Outer Banks barrier islands." (North Carolina Wildlife Viewing Guide),

My group and myself mostly just hiked around and enjoyed the view. We saw a spectacular sunset and saw a snake track and even found a squirrel treefrog!

So here are photos, though they really do not do the dunes or sunset justice. Be sure to go to Jockey Ridge at some point, it is a must!

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Snake ( or perhaps a glass lizard) track in the sand.

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

I thought it would be cool to do a black-and-white photo.

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Stunning, isn't?

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Squirrel Treefrog

Photo by ME.

So, that was pretty awesome! I think Jockey Ridge is certainly one of my favorite places I have gotten to observe and enjoy nature at. Like, go if you get a chance!

Anyway, the next morning, we were up super early again and we went over to a beach that was across the street from Pea Island National Refuge. We hung out at the beach to watch the sunrise and to do some more beach exploration.

Photo by ME

Photo by ME.

Photo by ME.

Bird Track

Photo by ME.

Remains of a Horseshoe Crab

Photo by ME.

Our next stop was was at the Pea Island National Refuge itself. We hiked a good bit of the trail and did some birding and nature observation. The highlight finds were a American White Pelican, a Red-bellied Cooter, and a Caspian Tern. So, some cool finds!


At Pea Island National Refuge

Photo by ME.

The large, white object in the far back of the picture is the American White Pelican. We saw some Brown Pelicans too.

Photo by ME.

Red-bellied Cooter and I think a Yellow-bellied Slider.

Photo by ME.

So that was a neat place to explore.

Our final stop before the return to Raleigh, was to the Bodie Island Lighthouse.

Photo by ME.

There we hiked along a boardwalk over an estuary. There we saw a few blue crabs, an Osprey, and even a Common Snapping Turtle. That was cool!

Photo by ME.

Common Snapping Turtle

Photo by ME.

So anyway, that is my adventures of exploring the Outer Banks, So pretty much I stayed in the North Barrier Islands if you want to know where about I was, I would encourage you to get outdoors to explore, its good for you and its a lot of fun, you never quite know what you will encounter.

Feel free to ask any questions you may have!


I will leave you with this photo of a Monarch Butterfly that was found and captured. It was tagged as part of some kind of on going project that monitors where these butterflies go to.

Photo by ME.