Pocahontas SP Beaver Trail

Trip Facts

Parking: Park in the CCC Museum parking lot. The trailhead is to the right of the museum.
Parking Availability: 50 slots, with overflow parking at the nearby Nature Center (50 or so slots)
Fee: $4-5 per car
Hours: Sunrise to Sunset
Verizon Internet Coverage: 2 bars
Month Recorded: July

Note that some of the wildflowers shown in the trip were discovered on two separate trips - one in May and one in July. These wilflowers may not be in bloom when you take the hike. The May bloomers are noted in the text.

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This hike is described in the 60 Hikes book - here is an Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Hikes-Within-Miles-Williamsburg-Fredericksburg/dp/089732708X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1428101620&sr=8-1&keywords=60+hikes+richmond

To learn more about the park, click the link below:
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/pocahontas.shtml

Visit the Friends of Pocahontas Park here:
http://www.fopsp.org/

Trailhead

The trail begins here. Follow the signs for the Beaver Lake Trail, which uses blue markers. This is a loop trail that begins and ends here. Head left behind the museum from the parking lot - you will return on the section of the blue trail that is straight ahead.

Butterfly Garden

The Butterfly Garden has a number of plants favored as nectar sources for butterflies. Read the plaque to identify the different plants. The butterfly pictured is a Black Swallowtail.

Spillway

Admire the handiwork of the CCC, which built the dam.

Summer Tanager

NATURE FIND

As you climb this hill, look and listen for the Summer Tanager. The male Summer Tanager is most easily identified by its bright red body, wings, and tail. Female Summer Tanagers are green above and dull yellow below. Males of this species may be separated from male Scarlet Tanagers (Piranga olivacea) by that species’ black wings and tail and from male Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) by that species’ black face and conspicuous crest. Summer Tanagers breed in a number of forest habitats, particularly in open woodland and forest edges. Summer Tanagers may be observed while flying out from perches to capture insects in the air or while robbing wasp nests for larvae.

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To find out more about this bird, visit the Cornell birding site:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Summer_Tanager/id
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life, Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) © Unknown - Supplier: DC Birds
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life,Image of Piranga rubra© Marv Elliott http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ , Unmodified
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Rue Anemone

NATURE FIND
Scientific Name: Thalictrum thalictroides
Blooming Time: Mar-May

Rue Anemone is one of many showy wildflowers that develop in deciduous woodlands during the spring. Both the flowers and foliage are quite attractive. Because the flowers move around easily in the wind, it is sometimes called 'Windflower.' Habitats include mesic to dry deciduous woodlands, wooded slopes, and thinly wooded bluffs. This native wildflower is usually found in above-average to high quality woodlands where the original ground flora is largely intact. The flowers offer only pollen as a reward to insect visitors. Typical floral visitors include various bees, Syrphid flies, and bee flies; the bees usually collect pollen, while the flies feed on pollen. Some of these insects explore the showy flowers for nectar in vain.

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To find out more about this plant, go here:
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=THTH2
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life,Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 (CC BY-NC 3.0) © John Hilty • Source: Illinois Wildflowers
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life,Image of Thalictrum thalictroides © Matt Flower ,Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 (CC BY-NC 3.0) , Unmodified

American Beech

American Beech
Scientific Name: Fagus grandifolia

All along the trail, you will find numerous beech trees. The larger ones may have been planted by the CCC way back in the 30's. American beech is a denizen of mature forests. It is noted for its smooth blue-gray bark which has sometimes been subject to carving of initials or figures. This should never be done since the damage will be present for the life of the tree and make it subject to disease. Beech is one of the few tree species that can germinate and grow well in deep shade.

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To see a photo gallery, go here:
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=47

To find out more about this tree, visit this site:
https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_2/fagus/grandifolia.htm
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - "Big Woods Tree Trail Walk", Virginia Master Naturalist, Virginia State Parks
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life,Image of Fagus grandifolia © Matt Muir ,Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) ,Unmodified
Photo Gallery - © Copyright 2015, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, et al
More Text - United States Department of Agriculture,Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 654,Carl H. Tubbs and David R. Houston

Yellow Billed Cuckoo

Yellow-Billed Cuckoo

More often heard than seen, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo (11-13 inches) is most easily separated from the similar Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) by its reddish-brown wing patches, white-and-black under-tail pattern, and the yellow on its bill. Other field marks include a long tail, thin body, and black legs. Yellow-billed Cuckoos breed in forests with plentiful undergrowth and clearings, particularly those near water. The diet of this species is composed primarily of large insects, including grasshoppers, cicadas, and caterpillars. Like many cuckoos, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo spends much of its time hidden in thick vegetation, where it is not easily seen. Lucky birdwatchers may observe this species slinking through the branches of tall trees while foraging for insect prey.

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To find out more about this bird, visit the Cornell birding site:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-billed_Cuckoo/id
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life, Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0)
© Smithsonian Institution Supplier: DC Birds
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life,Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0) Supplier: Wikimedia Commons , ,Unmodified

Mayapple

NATURE FIND
Scientific Name: Podophyllum peltatum
Blooming Time: Mar-May

Mayapple is unique in that It has only 2 leaves and 1 flower, which grows in the axil of the leaves. The large, twin, umbrella-like leaves of mayapple are showy and conspicuous. They remain closed as the stem lengthens, unfolding 6–8 inches across when the plant has reached its 1-1 1/2 ft. height. The solitary, nodding, white to rose-colored flower grows in the axil of the leaves and has 6–9 waxy white petals, with many stamens. The nodding fruit is a large, fleshy, lemon-shaped berry.

Mayapple colonizes by rhizomes, forming dense mats in damp, open woods. The common name refers to the May blooming of its apple-blossom-like flower. Although the leaves, roots, and seeds are poisonous if ingested in large quantities, the roots were used as a cathartic by Native Americans. The edible, ripe, golden-yellow fruits can be used in jellies. The alternate popular name Mandrake rightly belongs to an unrelated Old World plant with a similar root.

DO NOT PICK WILDFLOWERS OR ATTEMPT TO TRANSPLANT THEM. Most wildflowers will not survive replanting.

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To find out more about this plant, go here:
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POPE
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center, Accessed 7/22/2016 at https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=POPE
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life, Podophyllum peltatum Berberidaceae) - whole plant - in flower - general view© Steven J. Baskauf, , translation missing: en.license_cc_by_nc_sa_4_0 Unmodified

Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher

NATURE FIND

The blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) is a very small songbird. Adult males are blue-gray on the upperparts with white underparts, have a slender dark bill, and a long black tail edged in white. Females are less blue. Both sexes have a white eye ring.

The blue-gray gnatcatcher's breeding habitat includes open deciduous woods and shrub-lands. They build a cone-like nest on a horizontal tree branch. They forage actively in trees or shrubs, mainly eating insects, insect eggs and spiders. They may hover over foliage (gleaning), or fly to catch insects in flight (hawking). The tail is often held upright while defending territory or searching for food.

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To find out more about this bird, visit the Cornell birding site:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue-gray_Gnatcatcher/id
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life,
Photo - By Erikwlyon - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25518763 ,Unmodified
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Cranefly Orchid

NATURE FIND
Scientific Name: Tipularia discolor
Blooming Time: Jul-Aug

The Crane-fly Orchid (Tipularia discolor) is a perennial terrestrial woodland orchid. Tipularia discolor grows a single leaf in September that disappears in the spring. The leaf is green with dark purple spots. The flower blooms in mid-July to late August. The roots are a connected series of corms. Its roots are edible. They are starchy and almost potato-like.The plant is pollinated by noctuid moths, by means of flowers which incline slightly to the right or left, so the pollinaria can attach to one of the moth's eyes.

DO NOT PICK WILDFLOWERS OR ATTEMPT TO TRANSPLANT THEM. Most wildflowers will not survive replanting.

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To find out more about this plant, go here:
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=TIDI
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life,Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0) • Source: Wikipedia
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life, Image of Tipularia discolor© Ann Walter-Fromson,Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 (CC BY-NC 3.0) , Unmodified

Hollow Tree

Look to the left of the trail to see a hollow tree.

Louisiana Waterthrush

This bird is often seen near creeks.

Common Name: Common Name

A large (6 inches) wood warbler, the Louisiana Waterthrush is most easily identified by its brown back and wings, whitish breast streaked with brown, and conspicuous white eye stripe. This species is physically similar to the related Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis), although that species is typically darker yellow and more streaked below and on the face. Male and female Louisiana Waterthrushes are similar to one another in all seasons. Louisiana Waterthrushes breed in a variety of woodland habitats along the edges of streams and creeks. Unusually for a warbler, Louisiana Waterthrushes primarily eat aquatic invertebrates, including insects and larvae. Along streams in appropriate habitat, Louisiana Waterthrushes may be seen walking on the shoreline or wading in shallow water while foraging for food. This species’ characteristic tail wagging behavior, in which the rear half of the body is flicked up and down almost constantly while the bird is in motion, is highly unusual among wood warblers.

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To find out more about this bird, visit the Cornell birding site:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Louisiana_Waterthrush/id
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text – Encyclopedia of Life, © Smithsonian Institution Supplier: Robert Costello, Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life, Image of Parkesia motacilla © Greg Lasley, Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0),Unmodified
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Boardwalk over Swampy Area

Here you will be crossing a swampy area. Keep your eye out for new and different plants, ones that thrive in wet areas.

Warbling Vireo

NATURE FIND

A medium-sized (5 inches) vireo, the Warbling Vireo is most easily identified by its plain brown-gray upperparts and wings, pale breast, and faint white eye-stripes. This species may be separated from the Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), which also has a pale breast and plain back, by that species’ brighter eye-stripes. Warbling Vireos breed in a variety of deciduous or mixed deciduous and evergreen woodland habitats. Warbling Vireos primarily eat small insects. In appropriate habitat, Warbling Vireos may be seen foraging for food on leaves and branches in the tree canopy.

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To find out more about this bird, visit the Cornell birding site:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Warbling_Vireo/id
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life,Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0) © Smithsonian Institution • Supplier: DC Birds
Photo - Flickr.com, ,Aaron Maizlish Warbling Vireo ,Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic (CC BY-NC 2.0) ,Unmodified
Cornell Lab of Ornithology, All About Birds at http://www.allaboutbirds.org/

Lake View

Veer off the trail to visit this boardwalk. If you are here in summer time, you may also see Rose Mallow along the shore. This is a bushy plant with white flowers.

Rattlesnake Plantain

NATURE FIND
Scientific Name: Goodyera pubescens
Blooming Time: Jul-Aug

Goodyera pubescens is an evergreen terrestrial herb with variegated leaves. The common names refer to the mottled leaves, which resemble a snakes skin, a similarity that once suggested their use as a snakebite remedy. It is a creeping plant that divides on the ground surface and sends out short stolons. It may be terrestrial or, occasionally, epipetric, growing on rock shelves. It prefers mildly to moderately acidic soils, such as in oak-heath forests.

DO NOT PICK WILDFLOWERS OR ATTEMPT TO TRANSPLANT THEM. Most wildflowers will not survive replanting.

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To find out more about this plant, go here:
http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GOPU
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COPYRIGHT NOTICES
Text - Encyclopedia of Life,Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike 3.0 (CC BY-SA 3.0) • Source: Wikipedia
Photo - Encyclopedia of Life,File:Goodyera pubescens - Flickr 003.jpg Jason Hollinger ,Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 (CC BY 2.0) , Unmodified