Lovely Day for A Stroll

The other day I decided to take a walk along the shoreline of our lake.  During the summer months the lake level is higher than it is now.  Winter months the lake level is dropped for work on the turbines at the dam.  This is a man-made lake, dammed as a part of the Public Works Administration in 1933.  Along with the Civilian Conservation Corps, who cleared the timber for the lake basin, the lake was dammed and by 1940 the lake approached its capacity.   The lake is approximately 12,000 acres and supports the community's water supply.  There are folks out on the lake all year fishing and boating.  Even saw some out fishing during our 'snow storm'. 

I was surprised to see all the shells on our sandy beach.  No wonder there have been so many birds feeding along the shore. 

I love the spiraled shells.

 When the water level is down there are lots of tree stumps that are visible.  Driftwood fans would have a field day.

The lake has some areas that are protected habitat areas.  Most of these in our neighborhood are in the coves where deer, turkey and other critters come down to the water.

While walking along the shore I saw lots of birds, many rustling the leaves in the wooded areas.  I didn't have my telephoto lens with me, next time.  I saw some River Birch in the woods, kind of neat.  The lots along the lake in my area are semi native woodlands.  The land on the slopes have more of a variety of plant material.  The land borders a pulp wood forest, all the pines are in a row.   I encountered a couple plants that I needed to come home and look up.

This is one of them.  I believed it to be a Hazelnut, Corylus americana, but now, I am not so sure.  It could be Hazel Alder, Alnus serrulata.  These little pinecone looking things are typical of the Hazel Alder. 

 These catkins are typical to both. 

 I believe this is the spent flower, I will have to research more and observe more--- especially in the spring.

 Any ideas out there? 

 The other plant I found is this one---

 It looked like a Leucothoe to me, but I wanted to make sure.  Sure enough it is Leucothoe, though I am not certain whether it is Leucothoe axillaris or Leucothoe fontanesiana.  Still looking at the differences between the two species.   It is fun to find and identify plants. 
Next trip up or down the shoreline I will take the other lens and perhaps come back with pictures of the Pileated Woodpecker I saw, or some of the Sparrows in the brush that were throwing the leaves around, or maybe some other new find.  Stay tuned!

words and photos by Janet,The Queen of Seaford.