My digital notebook of outdoor observations and adventures.
Time: 12:30 - 13:15
Location:
General: Roanoke River Greenway
Specific: Colorado Street Bridge area and adjacent banks
Coordinates/Elevation:
Companions: None (Chatted with Herb the fisherman)
Habitat: Urban riparian corridor with river, grassy banks, shrubs, scattered hardwoods
Current
Temp: about 60 °F
Sky: Very overcast, not stormy
Wind: Slight breeze, barely noticeable
Precipitation: Very light drizzle
Recent
Purpose/Focus of outing: Check river clarity and level, casual birding, note early plant emergence
Route/Area covered: Between Colorado Street bridge and Apperson Street Bridge
Notable phenology today: Grass much greener than previous days; several early plants emerging
Carolina Chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) flitting quietly in brush
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) calling on the north bank
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) vocalizing with killdeer nearby
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) heard and photographed
White throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) heard and seen; Merlin call match
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) heard and seen; Merlin call match
Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) seen; Merlin call match
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) seen; Merlin call match
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) heard
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) one male observed, behavior partly concealed
Yellow rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) detected by Merlin only
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) detected by Merlin only
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) detected by Merlin only
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) detected by Merlin only
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) detected by Merlin only, searched hard but no visual
Abundant goose and duck droppings on the Greenway trail
Great mullein identified with Seek: large fuzzy leaves in a basal rosette; boxelder bug observed crawling on the plant
Garlic mustard identified with Seek: fresh emergence noted
White pumpkin, a little smaller than volleyball, likely dumped as human waste, substantially rotten, notable as having multiple bite marks from animals
River level high and remarkably clear; estimated 4 to 5 feet deep mid channel with bottom visible without polarized glasses
Eddies unusually clean with very little driftwood or debris and only a few stationary bubbles
Water odor notably clean and fresh
- Using imitation stonefly nymph for fly fishing
- Reported 10 trout yesterday including one around 5 pounds, typical sizes 10 to 12 inches
- Caught 6 more today
- Observation: when water is high, clear, and flowing well, stocked trout are active and abundant
Casual progress along usual route with frequent stops to listen for calls, scan eddies, and inspect emerging plants. Spent time attempting photos of a Carolina Wren and searching for the American Goldfinch that was calling but not visible. Brief conversation with Herb about current fishing conditions and results.
Bird activity mixed with many detections by sound; some species remained out of sight despite focused searching
Early season plants expanding quickly as weather oscillates between cold nights and rainy, mild days
River clarity unusually high, with even slow moving areas clear of debris
Add photo: Carolina Wren
Add photo: Great mullein rosette
Add photo: Boxelder bug on mullein