Mariton: Close Calls and the Changing Season

by Tim Burris, Preserve Manager.  Photos by Carole Mebus.

This Song Sparrow had a close call.

We were watching this Song Sparrow when it suddenly dropped down into the field.  A second later a Sharp-shinned Hawk jetted over where the sparrow had been perched.  Our group did a collective “Wow” at the amazing sight.

It is always great to see wildlife on the walks, but there is so much to see.

This is the latest form of a milkweed’s beauty.  They grace the fields in early spring as upright leafy plants.  Then they have huge globular flower buds.  Soon the flowers open and the nectar attracts butterflies, bees and other pollinators.  The blossoms wither and turn to odd shaped seed pods.  Eventually the seed pods burst open filled with downy seeds of white and brown.  I’ve watch milkweed seeds amuse everyone from children to nonagenarians.

The wild grapes are an great place to watch for wildlife.

The colors are changing slowly this year but there is so much more to see at Mariton than just the leaves.