Terry & Diana's Photography and More

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

Fall Trip up to North Dakota 2018

Diana and I have never been to North Dakota on any of our excursions. Diana's sister came down from Colorado to stay with Juanita so we could go. It would end up being an unusal trip.

September 12

Our first stop was Ft. Griffin State Park on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River between Throckmorton and Albany. We arrived at 4:30 pm and were the only ones in the camp ground. I checked out the area for anything to photograph before bed time. The river was up so I could't get down to the water.

CAMP GROUND SPOT AT FT. GRIFFIN STATE PARK.

THE CLEAR FORK OF THE BRAZOS RIVER. THE BANKS WERE VERY MUDDY.

BLUE-FRONTED DANCER (Argia apicalis).

BLUE-RINGED DANCER (Argia sedula).

HACKBERRY EMPEROR (Asterocampa celtis).

EASTERN COTTONTAIL

(Phemeranthus aurantiacus) A TYPE OF MALLOW.

SNOW-ON-THE-PRAIRIE

GARDEN SPIDER AND AN ORB WEAVER. I DON'T KNOW WHICH SPECIES.

 

BIRD WINGED GRASSHOPPER

September 13

One reason for going this direction was to check out a couple of places in Throckmorton County to see what odes I could find. The county had less than 10 species listed so I wanted to try and get list up to higher number. Our first stop was Lake Woodson at about 10:00 am near the dam and boat launch area. I found 11 species at this site.

LAKE WOODSON, THROCKMORTON COUNTY NEAR THE DAM.

BLUE-FRONTED DANCER (Argia apicalis)

POWDERED DANCER (Argia moesta)

RAMBUR'S FORKTAIL (Ischnura ramburii)

FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG (Dromogomphus spoliatus)

COMMON PONDHAWK (Erythemis simplicicollis)

WIDOW SKIMMER (Libellula luctuosa)

TWELVE-SPOTTED SKIMMER (Libellula pulchella)

BLUE DASHER (Pachydiplax longipennis)

COMMON WHITETAIL (Plathemis lydia)

EASTERN AMBERWING (Perithemis tenera)

WESTERN RIBBON SNAKE (Thamnophis proximus)

The next stop was Lake Throckmorton west of town at dam and boat launch and picnic area. The lake was high. I found 13 species at this site. I doubled the number for the county.

BLUE-FRONTED DANCER (Argia apicalis)

POWDERED DANCER (Argia moesta)

FAMILIAR BLUET (Enallagma civile)

COMMON GREEN DARNER (Anax junius)

FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEG (Dromogomphus spoliatus)

WIDOW SKIMMER (Libellula luctuosa)

WANDERING GLIDER (Pantala flavescens)

BLACK SADDLEBAGS (Tramea lacerata)

RED SADDLEBAGS (Tramea onusta)

DAYFLOWER

We ate lunch in Seymor at Chicken Express at 12:15 pm and then headed north. At Oklahoma City our tire pressure light came on so we pulled into a tire place to get it fixed. They could not find a leak. We on to our next planned stop at Crowley State Fishing Lake campground in southern Kansas at 7:00 pm. This were problems started. The lift for our camper top would not crank up. I had to get inside and lift it myself while Diana turned the crank and then brace it so that it wouldn't fall on us during the night. Much too heavy to do this more than once little on the rest of the trip.

CROWLEY STATE FISHING LAKE, CROWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS

OUR CAMP SITE FOR THE NIGHT. THIS WAS THE LAST TIME WE GOT THE CAMPER TOP TO GO UP AND IT WAS WITH MUCH STRUGGLE.

SOME OF THE LARGEST STANDS OF BIG BLUE STEM GRASS I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT WAS JUST AROUND THE LAKE. IT WAS OVER GRAZED ON SURROUNDING PROPERITIES.

September 14

We checked four different RV places in Wichita Kansas, but no one said they could fix it. We had to decide whether to go on and sleep with it down or go back home. We decided to continue on our trip.

We stopped briefly at Optimist Lake Park in Auburn, Nemaha Co., Nebraska at 3:45 pm to stretch and to check out for odes. Found a few but nothing unusual.

NEBRASKA: NEMAHA COUNTY, AUDUBON OPTIMIST LAKE

HALLOWEEN PENNANT (Celithemis eponina)

DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET (Enallagma basidens)

FAMILIAR BLUET (Enallagma civile)

COMMON PONDHAWK (Erythemis simplicicollis)

EASTERN FORKTAIL (Ischnura verticalis)

WIDOW SKIMMER (Libellula luctucosa)

BLUE DASHER (Pachydiplax longipennis)

EASTERN AMBERWING (Perithemis tenera)

Our destination was Ponca State Park but they were full with some kind of festival going on. They recommended Kramper Lake Recreation area. It turned out to be very nice. Lots of space and showers. It was almost dark when we got there. Diana slept on the bench and I slept on the floor. I wish I had a cot.

OUR CAMP SITE ON KRAMPER LAKE RECREATION AREA.

WOODHOUSE'S TOAD (Anaxyrus woodhousei)

GREAT PLAINS TOAD (Anaxyrus cognatus)

September 15

I spent the morning chasing odes. There were trails through tall Big Blue Stem and brushy areas. Not too bad. We left at 10:30 am for Fargo.

NEBRASKA: DAKOTA COUNTY, KRAMPER LAKE RECREATION AREA. TRAILS ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE LAKE.

TRAILS AROUND THE LAKE WITH EXCELLANT STANDS OF BIG BLUE STEM GRASS.

WHITE PELICAN

ORANGE SULPHUR (Colias eurytheme)

SILVER-SPOTTED SKIPPER (Epargyreus clarus)

PEARL CRESCENT (Phyciodes tharos)

COMMON GREEN DARNER (Anax junius)

COMMON PONDHAWK (Erythemis simplicicollis)

BLUE DASHER (Pachydiplax longipennis)

RUBY MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum rubicundulum)

AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum vicinum)

BLACK SADDLEBAGS (Tramea lacerata)

RED SADDLEBAGS (Tramea onusta)

We got to Fargo at about 6:30 pm and stayed at a Ecolodge for the night. Not a very good place.

September 16

Packed up and searched for a place to worship. We found a small congregation and attended class and worship service. Only 14 in attendance and most of them were visitors. Ate and got gas and headed for Clausen Springs Recreation Area west of Fargo. Stopped at the Little Yellowstone Rec. area on the Skeyenne River. This is a very good looking area. Unusally warm today, 94 degrees, for this time of year up here.

NORTH DAKOTA: BARNES COUNTY, LITTLE YELLOWSTONE CANYON COUNTY PARK

COMMON GREEN DARNER (Anax junius)

Got to Clausen Springs Rec. Area at 3:30 pm. in Barnes County. Since this might be the last warm day, I oded all afternoon.

NORTH DAKOTA: BARNES COUNTY, CLAUSEN SPRINGS RECREATION AREA

CLAUSEN SPRINGS LAKE

CREEK THAT RUNS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK

WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE (Chrysemys picta)

WESTERN PAINTED TURTLE (Chrysemys picta)

REPANDA TIGER BEETLE (Cicindela repanda) AND NORTHERN LEOPARD FROG (Rana pipiens)

 

FAMILIAR BLUET (Enallagma civile)

AMERICAN RUBYSPOT (Hetaerina americana)

PLAINS FORKTAIL (Ischnura damula)

EASTERN FORKTAIL (Ischnura verticallis)

SPOTTED SPREADWING (Lestes congener)

LANCE-TIPPED DARNER (Aeshna constricta)

SHADOW DARNER (Aeshna umbrosa)

SAFFRON-WINGED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum costiferum)

CHERRY-FACED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum internum)

September 17

It got down to the low 40's last night. I got cold sleeping on the floor. We didn't come prepared for this. I couldn't turn on the heater because it was beside my bed. It was cloudy and the wind was out of the north. got up late and put on sweat shirts and jacket. After eating breakfast, Diana and I went hiking to the dam and then on around the lake. Finally on the way back the sun came out and so did the meadowhawks. They were landing in areas out of the wind and in full sun. Darners starting showing up in tall grass hanging up in the sun.

NORTH DAKOTA: BARNES COUNTY, CLAUSEN SPRINGS RECREATION AREA

ENJOYING HIKE AROUND THE LAKE

CREEK RUNNING THROUGH THE CAMP GROUND

AMERICAN PELICAN

AMERICAN PELICAN

BELTED KINGFISHER AND KILLDEER

A BABY SNAPPING TURTLE THAT DID NOT SURVIVE A PREDATOR ATTACK ON THE NEST

VARIABLE DARNER (Aeshna interrupta)

VARIABLE DARNER (Aeshna interrupta)

SHADOW DARNER (Aeshna umbrosa)

SPOTTED SPREADWING (Lestes congener)

NORTHERN SPREADWING (Lestes disjunctus)

WANDERING GLIDER (Pantala flavescens)

SAFFRON-WINGED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum costiferum)

BLACK MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum danae)

RUBY MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum rubicundulum)

WHITE-FACED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum obtrusum)

September 18

Actually clear over night with temperature in upper 40's and 50 inside the camper. Much more comfortable. We got up when the sun hit the camp road. Warmed up enough that a couple of Variable Darners landed in sunny spots.

VARIABLE DARNER (Aeshna interrupta)

We went to Ft. Ransom State Park to look it over in case we ever go back up this way again. Nice campground. Stopped at couple of crossings along the way.

NORTH DAKOTA: RANSOM COUNTY, FORT RANSOM STATE PARK. JUST OUTSIDE OF THE PARK.

NORTH DAKOTA: RANSOM COUNTY, FORT RANSOM STATE PARK. SHEYENNE RIVER

SHEYENNE RIVER, SHEYENNE NATIONAL GRASSLANDS, RANSOM COUNTY

LANCE-TIPPED DARNER (Aeshna constricta)

We then checked out the Sheyenne National Grasslands. Looked too grazed to me.

PLAINS GARTERSNAKE (Thamnophis radix)

PLAINS GARTERSNAKE (Thamnophis radix)

We then headed for St. Cloud, Minnesota. Stayed at a Country Inn & Suites by Radison. Nice. We got there around 6:30 pm.

September 19

Rain was predicted and alot cooler in Wisconsin for the whole week, so we decided to head south. Got out of the rain in Iowa about 1:30 pm north of Des Moines. Stopped south of Winterset, Iowa at Criss Cove County Park for the night. I searched around alittle before dark.

IOWA: MADISON COUNTY, CRISS COVE COUNTY PARK CAMP GROUND

IOWA: MADISON COUNTY, CRISS COVE COUNTY PARK

VARIABLE DANCER (Argia fumipennis) AND FAMILIAR BLUET (Enallagma civile)

EASTERN FORKTAIL (Ischnura verticallis)

SHADOW SKIMMER (Libellula luctuosa)

EASTERN AMBERWING (Perithemis tenera)

SILVER-SPOT SKIPPER (Epargyreus clarus) AND EASTERN TAILED-BLUE (Everes comyntas)

 

September 20

Left camp at about 9:30 am and headed on south. Stopped at a rest area near state line on I-35. After looking around, I noticed that there was a trail from the rest area into Slip Bluff County Park, Decatur County, Iowa. This was a very good looking area.

IOWA: DECATUR COUNTY, SLIP BLUFF COUNTY PARK LAKE

MELISSA BLUE (Lycaeides melissa)

VARIABLE DANCER (Argia fumipennis)

POWDERED DANCER (Argia moesta)

FLAG-TAILED SPINYLEGS (Dromogomphus spoliatus)

DOUBLE-STRIPED BLUET (Enallagma basidens)

FAMILIAR BLUET (Enallagma civile)

COMMON PONDHAWK (Erythemis simplicicollis)

WIDOW SKIMMER (Libellula luctuosa)

BLUE-FACED MEADOWHAWK (Sympetrum ambiguum)

 

Stopped at Chase County State Fishing Lake, Chase County, Kansas. We had planned to camp here but the weather report was for heavy rain and wind, so we went into Emporia at a Motel 6.

KANSAS: CHASE COUNTY, CHASE COUNTY STATE FISHING LAKE CAMP GROUND

CANADIAN GEESE

COMMON GREEN DARNER (Anax junius)

COMMON PONDHAWK (Erythemis simplicicollis)

WANDERING GLIDER (Pantala flavescens)

BLUE DASHER (Pachydiplax longipennis)

COMMON WHITETAIL (Plathemis lydia)

BLACK SADDLEBAGS (Tramea lacerata)

September 21

Ate breakfast at McDonald's and then headed south. Rain started near Wichita, Kansas and continued all the way to Ft. Worth, TX. We decided to drive on down to Waco and spend the night Max and Betty's. It was nice to visit with them.

September 22

Left Max and Betty's at 1:00 pm and got home at 8:00 pm.