February 27th. We usually make two to three trips
to the Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge each year. Originally we went to look
for Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus borealis) and, although we’ve never managed to sight one
yet, the refuge is scenic and home to a number of wildflowers which reward us
for the effort of making the trips.
We usually enter from the GA-83 to the north via Starr Road
which becomes Barton Russell Road in Jones County.
The
area immediately north of the refuge is open pine forest. The trees still show
signs of a controlled burn made several years ago.
Our
first stop is at Pond 6A. The water is still brown from silt suspended by
recent rain.
The
road passing by Tribble Fields. At the south end of Tribble Fields, the road
rises through a cut.
Several
old trees on the west side of the cut host colonies of Resurrection Fern (Pleopeltis
polypodioides). The fern dries during dry periods and appears to be dead, but
then ‘resurrects’ when moisture is available.
Many
fronds show dimples associated with fruiting.
The
sporangia from which the spores are released are on the underside of the leaf.
Nearby,
I found a nice specimen of Old Man’s Beard (Usnea strigosa) lichen on a fallen
twig. The round discs are the fruiting bodies of this lichen.
Our
next stop is Pond 2A which means crossing Little Falling Creek. The water cascades
over a solid rock creed bed at the road crossing. In mid- to late summer, there
is often little or no water flow in the creek. On this trip, however, water is
flowing. And we could hear Southeastern (Upland) Chorus frogs (Pseudacris
feriarum) calling in small pools on the western bank on the south side of the
bridge.
Pond
2A was above full pool due to recent rains. Trees along the north shore were
showing damage due to a controlled burn in this area.
Water
was pouring from the overflow into Little Falling Creek.
A
new addition to the refuge; named road signs (some of which are now also on
Google Maps). We have always had to navigate according to the section numbers
in the refuge but now we have road names! Cut-Through Road takes us down to
Round Oak Juliette Road.
The
area on the east side of Cut-Through Road had been burned; the area on the west
side had not. The contrast is striking.
Little
Falling Creek has to be forded before we reach Round Oak Juliette Road. The
water level was higher than we’ve seen in a long time.
Signs
warn of the danger of flash floods.
The
water flow looked a little daunting but we know the bottom is lined with rocks
so…
in we go. It looks more dramatic than in actually is. The water level was only as
deep as the axle on the Ford Ranger.
We
drove down Round Oak Juliette Road and back into the refuge on Field Pasture
Road. After fording Allisons creek, it’s time to stop and look for Dimpled
Troutlilies on the ledge above the creek.
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