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Big Southeastern Trip 2011

One of out longest trips due to the fact that Juanita was able to travel with us. We traveled through Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida. We were returning to some areas we had been before, but this time we were trying to see what kinds of dragonflies and damselflies we could find plus whatever else we could find to photograph.

May 23 - We left early (7:30 am). Stopped at Tyler State Park for the night.

Camp Ground site. Relaxing before dark.

River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna)

Orange Bluet (Enallagma signatum)

May 24 - Continued from there to Caddo Pond in Montgomery County, Arkansas. From there we went to Catherine State Park near Hot Springs, Arkansas to spend the night. I searched around the park after dark photographing calling frogs.

Arrow Spiketail, Caddo Pond

Pronghorn Clubtail, Caddo Pond

Ozark Clubtail, Caddo Pond. female

Spangled Skimmer, Caddo Pond

Double-ringed Pennant, Caddo Pond

American Toad, Lake Catherine

Gray Tree Frog, Lake Catherine

May 25 - We visited Juanita's sister-in-law in Benton Arkansas near Little Rock. After out visit we headed for Henry Horton State Park on the Duck River in central Tennessee. Got there late.

May 26 - Spent the whole day searching for odes plus anything I could photograph around the park.

Eastern Fence Lizard, Henry Horton State Park

Common Map Turtle, Henry Horton State Park, Duck River

Appalachian Jewelwing

Blue-tipped Dancer

Swamp Darner

Handsome Clubtail

Splendid Clubtail

Rapids Cubtail

May 27 - We left the park early and headed for Blue Heron Camp Ground in eastern Kentucky. On the way we stopped at the Stones River near Rutherford County, Tennessee. Arrived at Blue Heron at 9:00 pm.

Stones River parking area.

Stones River

Northern Water Snake, Stones River

Tennessee Clubtail, Stones River

Blue Heron Camp Ground

May 28 - We spent the day at Blue Heron Camp Ground, eastern Kentucky in McCreary County.

American Toad

Green Salamander

Northern Dusky Salamander

Welter's Dusky Salamander

Worm Snake

Aurora Damsel

Common Baskettail

May 29 - We went to church in Whitley, Kentucky. Small group. Headed down to the old mining town of Blue Heron on the river. Afterward we headed back to Blue Heron Camp Ground for the night.

May 30 - Up early to head for Bear Tree Recreation Area, Washington and Smyth Counties in southwestern Virginia.

Ringneck Snake

Blue Ridge Dusky Salamander

May 31 - We spent the day in and near the camp ground. We walked up some trails looking for salamanders and then down to the old beaver ponds which were dry but the area was still marshy.

Seal Salamander

Eastern Red-backed Salamander

Northern Gray-Cheeked Salamander

Yonahlossee Salamander

Pickeral Frog

American Toad

Northern Water Snake

Twin-spotted Spiketail

Brown Spiketail

Painted Skimmer

June 1 - We went down to Bear Tree Lake, Backbone Rock picnic area, and then up to Whitetop Mountain. Met some college students doing field work on salamanders. We then went back to Bear Tree Camp Ground to spend the night.

Ashy Clubtail, Bear Creek Lake

Brown Spiketail female, Bear Creek Lake

Brown Spiketail, Bear Creek Lake

Black Ratsnake, Backbone Rock picnic area, Johnson County, Tennessee

Weller's Salamander, Whitetop Mountain

June 2 - Up early to head for Mooresville, North Carolina. Diana and Juanita wanted to check on some geneology at the local library but the person to see was not available. On the way there we stopped briefly at a city park, Ralph Stout Park, near Mountain City, Johnson County, Tennessee. We ended up camping at national forest camp ground on Lake Powhatan in southwestern North Carolina.

Overlook of the South Fork of the Cumberland River

June 3 - I spent most of the morning looking for odes and other things to photograph around Lake Powhatan. From there we headed to the Pigeon River in Northeastern Tennessee to visit with Robert and let him take us on a rafting trip. Camped at Fox Fire Camp Ground.

Kid fishing day on Lake Powhatan

American Toad

Five-lined Skink

Swamp Spreadwing

Southern Sprite

Sphagnum Sprite

Gray Petaltail

Lance Clubtail

Dragonhunter

Calico Pennant

Spangled Skimmer

June 4 - Robert took us rafting down the Pigeon River from 12:30 to 3:00 pm. Very interesting trip. Thanks Robert for a good time.

Diana and I rafting down the Pigeon River in eastern Tennessee.

Juanita relaxing at the Fox Fire camp ground after our rafting trip.

June 5 - Said bye to Robert and headed for southeastern Tennessee. We went to church in Maryville, Tennessee. Walmart and lunch in Madisonville and then stopped at a National Forest camp ground called Indian Boundry Recreation Area. It rained and then afterwards I searched for amphibians.

Long-tailed Salamander

Spring Peeper

June 6 - We spent the day at Indian Boundry searching for things to photograph. A pretty good list of herps and odes.

Indian Boundry lake dam.

Blue-fronted Dancer

Variable Dancer

Sable Clubtail

Calico Pennant

Spangled Skimmer

A stream near Indian Boundry Recreation Area.

Northern Dusky Salamander

Black-bellied Salamander

June 7 - A travel day. Our first stop was at the Tellico River overlook and then along the river with a couple of stops. It was very difficult to move in the river. Lots of current. Got to the town of Tellico Plains and ate lunch and then headed for Chilhowee Camp Ground in southeastern Tennessee.

First pass of the Tellico River

Appalachian Jewelwing, Tellico River

Powered Dancer, Tellico River

Dragonhunter, Tellico River

Diana, Chilhowee

Vesper Bluet, Chilhowee

Gray Petaltail, Chilhowee

Lancet Clubtail, Chilhowee

Sable Clubtail, Chilhowee

Slaty Skimmer, Chilhowee

Red-spotted Newt, Chilhowee

Five-lined Skink, Chilhowee

June 8 - Troy, Marla, Cheyenne showed up after noon. We searched around the campground and lake. I also checked out Benton Falls.

Trail to Benton Falls in Chilhowee Recreation Area.

Benton Falls in Chilhowee Recreation Area.

Northern Copperhead

Banded Hairstreak

Edward's Hairstreak

Appalachian Brown

Asilus Robberfly

Eastern Least Clubtail female

June 9- Troy and I headed down to the Conasauga River (Tennessee) and Jacks River (Georgia).

Loggerhead Musk Turtle

Northern Water Snake

Appalachian Jewelwing

Black-shouldered Spinylegs

Rapids Clubtail

Edmund's Snaketail

Common Sanddragon

Stream Cruiser

June 10 - Troy and I went to the Tellico River area. We stopped at several spots along the river. We were looking mostly for dragonflies and damselflies.

Water fall on upper Tellico River.

Troy photographing damselflies on the rocks in the Tellico River.

Appalachian Jewelwing

Appalachian Jewelwing female

Sparkling Jewelwing

Ebony Jewelwing female

Eastern Least Clubtail, small tributary of the Tellico River.

June 11 - Troy and I went to Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, Georgia to look for salamanders. We searched the entrance and first room of Petty John Cave. Next we went to a water fall area. No water but was still moist between cracks and big boulders. Before leaving the area, we checked out a stream on the north end of the area called Duck Creek. On the way back to camp, we stopped at Wolfever Creek Walk Way in Ootalwah, Tennessee.

Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area, Georgia.

Long-tailed Salamander

Cave Salamander

Slimy Salamander

Pigeon Mountain Salamander

Eastern Fence Lizard

Cherokee Clubtail

Mocha Emerald

Arrow Spiketail

Slender Spreadwing

3June 12 - Stopped in Ootalwah for church and then traveled all the way down to Camel Lake, Liberty County, Florida. We didn't get there until 12:30 AM.

June 13 - I spent the morning searching around the lake and the trail around the lake with Troy. Met Jerreld Daigle and he took us to various sites checking for odes. Big Gully Creek, Bonnet Pond, New River on Forest Road 13 and Forest Road 65.

Camel Lake Camp Ground, Liberty County

Troy holding an Alligator Snapping Turtle he pull out of Big Gully Creek

Eastern Fence Lizard, Camel Lake

Corn Snake, Camel Lake

Amanda's Pennant, Camel Lake

Alligator Snapping Turtle, Big Gully Creek

Southeastern Spinylegs, Big Gully Creek

Carolina Spreadwing, Bonnet Pond

Atlantic Bluet, Bonnet Pond

Lillypad Forktail, Bonnet Pond

Female Comet Darner layer eggs, Bonnet Pond

Belle's Sanddragon, on road near Bonnet Pond

Swamp Darner, New River

Taper-tailed Darner, New River

Cypress Clubtail, New River

Gray-green Clubtail, New River

Duckweed Firetail, New River

Golden Bluet, Camel Lake PM

Cherry Bluet, Camel Lake PM

Red-veined Pennant, Camel Lake PM

Southeastern Toad, Camel Lake

Ringneck Snake

June 14 - We went out with Jerreld again. Checked out Whittle Road, Sweetwater Creek, Juniper Creek, Ecofina Creek water management area, Hobbs Pasture, then back through Juniper Creek.

Whittle Road, Liberty County

Belle's Sanddragon, female

Calvert's Emerald

Sweetwater Creek, Liberty County

Blackwater Clubtail

Juniper Creelk, Calhoun County

Seepage Dancer

Little Blue Dragonlet

Yellow-sided Clubtail

Ecofina Creek Water Management Area, Bay County

Florida Softshell

Red-veined Pennant and Belle's Sanddragon

Purple Skimmer

Hobbs Pasture, Ecofina, Bay County

Eastern Hognose Snake

Everglades Sprite

Prince Baskettail

Royal River Cruiser

Needham's Skimmer

June 15 - Time to head back to Texas. Stopped in Santa Rosa County in western Florida at seep along the road. Camped at Village Creek State Park barely across the Texas border.

Seepage Dancer, Santa Rosa County

Variable Dancer, Santa Rosa County

Belle's Sanddragon, Santa Rosa County

June 16 - On the way home, we stopped at US 96 at the Neches River. Then onward to home.

Terry & Diana's Photography and More

HOME - OUR PROPERTY - FAMILY - SCENERY AND TRIPS - PLANTS - CACTUS - DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES - BUTTERFLIES -AMPHIBIANS - REPTILES - BIRDS - MAMMALS

Terry & Diana's
Photography and More